Well, I think I've recovered from watching our Utes crap the bed last night, and now spring ball is right around the corner. I think it's fun to make predictions about how the season will unfold before it all begins and see how those predictions stack up against the actual outcomes. This is all for fun, and clearly Utah-biased, although I will try my hardest to be objective. Here are my picks for the 2016 all-state football team. (Keep in mind this only includes the three major in-state programs, because I know nothing about SUU or Weber State.) Non-University of Utah players' schools will be given in parentheses after their names.
QB
1. Troy Williams
2. Tanner Mangum (BYU)
3. Taysom Hill (BYU)
I know that this is counting the chickens before the eggs have hatched, but Troy Williams sounds like a significant upgrade over Travis Wilson, and I have a lot of confidence in Holliday to improve the receiving corps. That being said, Wilson was better than Mangum last year when compared to similar levels of competition, so while I think Mangum is good, I don't think he's as good as his numbers might suggest.
RB
1. Devante Mays (USU)
2. Joe Williams
3. Jamaal Williams (BYU)
Joe should be the # 1 back for Utah, although I expect to see Troy McCormick, Marcel Brooks-Brown, and maybe Zack Moss get a fair amount of carries as well. Utah's combined running game should be very effective, however, I think the single best back in the state this year will be Devante Mays. Mays had a 1000+ yard/9 TD season last year for USU, and that was splitting carries with LaJuan Hunt. I expect him to be the workhorse for the Aggies and should have the statistically best season of all RBs in the state of Utah.
WR
1. Tim Patrick
2. Jonah Trinnaman (BYU)
WR
1. Nick Kurtz (BYU)
2. Tyrone Smith
WR
1. Cory Butler-Byrd
2. Mitchell Juergens (BYU)
BYU returns Nick Kurtz and Mitchell Juergens who were significant contributors from last year. They also add Jonah Trinnaman who should contribute significantly, and have another big body in Moroni Laulu-Pututau. MLP is kind of slow, so I don't know how well he'll perform against fast, physical defenses. USU's leading returning wide receiver only had 281 yards and 1 TD, so their receiving corps may struggle this year. Once again, I'm kind of counting the chickens before they hatch here by predicting Utah will have three of the six best receivers in the state, but hey, that's what crazy preseason predictions are all about, right?
TE
1. Siale Fakailoatonga
2. Harrison Handley
3. Wyatt Houston (USU)
Utah should have the best tight end group in the state with Fakailoatonga, Handley, and possibly Evan Moeai if he gets an extra year granted. BYU will have more balls thrown to TEs this year, but they haven't recruited the position very well for the past few years, so I don't know how productive they will be. Wyatt Houston had a decent season last year and will probably be one of the most frequently targeted receivers since USU's leading receiver, Hunter Sharp, has graduated.
OT
1. Garrett Bolles
2. Brad Wilcox (BYU)
OG
1. Isaac Asiata
2. Tyshon Mosely (USU)
C
1. Hiva Lutui
2. Austin Stephens (USU)
OG
1. Salesi Uhatafe
2. Kyle Johnson (BYU)
OT
1. JJ Dielman
2. Austin Albrecht (USU)
Yes, I believe that Utah's starting five are easily the best O linemen in the state. I also think that some of Utah's backups, notably Barton, Tevi, and Paulo, are better than a lot of BYU's and USU's starters. BYU's line looks like it may be in trouble with the status of Koroma, who was easily their best lineman last year, in doubt. They do return a few starters, but other than Brad Wilcox (2nd team) none of them even made the all-independent team last year. USU didn't have a single offensive lineman on the first- or second-team MWC all-conference teams, although Mosely, Stephens, and Albrecht did earn honorable mention honors.
DE
1. Kylie Fitts
2. Pita Taumoepenu
DT
1. Lowell Lotulelei
2. Travis Tuiloma (BYU)
DT
1. Filipo Mokofisi
2. Stevie Tu'ikolovatu
DE
1. Hunter Dimick
2. Ricky Ali'Ifua (USU)
Utah has the best overall DL in the state, and the best depth as well. Utah State's DL is a question mark as they have to replace two really good starters, but they've started to have a tradition of good DL play. BYU's line will be questionable this year. Tuiloma is very good when healthy, but has had all sorts of injury issues. Outside of him and possibly Handsome Tanielu, I don't see anyone on their line really standing out.
