60 In 60: #11 Utah’s Van Fillinger (Defensive End)
Aug 16, 2024, 2:02 PM
Utah Utes defensive end Van Fillinger (7) recovers a Colorado Buffaloes fumble in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY— The countdown is on for Hans and Scotty’s 60 in 60 for the 2024 college football season. Utah defensive end Van Fillinger lands at No. 11.
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Fillinger is the 21st Utah player to make the 2024 list. He joins recent Utes No. 14 Spencer Fano (OT), No. 19 Jaylon Glover (RB), and No. 20 Logan Fano (DE).
Hans & Scotty’s 2024 60 in 60 List
Throughout the summer, KSL Sports Zone’s Hans Olsen & Scott Garrard are counting down the top 60 college football players in the state of Utah as voted on by the media (and a fan ballot).
Utah’s Van Fillinger
Fillinger enters his senior season with 38 games worth of experience, including 27 starts.
Before joining the Utes, Fillinger was a two-time first-team all-state honoree while playing for the Corner Canyon Chargers. He developed into the 11th strong-side defensive end in the nation and the No. 2 rated player out of Utah in 2020.
The Chargers went 37-1 and won back-to-back 6A state championships in 2018 and 2019 with Fillinger in the lineup. He tallied 188 tackles and 22.5 sacks for the Chargers, including 88 stops and 13.5 sacks as a senior.
RELATED: A Look At Utah Football’s Defensive Ends
● DE Spotlight ●
Van Fillinger – Utah
• Fillinger is going to wreak havoc in the #Big12 and this Utes D-Line could be among the best in the nation. In his career he has 94 Tackles, 19.5 Tackles for Loss, 13.5 Sacks, 1 Fumble Recovery and 2 Forced Fumbles. pic.twitter.com/KQA3gwx8nz
— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) August 8, 2024
After recording three tackles in five 2020 games, Fillinger made his presence known in 2021. Fillinger led all Pac-12 freshmen with 5.5 sacks, ending the season with 41 tackles and four QB hurries.
The 6’4, 265-pound defender made six starts in 2022 before suffering a season-ending injury. He finished the year with 18 tackles and led Utah with five sacks before being injured.
Playing in 11 games (8 starts) in 2023, Fillinger totaled 31 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble. He had a career-high eight tackles against No. 17 Arizona.
What is 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, which was voted on by the media.
RELATED: Complete 60 in 60 rankings countdown
Make sure to subscribe to the Hans & Scotty G. podcast for college football coverage and more. You can follow Hans and Scotty on X here.
