Spring Ball Preview: Utah Football’s Offensive Line Room
Mar 4, 2025, 10:41 AM | Updated: May 29, 2025, 11:32 am
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - SEPTEMBER 7: Money Parks #10 of the Utah Utes celebrates scoring a touchdown with teammates Dijon Stanley #23 and Spencer Fano #55 during the first half of their game against the Baylor Bears at Rice Eccles Stadium on September 7, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY—With the start of spring ball just around the corner, it’s a good time to start previewing each position group for Utah football.
These five weeks of spring camp will allow Kyle Whittingham’s staff to integrate all the newcomers into Utah football’s culture. It’s also a critical period for player development and team progression.
Unlike some position groups, Utah’s offensive line remains remarkably stable. The Utes return all five starters from last season, providing continuity and experience in the trenches. With a mix of proven veterans and young talent battling for depth spots, the offensive line is set to be one of the strongest units on the team.
The ability to keep the same core group together for another year says a lot of things, but mainly that Utah has a major strength in the trenches.
𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞. 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞. 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐞. pic.twitter.com/XvawY7d1sC
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) March 3, 2025
Utah Football’s Offensive Line
Who Left: Falcon Kaumatule, Johnny Maea
Who’s Back: Spencer Fano, Caleb Lomu, Tanoa Togiai, Jaren Kump, Michael Mokofisi, Keith Olson, Solatoa Moea’i, Isaiah Garcia, Alex Harrison, Zereoue Williams, Alma Taleni, Roger Alderman
Who’s New: Kalolo Ta’aga
The starting five from last season remains intact, a rare luxury in college football. Despite the offensive struggles this past season, this unit actually performed well. With another year of development under offensive line coach Jim Harding, they have the potential to be one of the best groups in the nation. This group will be pivotal in ensuring the offense runs smoothly in 2025.
RELATED: Utah’s Spencer Fano Named In PFF’s Top 101 Players From 2024 Season
Spencer Fano, Caleb Lomu, a fantastic tandem
Fano has already cemented himself as one of the nation’s premier tackles, earning All-American honors in each of his first two seasons. Now, he enters his junior year with the potential to be a 2026 first-round NFL Draft pick.
His athleticism, footwork, and technique make him an elite pass protector. Still, to solidify himself as a top draft prospect, he needs to showcase even more dominance in run blocking and continue to refine his hand placement against elite edge rushers.
Beyond his physical abilities, Fano must assume a larger leadership role within the offensive line. His experience, combined with his work ethic, makes him a natural mentor for younger players. Demonstrating leadership will only enhance his draft stock. If he continues his upward trajectory, Fano could become Utah’s first offensive lineman selected in the first round since Garret Bolles in 2017.
As for Lomu, this will be his second season as the starting left tackle. Lomu played well in his first season as a starter, and showcased a lot of promise given his size and athleticism. Though it’s hard to expect a similar leap forward, Lomu earned All-American nominations this year and seems to be on a trajectory comparable to Fano’s.
After an impressive first year protecting the blindside, Lomu can make significant progress in the run game. If he can make progress in that phase, he’ll really round out his game and give Utah two premier tackles in college football.
RELATED: Initial Projection Of Utah Football’s 2025 Starting Units
Jockeying for inside position on the depth chart
While Utah’s starting five is set, the battle for key depth spots will be one to watch closely. Olson, Moea’i, and Garcia headline a competitive group vying for backup roles and potential rotational snaps. With the physical demands of the position and the inevitability of injuries, having reliable depth is essential for maintaining offensive efficiency throughout the season.
Olson has been in the program for a few years and has steadily developed into a reliable option at guard. The 6-foot-6, 311-pounder has great play strength and a good understanding of the offense. He filled in admirably at guard this past season and showed some potential in run game.
At 6-foot-4, 344 pounds, Moea’i is a big body, capable of playing either guard spot. His size and athleticism make him an intriguing prospect, and spring ball will be crucial for him to showcase his improvement in technique and consistency. If he can demonstrate increased discipline in his blocking assignments and improve his leverage, he could carve out a valuable rotational role.
The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Garcia was a highly touted recruit, who has the potential to be a future starter. After suffering an injury that limited him last fall, Garcia had to work his way back into a groove. With a year in the program, Garcia should be better equipped to challenge for a role. He worked primarily on the left side of the line at tackle and guard but also worked at center. That sort of versatility is a bid advantage but finding his spot could be key to him emerging.
RELATED: Three Utah Football Players Invited To NFL Combine
Learning what Utah has at tackle behind starters
Utah has two really good offensive tackles in the starting lineup. They are known quantities, which makes learning what Utah has behind them a big key to spring ball.
Zereoue Williams is back for his fifth season with the program. An injury-riddled career has robbed him of potential but Williams is still a very valuable commodity for Utah. When he’s been available, Williams has shown a lot of promise. Keeping him healthy is priority No. 1 because Williams could be a great piece to have this fall.
Behind Williams, Utah will need to see what they have in Alma Taleni and Kalolo Ta’aga. These two players are taller, leaner, more athletic tackle types but a bit raw.
Taleni is an Aussie who is still new to the game, and learning the game can be a process. It will be interesting to learn this spring what sort of progress he has made in his first year in the program. At 6-foot-7, 297 pounds, Taleni is an impressive athlete thanks to his background in basketball.
Similarly, Ta’aga also grew up a basketball player before switching to football in high school. Ta’aga was actually a big recruit for Utah two cycles ago but he committed to USC coming out of high school. After transferring to Utah, the 6-foot-8, 314 pound Ta’aga seems ready to actually be developed as an offensive lineman.
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All in all, Utah’s offensive line is in an enviable position with a rock-solid starting group and talented depth pieces pushing for playing time. With continuity, experience, and high-end talent, this unit will be a driving force behind the Utes’ success in 2025.
As the off-season progresses, maintaining health and further developing young players will be critical to sustaining a high-level of play. This group appears to be the backbone for Utah’s outlook, especially on offense, this season.