LB
1. David Luafatasaga
2. Kurtis Taufa
LB
1. Fred Warner (BYU)
2. Sunia Tauteoli
LB
1. Harvey Langi
2. Alex Huerta (USU)
I believe Utah will have a good linebacking corps next year, and that Luafatasaga and Taufa especially will be big playmakers. Tauteoli, Cody Barton, and Jake Jackson should also see plenty of time. Utah State is in the unenviable position of having to replace all of their starting linebackers, including Kyler Fackrell and Nick Vigil, and a lot of their depth were seniors as well. The one guy that has some experience and looks like he might be a good playmaker for the Aggies is Alex Huerta. BYU returns two starters as well, but is looking to replace the other two, and none of the candidates have much experience. Utah and BYU should have similar levels of success with their linebacking corps, and USU comes in a distant third.
CB
1. Dominique Hatfield
2. Reggie Porter
CB
1. Justin Thomas
2. Jalen Davis (USU)
S
1. Marcus Williams
2. Dallin Leavitt (USU)
S
1. Chase Hansen
2. Kai Nacua (BYU)
Utah looks to have the best DBs across the board as well. Besides the guys listed, Brian Allen and Boobie Hobbs should also make an impact and get plenty of playing time. A couple of other players that didn't make the list but could be big playmakers are Michael Davis and Troy Warner, both of whom play for BYU. Davis was easily BYU's best cover corner last season and appears to have the tools to play the more demanding press coverage Sitake will want. As for Warner, he appears talented enough to see significant playing time as a true freshman at either CB or S.
K
1. Andy Phillips
2. Brock Warren (USU)
P
1. Mitch Wishnowsky
2. Aaron Dalton (USU)
PR/KR
1. Riley Burt (BYU)
2. Cory Butler-Byrd
Utah should, once again, have the best special teams unit in the state, followed by USU and then BYU. Hackett swears that Wishnowsky will be better than he was, and although I find that hard to believe, if he can be anywhere near as good as Hackett, he'll be the best in the state. BYU has to replace their place kicker, and although their punter, Linehan, is pretty good, USU's punter is more accurate and downed more punts inside the 20, plus he was just a freshman last year. BYU does have probably the best returning return man in Burt, although Butler-Byrd is a close second and is definitely a better overall player.
QB
1. Troy Williams
2. Tanner Mangum (BYU)
3. Taysom Hill (BYU)
I know that this is counting the chickens before the eggs have hatched, but Troy Williams sounds like a significant upgrade over Travis Wilson, and I have a lot of confidence in Holliday to improve the receiving corps. That being said, Wilson was better than Mangum last year when compared to similar levels of competition, so while I think Mangum is good, I don't think he's as good as his numbers might suggest.
RB
1. Devante Mays (USU)
2. Joe Williams
3. Jamaal Williams (BYU)
Joe should be the # 1 back for Utah, although I expect to see Troy McCormick, Marcel Brooks-Brown, and maybe Zack Moss get a fair amount of carries as well. Utah's combined running game should be very effective, however, I think the single best back in the state this year will be Devante Mays. Mays had a 1000+ yard/9 TD season last year for USU, and that was splitting carries with LaJuan Hunt. I expect him to be the workhorse for the Aggies and should have the statistically best season of all RBs in the state of Utah.
WR
1. Tim Patrick
2. Jonah Trinnaman (BYU)
WR
1. Nick Kurtz (BYU)
2. Tyrone Smith
WR
1. Cory Butler-Byrd
2. Mitchell Juergens (BYU)
BYU returns Nick Kurtz and Mitchell Juergens who were significant contributors from last year. They also add Jonah Trinnaman who should contribute significantly, and have another big body in Moroni Laulu-Pututau. MLP is kind of slow, so I don't know how well he'll perform against fast, physical defenses. USU's leading returning wide receiver only had 281 yards and 1 TD, so their receiving corps may struggle this year. Once again, I'm kind of counting the chickens before they hatch here by predicting Utah will have three of the six best receivers in the state, but hey, that's what crazy preseason predictions are all about, right?
