Utah WR/PR Britain Covey, DT Junior Tafuna Named Pac-12 Players Of The Week
Nov 22, 2021, 1:27 PM
Utah Utes wide receiver Britain Covey (18) takes a kickoff and looks for an opening as Utah and Oregon play an NCAA football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. Utah won 38-7. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – After a big 38-7 win over No. 3 Oregon, Utah had two players named Pac-12 Player of the Week for their performances on Saturday.
Utah wide receiver and return specialist Britain Covey was named Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week, while defensive tackle Junior Tafuna was named Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week.
It’s the second time that Britain Covey has won the Special Teams Player of the Week award this season, earning the honor the first time after Week 3 against San Diego State when he had a punt returned for a touchdown. On Saturday, Covey had two punt returns for 90 yards and one TD. He also had two kickoffs returned for 59 yards.
Covey made one of the big plays of the game on Saturday when Oregon faced a fourth down with 11 seconds left in the first half. The Ducks wanted to run out the clock but head coach Kyle Whittingham called a timeout to give Covey a chance to make a play. The Timpview star returned the punt for a 78-yard touchdown that gave the Utes a 28-0 lead at the half.
#Pac12FB Special Teams Player of the Week, presented by @Nextiva: Britain Covey. 🙌
Full release ➡️ https://t.co/My22aZROIP#GoUtes | @Utah_Football pic.twitter.com/mEuMCF4N4w
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) November 22, 2021
Junior Tafuna earned his first Conference Player of the Week honor of his career. He joins Van Fillinger as the only Utah players to earn this award this season. Tafuna recorded three tackles, including 1.5 sacks in the win over Oregon. The Taylorsville, Utah native now has 4.5 sacks this season, which leads all Pac-12 freshmen.
#Pac12FB Defensive Lineman of the Week, presented by @Nextiva: Junior Tafuna. 🙌
Full release ➡️ https://t.co/My22aZROIP#GoUtes | @Utah_Football pic.twitter.com/lcFq6BCndX
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) November 22, 2021
Three other Utah players were nominated for awards but came up short. Tavion Thomas was nominated for Offensive Player of the Week. Cole Bishop was nominated for Defensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week. Sataoa Laumea was nominated for Offensive Lineman of the Week.
Here are the other award winners from around the conference:
- Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA – Offensive Player of the Week
- Jahad Woods, Washington State – Defensive Player of the Week
- Ben Coleman, California – Offensive Lineman of the Week
- Lu-Magia-Hearns, California – Freshman of the Week
Utah will host Colorado in the regular season and Senior Day on Friday, November 26 at 2 p.m. MT on FOX.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com, Co-Host of Faith, Family and Football podcast with Clark Phillips III and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports.
