Utah Tight End Brant Kuithe Out For The Season Following Injury
Sep 26, 2022, 11:57 AM | Updated: 3:37 pm
Tight end Brant Kuithe #80 of the Utah Utes high fives running back Zack Moss #2 after Moss scored a rushing touchdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half of the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah tight end Brant Kuithe is out for the remainder of the season, according to head coach Kyle Whittingham.
Whittingham announced the news during Monday’s press conference.
“The big downer from the game was Brante Kuithe is lost for the season,” Whittingham said. “He’s a big part of our offense- a huge part of what we do offensively. Guys will have to step up and pickup any slack. It’s an opportunity for Thomas Yassmin, Munir McClain, Logan Kendall. They will have to pickup. We will miss him. Great leader, great person. Breaks your heart to see something like that. Silver lining if there is one, he’s inside the four games to redshirt. He could have a redshirt year if he chooses, or wants the opportunity to come back next season.”
Whitt thought defense was fantastic on Saturday, offense was balanced. Happy with the takeaway battle. Kuithe is lost for the season. Big downer of the game. #Utes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) September 26, 2022
During Saturday’s game against Arizona State Kuithe went into the medical tent and emerged without pads, on crutches and with ice on his right knee.
Brant Kuithe’s Injury
Whittingham would not go into detail about Kuithe’s injury which is not unusual for the program. He simply identified it as a lower leg injury before moving on to the next questions.
So far this season Kuithe has accounted for 19 receptions for the Utes for 206 yards and three touchdowns. Kuithe was also averaging 10.8 yards per carry.
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Kuithe was a presence for Utah as a leader being voted team captain for the 2022 season. Since coming to Utah, Kuithe has grown not only as a player, but as a vocal part of the team who was good for media quotes and analyses on where the Utes currently stood and what needed improving.
Thomas Yassmin Is Up
Utah will forge ahead without Kuithe this Saturday at 12 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Networks, hosting a tough Oregon State Beavers team. As Whittingham said in his press conference multiple times, the job is now primarily in the hands of Thomas Yassmin. All eyes will certainly be watching.
“Dalton Kincaid’s role becomes even bigger,” Whittingham said. “He’s already a big part of the offense as well. As I mentioned, Thomas Yassmin is really the guy that will take most of the reps from Brant. We’ve got to continue to move forward. Injuries are the most unfortunate part of the sport and the part of my job I like the least- seeing these young men get hurt.”
Yassmin was impressive in his debut after Kuithe was ruled out for the rest of the game against Arizona State over the weekend. While he only had one reception against the Sun Devils, it was for 72 yards as he took some of ASU’s defense with him. Whittingham has full confidence in Yassmin’s ability noting his athleticism, but says it’s taken him some time because he had never played football before coming to the Utes.
“He was pretty darn good in the game Saturday taking over for Brant,” Whittingham said. “That’s what has held him back, he started from ground zero when he got to us. It’s been a process for him and he’s better now than he’s ever been. If he can eliminate a few errors that do show up on occasion it will make him even better.”
