Spring Ball Preview: Utah Football’s Linebacker Room
Mar 17, 2025, 12:12 PM
SALT LAKE CITY—With the start of Utah football’s spring ball beginning next Thursday, we continue our position group preview with Luther Elliss’ defensive tackle group.
These five weeks of spring camp will allow Kyle Whittingham’s staff to integrate all the newcomers into Utah football’s culture.
The linebacker position stands out as a crucial area for evaluation and development as Utah aims to fortify its defense in preparation for the upcoming season.
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Utah’s Linebacker Room
Departures: Karene Reid, Sione Fotu, Josh Calvert
Returners: Levani Damuni, Lander Barton, Johnathan Hall, Trey Reynolds, Elijah Elliss, Kanai Lopes
Newcomers: Christian Thatcher, Cyrus Polu, Mateaki Hulu
The linebacker room features a mix of established contributors, rising prospects, and promising newcomers. This spring will be vital in establishing defined roles, refining communication on the field, and ensuring the unit’s depth is well-prepared for the fall. Developing chemistry and ensuring proper alignment in Utah’s aggressive defensive scheme will be key factors in this unit’s overall success.
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Senior leaders Levani Damuni, Lander Barton
As Utah’s spring ball gets underway, the linebacker position will be an interesting one to follow. Utah returns a good core and has added some exciting young pieces to the group as well.
Lander Barton enters his senior season as one of the most impactful players on Utah’s defense. His instincts, versatility, and ability to deliver key plays make him an indispensable asset. In his return from a significant foot injury in 2023, Barton’s play was filled with highs and lows. By the final of the season, it seemed Barton had finally returned to form.
His playmaking allows him to contribute effectively in both run defense and pass coverage, giving the Utes a reliable leader in all situations. If Barton continues to progress on the trajectory he finished the year with, he should be among the top linebackers in the conference.
Similarly, Levani Damuni will be focused on regaining his past form after a significant injury last spring. His experience, on-field awareness, and production could be essential in anchoring Utah’s defense. A healthy Damuni would provide a stabilizing presence and enhance the overall consistency of the linebacker corps. His presence should also provide a good example to the younger teammates around him.
Together, these two give the Utes a strong duo at linebacker.
𝐏𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐭 ✅ pic.twitter.com/vP95F2jmss
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) March 7, 2025
The X-factor Johnathan Hall
After making the move at the conclusion of fall camp, Johnathan Hall flashed exciting playmaking potential at linebacker. He worked his way into the rotation and then filled in for the injured Karene Reid.
Despite his lack of familiarity with the position, Hall made plays throughout the season. There were mistakes and situations where the lack of familiarity was clear. Going into his second year as a linebacker, there is a lot of optimism about his potential progress. Hall possesses the natural qualities to thrive; it’s the development he makes within the mental side of the position that will determine his impact level.
He seems poised for a bigger role, but Hall has to make strides in his game to make it a reality. Hall could develop into a big piece of Utah’s defensive success next season, and spring practices will be pivotal in refining his skills and further establishing his position in the rotation.
Great evening with the family! pic.twitter.com/qLrYl3itKf
— Lewis Powell (@CoachPowell99) February 28, 2025
The new guys, Christian Thatcher, Cyrus Polu, Mateaki Helu
The Utes have reason to be optimistic about their incoming freshman linebackers. Thatcher, Polu, and Helu each bring strong athletic traits and positional versatility. Their readiness for major contributions remains to be seen, but a strong spring showing from this group could help solidify valuable depth at the position.
Polu is a versatile defender who can defend sideline-to-sideline and potentially excel in coverage. Thatcher’s physicality and instincts make him a prime candidate to develop into a dependable presence around the line of scrimmage. Helu has great natural football ability and it be interesting to see how it develops now that he’ll be honed in on the defensive side of the ball.
If any of these freshmen can earn playing time early, Utah’s depth at linebacker will be greatly improved.
Experience in the depth chart
Utah’s linebacker depth is sustained by the presence of Reynolds, Elliss, and Lopes— all capable contributors. This trio provides insurance behind the starters and will all be in the mix for parts in the rotation and special teams.
Reynolds is the veteran of these three. He plays a physical downhill play style that offers value in short-yardage situations. Elliss is a developmental prospect whose namesake provides plenty of reason to be optimistic about. Lopes, meanwhile, made a strong first impression last year as a true freshman and seems to possess promising potential as an all-around linebacker.
They will need to make strides in their games, but their presence offers Utah stability in case of injuries or unexpected absences, giving the team a deep and experienced core to rely on.
Keys for the linebacker room
Utah’s linebacker corps is a pivotal area to monitor this spring. Colton Swan brings back established veterans returning to provide leadership, ascending talents expected to contribute, and incoming freshmen poised to compete for playing time.
This blend of experience and potential allows the unit to develop into a formidable strength for the Utes. With several key players returning from injury and a number of new faces ready to emerge, this spring will serve as a proving ground for the entire group.
If Barton can continue to build upon his strong finish while Damuni begins the process of returning to form, Utah will be in good shape. Hall is the x-factor and could potentially elevate the group’s ceiling if he continues to make progress. This trio is very promising, but progress has to be made all around.
There is a lot of potential with this group, and spring ball will provide the coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate the entire unit.
When does Utah football’s spring ball begin?
The Utes will open spring camp on Thursday, March 20, and the 22 Forever Game will cap spring practices on Saturday, April 19.
Utah has already gotten back to work in its offseason regimen. Whittingham and his staff will lead players through 15 practices over five weeks. Utah will split its time between the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center and Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Utah’s annual spring game on April 19 in Rice-Eccles Stadium will once again benefit the 22 Forever Memorial Scholarship, which honors the memories of Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe.
Each season, the scholarship is represented by a student-athlete in the football program who exemplifies the inspiring qualities that Ty and Aaron demonstrated. Tickets are available for purchase, and all proceeds go to the 22 Forever Memorial Scholarship.
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