Lander Barton didn’t have the season he wanted to last year.
Still recovering from a foot injury that ended his 2023 season early, Barton wasn’t 100% at times throughout the 2024 season, and it showed in his play. Through the middle portion of Utah’s schedule, Barton’s play was up and down, which included missing a lot more tackles than he usually does, and it took until the final four games of the season for the homegrown linebacker to return to his usual form.
Barton ended the season with four solid games, and had an 87-yard pick-six against Iowa State to extend Utah’s streak of seasons with an interception return for a touchdown to an NCAA-record 21.
He also had an interception against Colorado and forced a fumble in the season-ending win over UCF that set the tone for the game.
“Going into last year’s season, he was coming off that broken foot, kind of a slower start for him as we all know, but I think the way he ended his last four games, he’s played really, really well,” linebackers coach Colton Swan said.
Back for his senior season, the Brighton High product reflected on his journey at the University of Utah.
“I mean, I feel like an all-around different player compared to when I first got here,” Barton said. “It’s been a long time. Four years, it’s flown by, kind of crazy. But yeah, I feel like I’ve changed a lot.”
The latest in a long line of Bartons to attend Utah, Lander figures to be an integral part of Morgan Scalley’s defense this season. The linebacker room as a whole should be Utah’s strength, with Barton, senior Levani Damuni (back from a season-ending injury in 2024) and junior Johnathan Hall leading an experienced position group.
“Definitely got a lot of guys with experience, good players coming back and some young kids that are coming through,” Swan said.
When fully healthy, Barton is a game changer, with great athleticism, strength and a knack for forcing turnovers.
During his Utah career, Barton has totaled 152 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, four interceptions (two pick-sixes), 11 pass deflections, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
With an offseason free from injury, Barton is raring to go this year and ready to show the player he can be when healthy.
“He’s had a great summer, extremely healthy. I would expect some really good things and a very fast start from him,” Swan said. “He’s extremely motivated, he’s always motivated, but you can tell he is extremely motivated. He’s in a really good spot both mentally and physically.”
With linebacker Karene Reid — the team’s main communicator on defense — out for multiple games last season, it forced Barton to step up and be the “green dot” on the defense that communicates with Scalley during the game and relays the calls to the defense.
He’ll resume that role full-time in 2025.
“It really forced Lander to take over,” Swan said. “Lander, you meet Lander just on the streets, he’s kind of a subtle, more quiet kid compared to his brother Cody, but on the football field he’s very talkative and I think with Karene being out for a few games, that’s forced Lander to do it.”
Along with leading Utah’s defense in 2025, Barton could see some time on the other side of the ball.
“It’s all about winning the game and whatever we got to do in order to get there,” Swan said. “Getting your best guys on the field and whether it’s on offense or defense, Lander’s obviously a very versatile player and can do multiple things as he’s shown on defense, so I think his ability to go over and help the offense is awesome and we’re looking at the end result and I know he can help us get there.”
Barton was a tight end at Brighton High, catching 37 passes for 416 yards and seven touchdowns during his senior season, along with playing linebacker.
Those high school memories and experience on the offensive side of the ball are coming back to Barton as he spends a bit of time running routes during practice, learning the playbook and getting a few reps — while focusing on his linebacker position for the majority of practice.
“I’m excited to give it a go,” Barton said.
Barton has a unique perspective on new offensive coordinator Jason Beck’s scheme as a two-way player — both participating in it and playing against it.
“(It’s) awesome,” Barton said of Beck’s offense. “It’s fun to play against. I mean, it makes you think really hard and it’s difficult in practice to play against them. So I mean, I love it,” Barton said.
With a good season this year, he could join his brothers Jackson (offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns) and Cody (linebacker for the Tennessee Titans) in the NFL.
While that is certainly one of Barton’s goal as he enters his senior year, there’s another goal that is more prominent.
“We got to end it on the right note. Big 12 championship. So that’s the goal,” Barton said.