TE
1. Siale Fakailoatonga
2. Harrison Handley
3. Wyatt Houston (USU)
Utah should have the best tight end group in the state with Fakailoatonga, Handley, and possibly Evan Moeai if he gets an extra year granted. BYU will have more balls thrown to TEs this year, but they haven't recruited the position very well for the past few years, so I don't know how productive they will be. Wyatt Houston had a decent season last year and will probably be one of the most frequently targeted receivers since USU's leading receiver, Hunter Sharp, has graduated.
OT
1. Garrett Bolles
2. Brad Wilcox (BYU)
OG
1. Isaac Asiata
2. Tyshon Mosely (USU)
C
1. Hiva Lutui
2. Austin Stephens (USU)
OG
1. Salesi Uhatafe
2. Kyle Johnson (BYU)
OT
1. JJ Dielman
2. Austin Albrecht (USU)
Yes, I believe that Utah's starting five are easily the best O linemen in the state. I also think that some of Utah's backups, notably Barton, Tevi, and Paulo, are better than a lot of BYU's and USU's starters. BYU's line looks like it may be in trouble with the status of Koroma, who was easily their best lineman last year, in doubt. They do return a few starters, but other than Brad Wilcox (2nd team) none of them even made the all-independent team last year. USU didn't have a single offensive lineman on the first- or second-team MWC all-conference teams, although Mosely, Stephens, and Albrecht did earn honorable mention honors.
DE
1. Kylie Fitts
2. Pita Taumoepenu
DT
1. Lowell Lotulelei
2. Travis Tuiloma (BYU)
DT
1. Filipo Mokofisi
2. Stevie Tu'ikolovatu
DE
1. Hunter Dimick
2. Ricky Ali'Ifua (USU)
Utah has the best overall DL in the state, and the best depth as well. Utah State's DL is a question mark as they have to replace two really good starters, but they've started to have a tradition of good DL play. BYU's line will be questionable this year. Tuiloma is very good when healthy, but has had all sorts of injury issues. Outside of him and possibly Handsome Tanielu, I don't see anyone on their line really standing out.
LB
1. David Luafatasaga
2. Kurtis Taufa
LB
1. Fred Warner (BYU)
2. Sunia Tauteoli
LB
1. Harvey Langi
2. Alex Huerta (USU)
I believe Utah will have a good linebacking corps next year, and that Luafatasaga and Taufa especially will be big playmakers. Tauteoli, Cody Barton, and Jake Jackson should also see plenty of time. Utah State is in the unenviable position of having to replace all of their starting linebackers, including Kyler Fackrell and Nick Vigil, and a lot of their depth were seniors as well. The one guy that has some experience and looks like he might be a good playmaker for the Aggies is Alex Huerta. BYU returns two starters as well, but is looking to replace the other two, and none of the candidates have much experience. Utah and BYU should have similar levels of success with their linebacking corps, and USU comes in a distant third.
CB
1. Dominique Hatfield
2. Reggie Porter
CB
1. Justin Thomas
2. Jalen Davis (USU)
S
1. Marcus Williams
2. Dallin Leavitt (USU)
S
1. Chase Hansen
2. Kai Nacua (BYU)
Utah looks to have the best DBs across the board as well. Besides the guys listed, Brian Allen and Boobie Hobbs should also make an impact and get plenty of playing time. A couple of other players that didn't make the list but could be big playmakers are Michael Davis and Troy Warner, both of whom play for BYU. Davis was easily BYU's best cover corner last season and appears to have the tools to play the more demanding press coverage Sitake will want. As for Warner, he appears talented enough to see significant playing time as a true freshman at either CB or S.
K
1. Andy Phillips
2. Brock Warren (USU)
P
1. Mitch Wishnowsky
2. Aaron Dalton (USU)
PR/KR
1. Riley Burt (BYU)
2. Cory Butler-Byrd
Utah should, once again, have the best special teams unit in the state, followed by USU and then BYU. Hackett swears that Wishnowsky will be better than he was, and although I find that hard to believe, if he can be anywhere near as good as Hackett, he'll be the best in the state. BYU has to replace their place kicker, and although their punter, Linehan, is pretty good, USU's punter is more accurate and downed more punts inside the 20, plus he was just a freshman last year. BYU does have probably the best returning return man in Burt, although Butler-Byrd is a close second and is definitely a better overall player.
Last edited:
