One of the clearest takeaways from Utah’s win over Idaho was Karson Kaufusi. The second-year defensive tackle turned in a standout season debut, looking every bit like a player ready for a sophomore jump after a dominant showing against the Vandals.
After the game, Kaufusi said the return to the field felt good after being healthy again.
"It was good. It was awesome.
It was fun to put up that many points. It's fun to go out there with everybody, and it was just a good game overall."
The sack was another moment he enjoyed, but he was quick to spread the credit around instead of treating it like a solo act.
"It was fun. You know, that's what you work for.
That's what we come out, we rep it in practice. But honestly, that doesn't happen if 2, 3, 4, everybody else on the field isn't doing their job."
Utah also got a chance to see younger players in the defensive tackle room during the game, and Kaufusi liked what he saw from the group behind him and Jireh Moe.
"You know, anybody in our room can go out and play for sure. So it was just fun to see everybody get reps and get some good time. But yeah, anybody in our room can play."
That depth, he said, comes from the way the group works together and keeps the communication flowing.
"Yeah, we preach communication in our room a lot, for sure. So out at practice, you know, in the film room, wherever it is, wherever we are, we're communicating. But that's what it comes down to."
Kaufusi pointed to his body composition and conditioning as the biggest area of growth since the last time he was on the field.
"Probably in my body composition, honestly, being in shape. I spent a lot of time with Coach Saunders and his staff in the weight room, getting my body right, and with Miss Kelsey and her nutrition staff. So that's probably what I would say."
When asked what he takes pride in most, he kept coming back to the same word.
"You guys are like, every time Karson is here, he's going to talk about being nasty. But that's what I'd say-just being nasty.
Our whole room being nasty. Everybody, you know what I mean?"
On the group’s run defense, Kaufusi said the first game showed progress, even if there’s still more work to do.
"There's always, there's always, there's always room for improvement. But yeah, we took a step forward."
He also noted that the unit had been focused on run defense since spring.
In Other News...
Whittinghams Michigan Debut Raised A Familiar Problem Utah Fans Know Too Well
Kyle Whittinghams first game on the Michigan sideline did not feel much like a fresh start. In a tight opener against Western Michigan, the Wolverines spent most of the afternoon fighting their own offense as the game slipped into a slugfest, with just two touchdowns and 229 total yards leaving plenty of room for unease. Bryce Underwoods day was uneven, and the larger problem looked familiar to anyone who has watched a Whittingham-led team get dragged into a game it ought to control.
What makes the result linger is how little comfort came with the final horn. Michigan came away with the win, but the way the clock and the last play unfolded only added to the uneasiness around a performance Whittingham tied to poor preparation and his own responsibility. Even amid the mess, he made a point of praising freshman backup Tommy Carr, a small bright spot in a game that otherwise left more questions than answers. [Read more 🡒]