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Four Utes Named To Football All-Conference First Team
12/11/2002 12:00 AM | Football
Dec. 11, 2002
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -
The University of Utah football team placed four players on the all-Mountain West Conference first team and another four were voted to the second team by the league's eight head coaches and a panel of conference media representatives.
Senior offensive lineman Jordan Gross, a finalist for the Outland Trophy who has already been named to two All-America teams, was a unanimous selection and Utah's only offensive player cited. Junior defensive end Jason Kaufusi and senior defensive tackle Garrett Smith both made the first team for a second straight year. Making the all-MWC team for the first time was junior defensive back Antwoine Sanders, who will forego his senior season to enter the NFL draft.
Making the second team were junior running back Brandon Warfield, senior defensive tackle Lauvale Sape, senior linebacker Sheldon Deckart and junior defensive back Dave Revill. Sape is a repeat member of the second team, while Deckart made the first team in 2001.
Utes named to the honorable mention all-MWC team were: senior linebacker Brooks Bahr, senior wide receiver Paris Jackson, sophomore offensive lineman Chris Kemoeatu, senior punter Brian Lewis, senior wide receiver Josh Lyman, junior offensive lineman Dustin McQuivey, sophomore punt-kick returner Bo Nagahi, junior defensive end Josh Savage and sophomore punt-kick returner Morgan Scalley.
Gross, who has already been named to the Football Writers (FWAA) and CNNSI.com All-America teams and will be named to another on Dec. 12, is the first Outland Trophy finalist in school history. A four-year starter, he has not allowed a sack in two years.
Kaufusi, the 2000 MWC Freshman of the Year and a 2001 first-team all-MWC defender, led Utah with 10.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks as a junior this fall. Kaufusi, who missed a game and a half with injuries, also had 38 total tackles, 2 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles. He was named MWC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 16 after recording 11 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles vs. Arizona.
Smith, arguably the best defensive tackle in the MWC, made the first-team for a second year after a 38-tackle season. Smith, who started 44 games in his Ute career, also had 4.5 tackles for loss and 3 pass breakups.
Sanders played free safety and totaled 65 tackles, third on the team, 2 interceptions and 4 pass breakups. He also scooped up a blocked field goal and returned it 54 yards against UNLV.
Warfield came out of a planned redshirt year in the third game of the season after starter Marty Johnson was injured. In nine games, he averaged 102.1 ypg to lead the Utes and finish second in the MWC. Warfield was the MWC's rushing champion for conference games only, averaging 127.0 ypg in seven league games. He was named MWC Offensive Player of the Week two straight weeks after rushing for 164 and 194 yards vs. Wyoming and Brigham Young, respectively.
Sape was possibly the best nose guard in the conference and his 23 tackles were impressive for that position. He had 4 tackles for loss, a sack and 3 pass breakups.
Deckart slipped a notch to the second team in 2002, despite a 69-tackle season that included 8 tackles for loss and a sack. He also had 2 interceptions, the first of his career, and 3 pass breakups.
In his first year as a starter, Revill led Utah in tackles from his strong safety position with 89. He also had 9 tackles for loss, second on the team, and 3 sacks (tied for second). The one-time walk-on was named MWC Defensive Player of the Week after totaling 15 tackles, including a school-record 14 solo tackles, vs. Michigan.
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