Utes TE Cole Fotheringham Ready To Make Impact On Offense

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – In recent years, the tight end position at Utah has been used more to block rather than make plays in the passing game.

With the change at offensive coordinator from Troy Taylor to Andy Ludwig, the tight ends will be utilized more.

One player that is expected to lead the charge at the position is sophomore Cole Fotheringham. The 6’4, 252 lbs. tight end from San Clemente, California is ready to make an impact on the Utes offense.

“I think we will have more of an impact on the offense for sure,” Fotheringham said. “We will see a lot more playing time and be a lot more involved in the offense so, it should be exciting.”

On the Crimson Corner podcast, the player profile was on Fotheringham.

Competing For Starter Spot

During fall camp, he is competing with fellow sophomore Brant Kuithe from Katy, Texas for the starting spot. But, regardless of who will be the starter on August 29 against BYU, the duo is there to support each other.

“It’s been good,” he mentioned. “Brant and I are great friends off the field so, we are always pushing each other to get better and cheer each other on when we make plays, we are just very supportive of each other.”

Fotheringham was recently named to the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, which is given to the best tight end in college football. He thinks it’s great to be on the list but, doesn’t want it to get in the way of his goals.

“Yeah, it’s cool,” Fotheringham said. “I try to block that stuff out though and just don’t let that be a distraction. Acknowledge the recognition but just try to get better every day.”

Goals For Fall Camp

Fotheringham has been working with Andy Ludwig since spring to get the playbook down to where he knows the entire offense. He likes what Ludwig brings to the table.

“I think coach Ludwig brings a lot of positive things to the table since we started installing all of his playbook in the spring,” Fotheringham stated. “It’s very efficient and I think we know what we want to do, we have the hard-nosed mentality and go get after guys.”

Last season as a true freshman, Fotheringham had 17 receptions for 190 yards and 2 touchdowns. He learned a lot from his first season in college and is ready to apply that to his sophomore season.

“Just acknowledge the positive things when good things happen, just keep your head down and keep working,” Fotheringham said. “Shake it off if you make a mistake and don’t let it get into your head and keep on moving forward.”

Fotheringham’s goals that he wants to accomplish in fall camp is simple.

“The lineman assignment stuff and then getting the timing down on the routes, getting faster, stronger and being a better blocker.”

He didn’t get the love for the game of football until later in life but it’s there.

“Towards the end of my high school career,” Fotheringham said. “Probably my junior or senior year is when I really started to get into it. I had a high school coach that really influenced me and made me really appreciate the tight end position.”

He learned the tight end position from a coach who played in the NFL. That’s something he has taken advantage of and models his game after.

“Probably my high school coach John Allred, he played at USC and in the NFL for a while. He was my tight end coach in high school,” said Fotheringham. “He taught me a lot of what I know and I have idolized him.”