Utah Checks In At No. 11 In Way-Too-Early 2021 Top-25 Poll
One of the few positives about fielding one of the youngest college football teams in the country is that there's literally no place to go but up.
That's the exact situation Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham found himself in this past year. Tasked with replacing nine starters on defense — all of whom are in the NFL — as well as three-year starters at running back and quarterback, Whittingham knew his team was going to be young when it came to experience.
Of the 44 players listed on the two-deep depth chart at the end of the season, 15 of them were freshman and over half of them were underclassmen.
Dec 19, 2020; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes cornerback Clark Phillips III (8) runs back an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Washington State Cougars at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Now with a season under their belt — or five games at least — the Utes are set to return a minimum of at least 75% of their starters. That number could jump to 100% depending on what happens with the seniors on the team and if they elect to return for their 'super senior' seasons next year.
After ending the season on a three-game winning streak, its first time doing so since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, there's a lot of hype surrounding Utah's potential for the upcoming season — And Stadium's college football insider Brett McMurphy is jumping on the hype train.
He released his way-too-early top-25 for the upcoming 2021 season and Utah checks in at No. 11.
“The tragedy and heartbreak of the sudden death of freshman RB Ty Jordan still resonates as the Utes look toward the 2021 season,” McMurphy wrote. “Utah will have 19 returning starters — nine on offense, 10 on defense. The quarterback battle should be interesting between Cam Rising, who will miss spring practice as he recovers from shoulder surgery, transfers Charlie Brewer, a three-year starter at Baylor, and Ja’Quinden Jackson from Texas, and incoming freshman Peter Costelli.”
As of right now, safety Nate Ritchie is the only starter not returning next season as he's electing to serve his two-year LDS mission.
The ranking was released prior to the commitment of former four-star RB and Oklahoma transfer TJ Pledger. Pledger is expected to be eligible right away and will compete for the starting job following the tragic loss of Jordan on Christmas night.
Utah did receive good news when tight end Brant Kuithe, offensive lineman Nick Ford and linebacker Devin Lloyd — all of whom are two-time all-Pac-12 nominees — all elected to spurn the upcoming NFL draft and return to the Utes for the upcoming season.
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Utah was one of five Pac-12 teams ranked in McMurphy's poll, being joined by Oregon (No. 12), Washington (No. 19), Arizona State (No.20) and USC (No. 23). UCLA was also ranked in top-40.
Here is McMurphy's entire way-too-early top 25 rankings
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Clemson Tigers
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Texas Longhorns
- North Carolina Tar Heels
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- UTAH UTES
- Oregon Ducks
- Florida Gators
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Wisconsin Badgers
- Miami Hurricanes
- Cincinnati Bearcats
- Oklahoma State Cowboys
- Washington Huskies
- Arizona State Sun Devils
- Virginia Tech Hokies
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- USC Trojans
- Ole Miss Rebels
- Liberty Flames
Dec 19, 2020; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes linebacker Nephi Sewell (29) celebrates a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter by Washington State Cougars wide receiver Travell Harris (1) at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
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