Sources: Utah RB TJ Pledger To Declare For 2022 NFL Draft
Dec 8, 2021, 3:00 PM | Updated: 5:12 pm
Running back TJ Pledger #5 of the Utah Utes rushes the football against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half of the NCAAF game at Arizona Stadium on November 13, 2021 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Utes running back TJ Pledger plans to leave school early and declare for the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft, sources told sports.ksl.com.
The junior rusher will leave the University of Utah after playing only one season with the Utes. Sources also told sports.ksl.com that Pledger will play in The Rose Bowl and that will mark his last game with Utah.
Prior to his time with Utah football, Pledger played for the Oklahoma Sooners from 2018-20.
Don't count them out.
TJ Pledger scores a touchdown to secure the lead for @Utah_Football.
📺 Pac-12 Network
📱https://t.co/NmTbZLHOGg pic.twitter.com/Sn6u0rOxj1— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 25, 2021
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In January, the Pacoima, California native announced that he would transfer to the University of Utah.
During his only season with the Utes, Pledger helped his team win the Pac-12 Championship and a Rose Bowl Game bid for the first time in program history.
The No. 11 Utes currently own a 10-3 record and will play No. 6 Ohio State in the Rose Game on January 1, 2022.
During his lone season with Utah, Pledger has recorded 97 carries for 671 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. He surpassed the 100-yard mark in four games this season.
In Utah’s win over Stanford on November 5, Pledger scored on a 96-yard touchdown run. His scoring run is the longest rushing play and the second-longest play from scrimmage in Utah football history.
96 YARDS TO THE HOUSE 🏠
TJ Pledger makes it 35-0 for @Utah_Football 💪 pic.twitter.com/Qf9VbuLY0C
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 6, 2021
In his college career, Pledger has carried the ball 232 times for 1,366 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s also caught 21 passes out of the backfield for 196 yards.
It’s likely that Pledger will be a day three pick or sign with a team as an undrafted free agent. Fellow running back prospects likely to be taken ahead of the Utah running back include Kenneth Walker III (Michigan State), Breece Hall (Iowa State), Isaiah Spiller (Texas A&M), Zach Charbonnet (UCLA), Kyren Williams (Notre Dame), Hassan Haskins (Michigan), and Dameon Pierce (Florida State).
The 2022 NFL Draft will take place in Paradise, Nevada from April 28–30, 2022.
Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).
