Utah Has Three Players Ranked In ESPN Preseason Metrics
Aug 17, 2022, 12:55 PM
Running back Tavion Thomas #9 of the Utah Utes runs upfield during the PAC-12 Football Championship Game featuring the Oregon Ducks and the Utah Utes on December 3, 2021 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY- Several players from the University of Utah are included in Todd McShay’s ESPN pre-season draft ratings and a piece on the website detailing the top 100 players in 2022.
Headlining McShay’s list for the Utes is cornerback Clark Phillips III who ranks No. 44 in McShay’s pre-season top 50 draft prospects.
Some nice recognition here for a couple of @Utah_Football players. #GoUteshttps://t.co/x82c5udgZr
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) August 17, 2022
Included in College Footballs’ top 100 players Utah quarterback Cameron Rising comes in ranked number 48 and running back Tavion Thomas is slated at number 84.
Also coming in at number 17 on the list is Orem High graduate and Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell.
In his first full season after a shoulder injury at QB for the Utes Rising threw for 2,493 yards and 20 touchdowns. Rising also limited turnovers in his first full year as the starter and threw just five interceptions on the year.
Rising is considered to be a sleeper candidate to go in the first round of the NFL draft. A player who many believe can make his way into the first 32 picks with another solid season at Utah.
Reports out of camp indicate Rising and the offense look good as the season is now just two weeks away.
.@Utah_Football offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig is confident in the offense and how things are coming together. #GoUtes #UteProudhttps://t.co/Wn73ewzHQt
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 16, 2022
Meanwhile, Thomas put up 1,108 yards on the ground last year for a Utah team that relied heavily on the run down the stretch. In Whittingham’s run-first offense, Thomas is again on the path to getting 200 plus attempts (he had 204 last year) and another 1,000-yard season.
That type of production will see him looked at as an NFL-level back, despite McShay not ranking Thomas in his pre-season top 50 draft rankings.
The only player getting such love from McShay is junior cornerback Clark Phillips III. Phillips is regarded by analysts and coaches alike as one of the most intriguing corner prospects to watch in 2022 going into the NFL draft.
He is likely to be projected as a first-round draft pick this year. Utah’s highest defensive recruit ever at the time has lived up to the national billing as a must-watch cornerback.
Clark Phillips III is a master of small things. Met with him a lot through Covid, fell in-love with film through the process. Constantly calling Shah with details about opponents. #Utes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) August 15, 2022
Utah will open its season on September 3rd at Florida, a 5:00 p.m. MT kick-off that can be viewed on ESPN.
