Cyrus Polu isn’t treating the next step like some distant goal. The Utah linebacker said he wants a starting job, and he’s approaching fall camp with a simple formula: keep stacking the little things, keep growing into the role, and keep proving he belongs.
Polu saw action as a true freshman last season, and the expectation now is that he’ll play a much bigger part for Utah in 2026. Even if he doesn’t open the year in the starting lineup, he’s expected to spend plenty of time on the field. That opportunity has been part of the conversation all offseason, and Polu made clear he’s not backing away from it.
“I mean, it's just a role, just trying to build up that ladder and be a leader, try to do the extra things, bring others along, teaching other young guys what expectations are, and just really bringing the culture along.”
For Polu, the biggest leap from year one to year two hasn’t been about a new trick or a flashier skill set. It’s been internal.
“Honestly, just believing in myself is the biggest part. So, just believing that I can do what the other guys are doing, like the people in the past. Knowing what I expect of myself and believing I can meet it.”
He pointed to what he learned from Lander Barton during his developmental role last year, especially the habits that separate good players from great ones.
“Just the way he goes about watching film, recovering, just doing the little details, and just everything you need to do to become a great athlete, a great teammate, and a great leader. So yeah.”
Polu also talked about Colton Swan’s move into the defensive coordinator role, and he sounded energized by what that has meant for the defense as a whole.
“It’s been awesome, and it’s been great seeing his personality come into the whole defense. I mean, we all as a linebacker corps knew what Swan was about, and now the whole defense knows.
So it's been awesome bringing his personality and just his way of teaching. It's been awesome.”
That confidence theme kept coming up. From spring to now, Polu said the biggest change has been in how he sees himself.
“Just about the same thing, probably just confidence and knowing that I can just do what everyone else can do, even better than me.”
The linebacker room, meanwhile, remains a real battle. Polu described it as a group pushing each other rather than simply competing for reps.
“We're all just competing, trying to be our best versions of ourselves. So we're building on each other, taking each part we know how to do, and sharing it.”
As for his personal goals, Polu didn’t hide the target.
“For myself, I just want to start. So just earning that starting role, whether it's anywhere- special teams, defense, I'll do anything. So just being a team player.”
There’s also something meaningful about where all of this is happening. Polu grew up in St. George, and he said it matters to make his mark in front of the people who have been watching him for years.
“It’s been awesome, especially to do it in front of my people, my state, and, like, my family can watch every game. So it means a lot to me.”
When asked what pulled him to Utah in the first place, he went straight to the relationship that helped sell him.
“My coach, Colton Swan. I loved him.
Just that personal connection that we had. It was hard for me to say no to that.
So I'd say that.”
And if anyone was wondering whether he and Swan had already gone “cowboyin'” together, Polu said that moment still hasn’t happened.
“No, we haven't. We were supposed to, but not yet.”
For Polu, the path forward is plain enough. He knows what’s expected, and he knows what it’ll take to climb into a bigger role.
“Just doing the little things right. Becoming what everybody expects me to be, doing the little details, and being part of the culture. So just taking that to a whole other level.”
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