60 in 60: #9 Utah’s Van Fillinger (Defensive End)
Aug 23, 2022, 1:40 PM | Updated: Aug 25, 2022, 1:45 pm
Van Fillinger #7 of the Utah Utes celebrates a sack against the Washington State Cougars during their game on September 25, 2021 at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The countdown for Hans & Scotty’s 60 in 60 is on. Coming in at #9 is Utah’s Van Fillinger (DE).
Throughout the summer Hans & Scotty are counting down the top 60 college football players in the state of Utah as voted on by the media (and a fan ballot).
“Coming off of an outstanding season,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said of his defensive end. “Van is going to be one of our mainstays on the defense. Just a sophomore. He had a tremendous Pac-12 Championship Game and we expect big things from Van.”
Utah’s Van Fillinger
Fillinger is a sophomore from Draper, Utah. He was a standout defensive end at Corner Canyon High School as a four-star recruit. Fillinger was a two-team first-team all-state and three-time all-region. He was invited to play in the 2020 All-American Bowl and Polynesian Bowl. After originally committing to Texas, Fillinger flipped his commitment to the Utes. Corner Canyon went 37-1 with Fillinger on the field and won two state championships in 2018 and 2019. Fillinger also competed in track and field, winning a state championship in the shot put in 2019.
#9 in our 60in60 DE Van Fillinger needs to be Utah’s leader off the edge. pic.twitter.com/w2apNtcVcm
— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) August 23, 2022
During the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Fillinger appeared in all five games, recording three total tackles, including two against USC. This past season, Fillinger played in all 14 games with 13 starts, finishing with 41 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and four quarterback hurries.
This fall, the Utes will open their 2022 schedule on the road the Florida Gators. The Utes and Gators will play on September 3. Utah’s first home game is against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds on September 10.
About the 60 in 60
Every summer Hans and Scotty reveal the best college football players in the state of Utah in their annual 60 in 60 as voted on by the media.
In 2022, for the first time ever, the 60 in 60 included one vote based on a fan ballot.
