Giving game balls for Utah’s win over Oregon State

Offense - Offensive Line

Really everyone on the offense could make a case for the game ball on the offensive side. Zack Moss and Tyler Huntley certainly would have incredibly strong cases here, and some may claim that Zack Moss not getting the game ball despite running for 24.2 yards per carry is the upset of the year (and that includes USC beating the Utes) but when I sat down and thought about it, I knew that the offensive line for the Utes deserve some love.

The O-Line has taken some tough - but fair - criticism this season. It’s true, this offensive line is not as good as o-lines of years past, but they had an elite showing against the Beavers. I already touched on Moss’ impressive day, and the efficiency of Tyler Huntley, but those players would not have had the days they did unless the line played well. Add in the fact that the Utes had three players rush for a touchdown, and the Offensive Line had one of the more impressive performances on a day where everyone had a great game.

Defense - Devin Lloyd

Devin Lloyd is becoming one of the more pleasant surprises on this Utah team. Everyone knew the linebacker was talented, but we didn’t know how he would perform with this being his first season in a starting role. Well, as it turns out, he’s doing pretty dang good.

Lloyd’s impressive season continued on Saturday as the sophomore returned an interception 64 yards to the house for a Utah score. In addition to a pick-6, the linebacker finished with 4 tackles and a sack in the Utes win. Lloyd is going to always take a backseat to the likes of Francis Bernard, Leki Fotu and Bradlee Anae on this defense, but Morgan Scalley’s group is in good hands in the seasons to come with Devin Lloyd.

Special Teams - Jadon Redding

The Utah special teams unit has been a mess all season long for the Utes, and the questions has certainly not been answered, evident from Kyle Whittingham’s decision to forgo a field goal attempt and go for it fourth down early in the game. But it was nice to go a complete game without a missed kick, and that is exactly what Jadon Redding did, make every kick.

Redding finished the game converting on 100% of his kicking attempts, both field goals and point-afters. The freshman made all 7 of his PATs and made his lone field goal attempt from 42 yards. Fingers crossed that Redding can use this performance as a building block and continue to improve throughout this season.