Utah Football Announces Team Captains, Leadership Council
Aug 19, 2022, 5:42 PM
Head coach Kyle Whittingham (L) and quarterback Cameron Rising #7 of the Utah Utes celebrate the team's 38-10 victory over the Oregon Ducks to win the Pac-12 Conference championship game at Allegiant Stadium on December 3, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY- The University of Utah has named its captains for the 2022 football season along with its leadership council. The group includes Utah quarterback Cameron Rising.
Introducing our 2022 Captains & Leadership Council 🙌 pic.twitter.com/FsR5EMvP48
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 19, 2022
Also included in the captaincy group is tight end Brant Kuithe, defensive linemen Devin Kaufusi, and cornerback Clark Phillips III.
Rising was recently included in ESPN’s top 100 football players going into the 2022 season. Rising last year was a key contributor to Utah’s Rose Bowl appearance, taking over the offense in the third game of the season against San Diego State and leading Utah to its first-ever Pac-12 championship.
Clark Phillips slides into Todd McShay’s first pre-season draft rankings at number 44. Phillips is widely regarded as a day one NFL corner who will be taken in the first round of next year’s NFL draft.
If you had to rank #Utah draft prospects going into this season, how would you do it? Who would you rank highest? Whose your dark horse? Check out where Todd McShay and other ESPN personalities have your favorite Utes ranked going into the season. https://t.co/feAQN5v2Ys
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 17, 2022
Kuithe had 50 receptions for the Utes last year and put up 611 yards with six touchdowns in the 2021 campaign for the Utes.
The versatile tight end has at points in his career been included in conversations where some believe he is one of the best ten college football tight ends in the nation.
Kaufusi last year had 13 tackles. Our lads currently has Kaufusi slated as a second-stringer, though those reports are unconfirmed as Utah has not released a two-deep.
KSL Sports Utes insider Michelle Bodkin sights that coach Luther Elliss said in a recent availability that Kaufusi is competing for a starting spot but did not clarify with any additional information of who exactly Kaufusi was competing with.
Kaufusi is a senior and seniority seems important to the Utes in terms of captaincy decisions as Phillips is the youngest player in the group coming in as a sophomore.
If you missed the most recent episode of Crimson Corner, we have a breakdown for you. Host @BodkinKSLsports had @SSylvester55 on to give all the details leading up to @Utah_Football's historic season that ended with a win over the #CrimsonTide. #GoUteshttps://t.co/8aGTC31NHq
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 19, 2022
The Utes hope to repeat a historic season this year with the current set of captains and leadership group members.
Two players that stick out on the leadership committee are running back Micah Bernard, who has been vocal about Utah’s running back depth this year, and young safety Cole Bishop who played a starring role in Utah’s Pac-12 title victory over Oregon.
Utah will need great leadership on September 3rd in Florida as the Utes take on Florida to begin the 2022 season. Kyle Whittingham has been effusive with praise for Rising’s leadership in particular.
Several times this year the veteran ball coach has called Rising the best leader he has been around and had a chance to work with. High praise for leadership, from another highly respected leader in college football, Kyle Whittingham.
