Van Fillinger Feeling His Best As Utah Football Prepares For 2024 Season

Aug 15, 2024, 4:22 PM

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Football is in the final days of their preparation for the 2024 season. One big presence for this team and the potential of the defense, in particular, is veteran defensive end Van Filliner.

The defensive end room will look much like it has the past two seasons. Jonah Elliss has moved onto the next level but Utah returns five from last year’s group, including two starters. They’ve also added a few new faces to the room.

Checking in from week 2 of camp!🙌#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/tItznkiH8c

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 6, 2024

Fillinger will play an important role in leading this group. He will be counted on to produce and to help bring along the young guys in their development.

Van Fillinger entering the season with a rejuvenated mindset

It’s been a difficult two seasons for Fillinger, who has been battling through nagging injuries to be on the field for his team. The good news is that he’s feeling as healthy as ever and is looking forward to putting forth his best effort.

“Going through that, I feel very grateful for where I am now,” Fillinger said. “I feel like I can be really intentional with what I do. I’m actually getting better in practice and working on my craft. Whereas yet last year, I felt like I was kind of stale. So, I’m really excited to actually get better and improve and see how far I can go.”

There weren’t just physical limitations but a mental toll that Fillinger experienced as well.

“I felt like I knew what I had to do, and I couldn’t do it physically and it really took a hit on me mentally,” Fillinger described. “I would come to practice and I wouldn’t really get much better I was just trying to get by.”

However, thanks to that experience, Fillinger has brought a measured but refreshed focus to the season.

“I don’t want to get too ahead of anything, and just kind of stay in the moment and do what I can right now,” he explained. “I come in with a good mindset every day, trying to get better and really just honing in on my skill. I’m really hoping for the best.”

Good vibes inside Utah Football’s defensive end room

“I think we got a lot of skill and talent, and I think our returners have been doing this for a while, and they know what they’re doing. They’re only getting better,” Fillinger said.

This is a promising group of edge defenders. Logan Fano made a strong impression last season. His quick return to football from an ACL tear last season has been impressive. Fano credits in part the group of guys around him in his return.

“Speaking for myself, I feel like it’s been good for me to be in the program for this past year,” Logan Fano described of his role moving into year two with the guys. “From my point of view, this is more like a brotherhood. Last year coming in, I was a newcomer and having to make my way through the team, but now I’ve had a year with the boys. I feel more comfortable with them and comfortable calling them my brothers.”

There are a couple of newcomers, Paul Fitzgerald- a transfer from Utah State, as well as Kash Dillon- a true freshman from Corner Canyon. Both have taken notice of the culture and level of play from the guys ahead of them

“It’s good to be here, I love my room, I love my guys,” Paul Fitzgerald described. ” It’s nice to be in a room like this and have guys above me how they play the game. To learn from them- we have a lot of good players in the room, is huge for me.”

“It’s been awesome getting into the culture here. I love my teammates, they’ve all been really welcoming,” true freshman Kash Dillon shared. “We’ve got a lot of good dudes in the room, guys that have played a lot. I think this group will be pretty good and I’m excited to be a part of it.”