LOCALS IN THE NFL
Utah’s TJ Pledger, SUU’s Braxton Jones Showcase Talent At Senior Bowl
Feb 5, 2022, 4:01 PM | Updated: 4:06 pm
Utah Utes running back TJ Pledger (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) and American offensive lineman Braxton Jones of Southern Utah (77) during the Reese's Senior Bowl practice session on February 2, 2002 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah running back TJ Pledger and Southern Utah offensive lineman Braxton Jones showed off their skills at the 2022 Senior Bowl.
The Reese’s Senior Bowl is a college football all-star game that is played annually in Mobile, Alabama.
This year’s game took place on Saturday, February 5.
The National squad beat Pledger, Jones, and the rest of the American team, 20-10.
Final from Mobile:
The National Team comes out on top in the 2022 @seniorbowl! pic.twitter.com/3jsqYhknyA— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 5, 2022
Both local players played key roles for the American roster. Jones was a vital part of the offensive line in both the passing and running games.
Dear @NFL teams,
If you want to score more goal line TD’s, we’d highly recommend drafting @braxtonjones742 at left tackle. #StormTheSky x @seniorbowl pic.twitter.com/c4SkVf6NMJ
— Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) February 5, 2022
Pledger flashed his ability as a rusher as well as a receiver out of the backfield.
The former Utah back finished the game with five carries for 33 yards. He was the American team’s second-leading rusher and led all of the running backs who carried the ball in the contest. Pledger’s longest run was a 23-yard burst.
BIG PLAY TJ Pledger 23-yd rush#National 13 #American 7 Q3 #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/IWKDOKw30O
— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) February 5, 2022
Out of the backfield, Pledger had two receptions for 24 yards, including a long catch of 19 yards.
Sam Howell 19-yd pass to TJ Pledger .. 1st & Goal#National 13 #American 0 Q3 #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/P1heVgrluc
— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) February 5, 2022
Pledger also had a tackle following an interception late in the game.
Strike a pose! 📷@BUFootball safety J.T. Woods with the game-clinching INT for the National Team!
📺: @seniorbowl on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/YQN8K47JL7
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 5, 2022
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About TJ Pledger
During his only season with the Utes, Pledger helped Utah win the Pac-12 Championship and a Rose Bowl Game bid for the first time in program history.
During his lone season with Utah, Pledger has recorded 97 carries for 671 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. He surpassed the 100-yard mark in four games this season.
In Utah’s win over Stanford on November 5, 2021, Pledger scored on a 96-yard touchdown run.
His scoring run is the longest rushing play and the second-longest play from scrimmage in Utah football history.
96 YARDS TO THE HOUSE 🏠
TJ Pledger makes it 35-0 for @Utah_Football 💪 pic.twitter.com/Qf9VbuLY0C
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 6, 2021
In his college career, Pledger carried the ball 232 times for 1,366 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also caught 21 passes out of the backfield for 196 yards.
Jones and the Thunderbirds finsihed the 2021 season with a 1-10 record and finished in 13th place in the Big Sky Conference.
The 2022 NFL Draft will take place in Paradise, Nevada from April 28–30, 2022.
Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).
