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Three games in, and as expected, Morgan Scalley’s defense is still a work in progress.
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As is usually the case with Utah’s defense, it’s been mostly good through the Utes’ three-game nonconference slate.
Utah has allowed just 224 yards of offense per game (No. 11 in FBS) and has been stingy against the run, limiting opponents to just 90 rushing yards per game (No. 26 in the FBS).
“I’m fired up man. I love watching those guys get after it. You have injuries at certain positions and guys step up, as well they should. You get your opportunity, be ready, and they have been.”
BYU defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley
Teams are converting third downs against Scalley’s defense just 22.2% of the time (No. 9 in FBS), and opposing quarterbacks have been sacked an average of three times per game (No. 16 in FBS).
Teams have scored just 8.3 points per game against the Utes (No. 8 in FBS) and Utah has allowed only two touchdowns over three games played, albeit against weaker competition in UCLA, Cal Poly and Wyoming, though two of those three games were on the road.
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“We’re three games in. I don’t think you know who you are until midway through the season, but we’re doing a nice job,” Scalley said.
Last season, Utah allowed 129.4 rushing yards per game — a very respectable number — but allowed too many runs for first downs in key moments. That was one of the two main priorities for Scalley this offseason, and so far, the Utes have made strides in getting it fixed.
UCLA was limited to 84 rushing yards, while Cal Poly ran for just 65 yards. Wyoming had the most success, rushing for 121 yards, but 92 of those yards came in the fourth quarter in what was essentially garbage time.
“I would’ve liked to have seen us finish better. That last drive at Wyoming, a lot of that’s just on me and my calls and so I put that on me,” Scalley said. “But I’m pleased with the physicality. I’m pleased with the improvement in tackling and we just got to improve every single week.”
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The other priority for the Utes this season are “havoc plays” — turnovers, sacks and tackles for loss. That’s something Utah’s defense, as good as it was last season, didn’t do enough of. Utah had 24 sacks (No. 64 in FBS) and 18 turnovers (No. 58 FBS) in 2024, and this year, the Utes already have nine sacks and have forced five turnovers.
“Not bad, not great. We’re getting a few turnovers, takeaways here and there. Not as many as we’d like,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “We like three a game. We’re not averaging that. I think we’ve had five or six this season and so we’re not quite on pace there.”
Defensive end John Henry Daley has been the star of the Utes’ defense, racking up five sacks (tied for the nation’s lead) and 6.5 tackles for loss.
“John’s been great at seeking feedback. A lot of guys don’t want feedback. They want to be told how awesome they are,” Scalley said. “John really worked at his flexibility and the things where he was deficient and his relentless effort, his discipline, his hard work is paying off and you’re seeing it.”
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The interior of the defensive line — missing starter Dallas Vakalahi for the past two games — has been solid with Jonah Lea’ea primarily filling in next to Aliki Vimahi.
Utah has gotten pressure on the opposing quarterback consistently this season — UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava was pressured on 62.5% of his dropbacks against the Utes.
“I’m fired up man. I love watching those guys get after it. You have injuries at certain positions and guys step up, as well they should. You get your opportunity, be ready, and they have been,” Scalley said. “I was extremely pleased with Jonah Lea’ea. I know the D-ends are getting a ton and they deserve credit, but Jonah Lea’ea had a heck of a game, was very fired up by his performance.”
Utah Utes linebacker Lander Barton (8) celebrates with safety Jackson Bennee (23) after Bennee’s pick-six against Cal Poly at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
The linebackers — Lander Barton, Johnathan Hall and Levani Damuni — have all been good, especially against the run, and hold overall Pro Football Focus grades of 70 or higher.
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Where Utah can stand to improve on defense is in pass coverage. Opponents have thrown for an average of 227 yards against the Utes, which is No. 69 in the nation.
With one of the nation’s best passing attacks in Texas Tech coming to Salt Lake City this weekend — the Red Raiders have thrown for 383.7 yards per game against weaker competition to open the season — Utah’s secondary will have to be much better than it has been this season.
Opposing receivers have sprung open far too often in 2025, in both short and intermediate routes, and on deep plays.
“… We were out of position too many times and good teams will make you pay. Better quarterbacks who are more accurate will make you pay,” cornerbacks coach Sharrieff Shah said last week.
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That “better quarterback” is coming to town this Saturday. Behren Morton has thrown for 923 yards and 11 touchdowns with just one interception on 70.4% accuracy and has a stable of talented receivers to throw the ball to.
The issues with the coverage, Whittingham and Shah said, have primarily lied in players having undisciplined eyes. The Utes made strides in that aspect against the Cowboys, but Texas Tech’s passing game is head and shoulders above the one in Laramie.
“I thought last week we were so much better. A lot of it’s just, just do your job. People trying to do more than their job and coming off coverage,” Scalley said. “And when you’re playing as much man coverage as we do, they’re going to try and trick you. And so I thought we were much improved in the game versus Wyoming.”
Bennee, the safety-turned-nickleback, has been an impact player, extending Utah’s pick-six streak to 22 straight seasons against Cal Poly and getting another interception against Wyoming. He’s also broken up three passes this season.
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Smith Snowden has been solid in coverage, and though Scooby Davis hasn’t had a banner year thus far, he had his best game this season against Wyoming.
Utah safety Tao Johnson (5) squares up to tackle Cal Poly wide receiver Michael Briscoe (10) during a game Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. | Tyler Tate, Associated Press
At free safety, Tao Johnson played his best game of the season in Laramie after a slower start to the year, but starting strong safety Rabbit Evans, who made his season debut on Saturday, suffered a season-ending injury.
That means Nate Ritchie, who started the past three games, will continue to do so. Ritchie — and the rest of the secondary — will need to elevate their play on Saturday against a potent Red Raider offense.
“Nate is a really good football player. Hasn’t been as sharp at tackling as he needs to be the first few games. He knows that, we know that,” Whittingham said. “But the flip side of that is he is always around the ball with the opportunity to tackle. He’s got great instincts and a great nose for the ball.”
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Utah’s secondary, and defense as a whole, will need to play well to try and slow down one of the nation’s best offenses.
“This is going to be a big test and we’re fired up,” Scalley said.
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