SALT LAKE CITY — It would make a better story if Solomon Enis and TJ Green grew up as diehard Arizona State fans, which would make perfect sense since they both were raised in the Phoenix area, near the ASU campus.
But neither of the Utah sophomore players admit to ever being fans of Arizona State, which pays a visit to Rice-Eccles Stadium for a Saturday afternoon contest (4 p.m.). In fact, neither player claimed to have a favorite college team growing up.
“I went to a couple of games, but I never was an ASU fan,” said Green, a running back from Chandler High School. “A couple of my boys from high school go there and I know a couple of dudes on the team, but I was never really an ASU fan. To be honest I never really had a certain team I favored.”
Enis, a wide receiver who prepped at North Canyon High School, says the same thing, that he has some friends from his high school years playing on the Arizona State team, but he never was a big fan. Playing against them, however, is a big deal to him.
“Definitely, growing up in Arizona, being offered by them, taking a couple of visits, going to their games ... this game means a lot to me,” he said.
Green is a little less enthusiastic perhaps because ASU never offered him a scholarship out of high school, but he is excited to have his parents and perhaps his grandmother coming up for the game.
There’s more the two Arizona Utes have in common besides a lack of love for ASU.
Both came to Utah as highly-touted athletes and both showed promise in their freshman years, only to see their production tail off a bit in their sophomore seasons.
Last year, Green was the third Ute back behind Moss and Armand Shyne. He had 36 carries for 190 yards, a 5.8 per carry average.
But this year after being slowed by a knee injury in fall camp, he has been surpassed by freshman Jordan Wilmore, fellow sophomore Devin Brumfield and junior Devonta’e Henry-Cole, who sat out last year with an injury. All three of those backs, along with Zack Moss, have played ahead of Green and gained more yards this season.
Green has only gotten mop-up duty this season and he saw most of his action last week in the blowout win over Oregon State as he ran the ball nine times, four more than Moss, for 38 yards. For the season he has 54 yards on 15 carries.
Some thought Enis might be a starter and one of the Utes prime receivers after catching 13 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown as a true freshman. He has seen a lot of action, but is eighth on the team in receptions with eight for 109 yards, although he ranks fourth in yards per catch at 13.63. Utah’s receiving corps is about as balanced as any in the country with no one having more than 14 receptions (Demari Simpkins), followed by Jaylen Dixon with 12, Bryan Thompson with 11, Derrick Vickers and Britain Covey with 10 and Samson Nacua with nine. Tight end Brant Kuithe also has 11.
“At the end of the day I’m not complaining.” Enis said. “I’m going to play my role and when the time comes, I’m going to make a play when I can. And if it’s not my turn, I’m going to cheer and motivate my other teammates on.”
Green has the same positive attitude as it relates to the running back situation. “We all can go, it’s a matter of who’s in and who can make the play. There’s no downside when someone comes out or someone comes in and we’re all able to make plays.”
Both players have no regrets about coming to Utah, despite the snow in the winter, because of the tight family atmosphere they’ve experienced.
“It was far enough from home I could grow as a person, but not too far from home where I’m completely stranded from my parents and my family,” Enis said. “I’ve loved it here, the coaches are amazing and my teammates are cool.”
Green is taking advantage of learning from one of the best backs in the country in Moss, who is on the verge of becoming Utah’s all-time leading rusher.
“He’s good at what he does and looking at the things he does, I learn a lot from him,” Green said. ”I just have to adapt to my surroundings and know we’ve got a lot of people that can make plays. I’m more of a team player, so whatever it takes for us to win.”
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Utes on the air
No. 17 Arizona State (5-1, 2-1) at No. 13/14 Utah (5-1, 2-1)
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Saturday, 4 p.m.
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Radio: ESPN 700 AM