SALT LAKE CITY — Of all the streaks that the 11th-ranked Utah Utes carry into Saturday’s game against Idaho State, few, if any, may compare to the individual run of success by defensive back Julian Blackmon. Dating back to last season, he’s intercepted passes in three consecutive regular-season games.
The streak includes pick-sixes against BYU in 2018 and 2019, as well as an interception in last week’s win over Northern Illinois.
“We kind of all, on the defense, have a little competition like who is going to have the most production. I always tell them that I’m going to beat them every week and so far I’m winning.” — Utah safety Julian Blackmon
Blackmon, who made a position switch from cornerback to safety, is confident he can keep his streak of picks going.
“I think so. Honestly, I think so. I think that I have the ability to,” Blackmon said. “I think that as long as I game-plan the way that I have been, I think that’s a possibility for me to do every game.”
Blackmon added that his ability to make a play, any given play, has made things fun. He said it’s also made all the offseason work worth it. The trust the coaches have put in him is also appreciated — proving he is a ballhawk.
Even so, the two-time all-conference honoree is far from satisfied.
“I’ve been around the ball a lot lately these past few games so I just want to try to do better than I have been,” Blackmon said. “There are still some things I need to improve.”
The move to safety, Blackmon explained, has been beneficial. He’s no longer guarding just one guy. Now he’s more free to do whatever needs to be done.
“I kind of look at it as I’ve got to make every play because they’re not going to make a play. But even if they are going to make the play I want to make it before them,” Blackmon said. “So having that mindset, for me, is kind of like I’ve got to make every play.
“We kind of all, on the defense, have a little competition like who is going to have the most production,” he continued. “I always tell them that I’m going to beat them every week and so far I’m winning.”
Through two games, Blackmon has a team-high eight solo tackles and two interceptions. He has also assisted on five stops and has a pass breakup.
“It’s always the priority is getting the best configuration out there. We didn’t always have it in the back of our mind to move him to safety. But, as things evolved and he kept getting bigger, he has made a great transition,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. “He looks like a natural and he has a couple of interceptions already. He is where he’s supposed to be as far as his positioning and he has a great natural instinct for that position. He is a ball hawk and has very good ball skills.”
Besides Blackmon’s run of interceptions, Utah has several other streaks going. The Utes, for starters, have won 22 consecutive nonconference games in the regular season. Other marks include seven straight victories over Idaho State, plus the distinction of being the only FBS offense in the country that has yet to surrender a sack or turn the ball over this season.
Starting offensive lineman Nick Ford said it’s matter of turning question marks into statements.
“It’s that simple. We plan to continue that through the season,” Ford explained. “We’re going to try to the best of our ability. Tyler Huntley, he’s our quarterback and that’s our prize and possession. Zack Moss, too. We’re not letting no one touch them. We’re taking a personal issue to make sure that we do everything in our willpower and impose our will on others to make sure that they don’t get near no one.”
EXTRA POINTS: Utah is expected to announce its 59th consecutive sellout at Rice-Eccles Stadium. ... The Utes open Pac-12 play Friday at USC. ... A victory will give the Utes their fifth 3-0 start in six years. ... Utah has won five straight games at home.