SAN ANTONIO — Seniors were a big topic at the final Alamo Bowl press conference. Utah coach Kyle Whittingham and Texas coach Tom Herman both expressed gratitude Monday for players that could have followed a national trend by sitting out the bowl game and preparing for the NFL draft.
Herman praised the decision to play made by safety Brandon Jones, as well as receivers Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson. All three have been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine and the Senior Bowl.
“I think that speaks to their commitment, not to this program, but to the university,” said Herman, who thanked each player personally for deciding to play against 11th-ranked Utah in the Alamodome on New Year’s Eve.
“I think that’s really, really cool in today’s environment for those guys to come out there one last time for their brothers,” Herman continued. “I think it speaks to the fellowship, the relationships that are in the locker room as well. They certainly don’t want to let anybody down.”
Whittingham later had similar thoughts about the Utes.
“We also have a bunch of seniors that could have opted out of this game very easily,” he said. “Every senior has decided to play.”
Junior cornerback Jaylon Johnson, Whittingham explained, is the lone player that chose otherwise. He declared for the draft early, Whittingham said Johnson is a little bit banged up and needed some time to recuperate.
“We’re going to have seven or eight guys go to the combine. All those guys are here,” Whittingham noted. “Everything that coach (Herman) said about their dedication and being a team guy, wanting to finish what they started ... I echo that. We’re very proud of those guys.”
Running back Zack Moss, who is Utah’s all-time leading rusher (4,010 yards), is part of a senior class that includes consensus All-America defensive end Bradlee Anae and other national honorees Leki Fotu, Julian Blackmon (who is injured and will not play), Tyler Huntley and Demari Simpkins.
“It’s really hard to put into words what I could possibly be feeling that night putting on this jersey and helmet one more time with my guys,” Moss said. “It’s going to be definitely special to me and it will be a night that I remember forever. But it would be a lot sweeter is we come out of here with a ‘W.’”