clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Top 10 athletes: #8 Hunter Dimick - Football

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

When a football team has a player returning that had 10 sacks the previous season they have to be optimistic for the upcoming season. Even with those 10 sacks, that player didn't lead the team in that statistic, but junior defensive end Hunter Dimick has the ability to step into the spot left vacant by Cleveland Brown, Nate Orchard.

With teams trying to focus their efforts on Orchard last season, that often freed up other players like Dimick to get sacks of their own. Utah seems to reload every season on the defensive line. They lose players to the NFL, and another player steps in with the team missing a beat. Despite being only a sophomore last season, Dimick grabbed on to the starting left defensive end spot, and never let go. Dimick accounted for 52 tackles, of those 28 were solo tackles, and 14.5 were tackles for loss. He also forced two fumbles, and had two pass deflections. Teams won't have the opportunity to focus on Dimick, for if they do, players Lowell Lotulei, Jason Fanaika, or any of the linebackers will punish opposing offensive lines.

Dimick will also have the opportunity to be coached by one of the journeymen of the game, in new defensive coordinator John Pease. His experience coaching in college and the NFL should help Dimick and the other offensive linemen. With a tutor like Pease, one would expect the numbers that Dimick got last season to increase in 2015.

Dimick isn't the flashy player that catches one's eye right away, but he possesses enough quickness to get around his opponent, strength to overpower offensive linemen, and attack his target. His size may be more suited for defensive tackle, but his quickness and athleticism give him exactly what he needs to play defensive end.

He won't be a player that gets headlines for flashy explosive plays, but he gets the job done. He's more a fly under the radar type player, and it seems to suit him. Other players on the field may in the spotlight more, but Hunter Dimick will continue to be a force in the backfield for the Utes for this upcoming season and the next. Utah fans will hear Hunter Dimick's name and number called often, and is an important cog in the 2015 defense for the Utah Football team.

Here's the rest of the list:

Top 10 Athletes: #9 Kaelin Clay

Top 10 Athletes: #10 Hannah Flippen