Joe Jiannoni is determined to lead the Utes in tackles this season.
"It's a huge goal for me," he said. "I really want to do that."
In last week's 20-7 win over TCU, the junior linebacker finished with a game-high nine stops — raising his total in Mountain West Conference games to a team-best 14.
Overall, Jiannoni has made 31 tackles, a tally that ranks third on the squad behind safeties Casey Evans (37) and Steve Tate (33).
"My guess is by the end of the season he'll be No. 1," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "If he keeps doing what he's doing."
Jiannoni leads the Utes in average tackles per game (7.7), but trails in the overall count because he missed two games (Northern Arizona and Utah State) after having a surgical screw removed from his foot.
Pain still lingers and probably will throughout the remainder of the season. Anti-inflammatory shots help, as does massage therapy, but the irritated tissue surrounding the injury simply needs time and inactivity to mend.
"My foot has been a big setback for me. I've had to miss two games and I couldn't perform very well against UCLA," Jiannoni said. "It's not totally healed yet. It still hurts, but it's better than it was."
Since having the screw removed, Whittingham said Jiannoni is getting better and better each week.
So much so, the coach added, that Jiannoni is approaching the level of play he exhibited over the second half of 2005 when the Utes defeated BYU and Georgia Tech. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound starter had 73 tackles last season.
"Joe brings a toughness to the defense. He's ornery and physical," Whittingham said. "He's got the temperament of what you'd expect from a middle linebacker. He's got that mean streak. He's extremely competitive and he likes to hit people."
As such, Whittingham wouldn't be surprised to see Jiannoni lead the team in tackles.
"That's a realistic goal for a middle linebacker," he said. "He's the focal point of the defense as far as positioning and where he is positioned in the scheme. He's got an opportunity on virtually each and every play to have an impact."
Jiannoni shoots for double-digit tackles in every game he plays — even with a sore foot.
"It's the adrenaline, I think, that takes over," Jiannoni said. "I feel it every once-in-a-while. In practice I feel it all the time."
The pain, however, doesn't alter Jiannoni's approach to the game. He's as hard-nosed as ever.
"That's just my personality," said Jiannoni, who never wants to miss another game. "It was a bummer ... It was just an awkward feeling for me to be on the sidelines, not dressed out and watching the team play."
Whittingham knows all about Jiannoni's passion.
"No one hates to miss practice or games more than Joe and so it was killing him," Whittingham said while noting that Jiannoni was a bit rusty upon his return. "He wasn't as productive as he usually is, but against TCU he was more like his old self — playing faster, more effective and more efficient. We're hoping that just continues on the upswing."
His next opportunity comes Saturday at Wyoming.
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com