Utah Football Earns 12 All-Pac-12 Spots, Lander Barton Earns FDPOTY
Dec 6, 2022, 3:19 PM | Updated: 3:24 pm
(Photo courtesy of Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Deseret News)
Congrats to all our guys named to the @pac12 All-Conference teams 🙌
1ST: @B_Daniels71 @_DaltonKincaid @ClarkPhillips21 @LaumeaSataoa
2ND: @JuniorTafuna45 @k_reid41
HM: @crising7 @jonah_elliss @Cole_bishop_8 @devaughn_vele @keatonbills & R.J. Hubert https://t.co/iYrZL5DEYm pic.twitter.com/O9Mb8FRAkI
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) December 6, 2022
Where The Utes Landed In Pac-12 Standings
The No. 8 Utes had four players named to the Pac-12 first-team for the fifth year in a row. Cornerback Clark Phillips III, tight end Dalton Kincaid, and offensive linemen Braden Daniels and Sataoa Laumea all earned top conference spots.
Defensive tackle Junior Tafuna, and linebacker Karene Reid made the second team.
Rounding out Utah’s post-season honors were wide receiver Devaughn Vele, defensive end Jonah Elliss, safety Cole Bishop, quarterback Cam Rising, offensive linemen Keaton Bills and safety RJ Hubert getting honorable mentions.
Freshman Defensive Player Of The Year
For the second year in a row the Utes landed the Freshman Defensive Player of the Year award. In 2021 defensive tackle Junior Tafuna earned the nod and now legacy linebacker Lander Barton.
Barton played in every game in 2022 for the Utes with three starts under his belt. Against Southern Utah, Barton was particularly impressive recording four stops and his first collegiate sack of his fledgling career.
Congrats @BanderLarton for being named @pac12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year ‼️ pic.twitter.com/nSL8A9wRyw
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) December 6, 2022
Perhaps Barton’s most impressive feat to date was in Utah’s Pac-12 Championship appearance and win over No. 4 (at the time) USC. In that game Barton recorded six tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.
Up Next For Utah Football
Utah football is currently in wait-mode for their second straight visit to the Rose Bowl after winning their second Pac-12 Title last Friday.
The Utes are set to play Penn State for the first-time ever in the Tournament of Roses on January 2, 2023. Last season Utah put on a show against Ohio State that came down to the wire, but unfortunately came up just shy, 48-45.
Utah has recently expressed their excitement over their quick return to the “Granddaddy of them All” with hopes of bringing the Leishman Trophy home.
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for KSLsports.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports
