Utah Tech Football Opens Fall Camp

It's time!

Here's the UT Media Relations press release about Fall Camp:

Utah Tech Football begins formal preparations for the 2024 season this Wednesday morning as the Trailblazers open their fifth NCAA Division I FCS fall camp at Greater Zion Stadium.

With the four-year transition to full D-I status successfully completed, the Trailblazers are set to embark on their second season of United Athletic Conference (UAC) play, and their first season fully eligible for the 2024 FCS Playoffs.

The 2024 campaign also marks a new era for Utah Tech as first-year head coach Lance Anderson (Idaho State, 1997) and his staff will have 25 early morning practices, along with two scrimmages, over the next four-plus weeks in advance of the Trailblazers' season opener at home vs. Big Sky Conference power Montana State on Saturday, August 31.

All media members are asked to contact Utah Tech Associate AD for Media Relations Steve Johnson to request practice access and interview availability.

The 2024 Roster

Utah Tech welcomes back 42 players who saw playing time from last year's team and 22 redshirts, including eight starters (O-2, D-6), along with four specialists. Among the offensive starters returning are senior OL Bayo Kannike, who started in all 11 games at either right guard or right tackle last season, along with junior receiver Daniel Thomason, who caught 15 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown a season ago.

On defense, linebackers Sam Kanongata'a (Sr. – 11 tackles, 1 INT in 2023) and Jared Fotu (Jr. – team high 82 tackles) return, as do junior DL Fasito'Otai Sagapolu (30 tackles), and a trio of defensive backs in redshirt juniors Jagger Williams (61 tackles, 1 INT) and Jayden Sheridan (29 tackles), and sophomore Scooter Jackson (18 tackles).

On special teams, redshirt sophomore All-American long snapper and 2024 Preseason All-WAC selection Ryan Kean is back, as is senior punter Andy Day, who is Utah Tech's career leader in punt yardage (6,745).

Other key returnees who saw significant time for the Trailblazers last season include running backs Chris Street (R-Jr.) and Nygel Osborne (So.), receiver Damani Wilks (Sr.), offensive linemen Porter LaChance (R-So.), Nolan Reynolds (R-Jr.), Bryce Crowley (R-Jr.), Carter Bessire (R-So.) and Mason Clark (R-So.), defensive linemen John Sniffen (Sr.) and Laytan Tanuvasa (R-Jr.), linebacker Moon Ashby (R-Jr.), and defensive backs Gabriel Valenzuela (R-Jr.), Brevin Hamblin (So.), Bryant Weekly (R-Jr.), Micah Gardner (R-Jr.), and Amari Duncan (R-Jr.).

The Trailblazers open fall camp with six quarterbacks, including a pair of returning redshirts in freshmen Skyler Cassel and Reggie Graff. Utah Tech also landed two former FBS signal callers out of the transfer portal in junior transfers Luke MacPhail (Syracuse) and Deacon Hill (Iowa), while Dixie HS graduate Bronson Barben and Hawai'i prep standout Ty McCutcheon both enter their first collegiate seasons.

2024 Newcomers

In all, Utah Tech welcomes 54 newcomers to fall camp, 17 of whom are four-year transfers. In addition to MacPhail and Hill, DaJon Harrison (WR – UConn), Caleb Canada (OLB – Mississippi Valley State), Shamar Garrett (RB – San Jose State), Amari Pouncy (OLB – New Mexico State), Eni Falayi (TE – UMass), Fisher Jackson (OLB – BYU), Elijah Wood (LB – San Jose State), Jake Hill (WR – BYU), Spencer Rich (LB – Memphis), Trey Kalauli (LS – Weber State), Dane Whalen (DL – Nicholls State), Tugase Williams (OLB – Missouri Southern), Rambo Mageo (OL – San Diego State), Chernet Estes (WR – Colorado), and Alec Burton (TE – Ohio) will all look to make immediate impacts in their new home.