SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s rushing defense leads the nation by a wide margin. The Utes are giving up just 56 yards per game on the ground. San Diego State is a distant second at 65.3 yards.
“We try to block that out, but at the same time we take pride in that — being the No. 1 rush defense,” said senior defensive tackle Leki Fotu. “We’ve got to keep doing that. We’ve still got a couple of games left, so nothing (will) matter until the end of the season.”
The Utes may get a good test in that regard Saturday against UCLA at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Bruins average 170.8 yards on the ground and have the Pac-12’s leading rusher in senior Joshua Kelley, who is averaging 107.6 yards per game.
Gearing up for such challenges is something the Utes take seriously. Fotu said it begins at the start of the week.
“We try to focus on beating the team on Monday,” he explained. “So when it comes to game day, you know, it’s not surprising to us. But for us, I think, it’s just the preparation that we put in.”
“It’s a great reflection of our coaches and how we coach up the run and how to stop it each and every week. Hard work always pays off and that’s what it is.” — Utah defensive end Bradlee Anae
The bottom line, Utah defensive tackles coach Sione Po’uha noted, is that the Utes have awesome guys that are self-motivated.
“There’s not more to say just than they’re great young men and it’s no surprise that great young men produce like they do,” said Po’uha, who acknowledged that the players take a lot of pride in preparation.
“They take care of it like a prized horse,” he continued. “If they were in the Kentucky Derby and they had a horse they would name it ‘Preparation.’ But they really hone in and take care of it.”
Po’uha compared the Utes’ pride in stopping the run to having a Shelby in the garage. They make sure to wax it, take care of it and polish it. Leading the nation in rush defense, he said, is just an outcome for performances on Saturday.
Utah has plenty of talent to go with it as well. A highly touted defensive line includes starters Fotu, Bradlee Anae, John Penisini and Mika Tafua. Linebackers Francis Bernard and Devin Lloyd also play pivotal roles in the rush defense.
“Having a physical front like we have certainly is a huge factor and the play of the linebackers is outstanding,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, who also praised the work of defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley and others on the staff for getting the players in position to succeed. “But the bottom line is they’re the ones out there making the plays and that’s exactly who we want to be. That’s exactly who we want to be is a stubborn run defense, force teams to become one-dimensional, and then get after them with the pass rush.”
Utah’s strong secondary includes safeties Julian Blackmon and Terrell Burgess; cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson, Tareke Lewis and Josh Nurse; plus nickel back Javelin Guidry.
Anae said leading the nation in rushing defense is a group effort and requires a great work ethic.
“Everybody works hard. Everybody is here doing extra things — especially toward the end of the season,” Anae said. “You won’t see teams working how we work ... that’s just what I love about the culture here. It’s just a great culture to work. If you’re a hard worker then come to Utah and you’ll fit right in.”
The numbers defending the run tell the story, Anae acknowledged.
“It’s a great reflection of our coaches and how we coach up the run and how to stop it each and every week,” Anae said. “Hard work always pays off and that’s what it is.”
Utah has limited eight of its nine opponents this season to less than 100 yards rushing.
The Utes, as a whole, lead the Pac-12 in several other statistical categories, including total defense (246.3 ypg), fewest passing yards allowed (190.3), scoring defense (12.2 ppg), third-down conversion defense (27.9 percent) and fewest first downs allowed (122).
Offensively, Utah tops the conference in rushing (207.8 ypg), team passing efficiency (177.53 rating) and time of possession (35:11). Quarterback Tyler Huntley and running back Zack Moss are having stellar senior seasons.
Like the defense, tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham said the offense is “getting a whole team effort” but that Huntley is playing the best football of his career in all aspects under offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig.
“He’s become a more complete quarterback,” Freddie Whittingham said. “It fits his style, too.”
EXTRA POINTS: UCLA can take control of the Pac-12 South with a victory, owning a head-to-head tiebreaker over Utah with two games remaining. ... The Utes can even their all-time Pac-12 record at 40-40 with a win. ... Utah has prevailed in the past three meetings, scoring 41 or more points each time. ... The Utes have won nine straight home games.
Utes on the air
UCLA (4-5, 4-2) at No. 7 Utah (8-1, 5-1)
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Saturday, 6 p.m.
TV: FOX
Radio: ESPN 700AM