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The University of Utah Athletics
Spencer Fano Selected Ninth Overall in NFL Draft by Browns
4/23/2026 7:09 PM | Football
Outland Trophy winner, unanimous All-American headed to Cleveland
PITTSBURGH — Former Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano has been picked ninth overall in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
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Fano, the first offensive lineman taken in this year's draft, is the 11th Utah player selected in the first round. Fano follows tight end Dalton Kincaid (25th overall) to Buffalo in 2023 and is the 47th Utah offensive lineman to be taken. He is the fourth Ute to be selected in the Top 10 along with QB Alex Smith (No. 1, 2005, San Francisco), OT Jordan Gross (No. 8, 2003, Carolina) and QB Lee Grosscup (No. 10, 1959, New York Giants).
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SPENCER FANO | OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Hometown: Spanish Fork, Utah
High School: All-American four-star recruit out of Timpview High School
Utah Awards: Outland Trophy recipient (2025), Unanimous First Team All-American (2025); Polynesian College Football Player of the Year (2025); Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year (2025); Selected First Team All-Conference (2024-25); Freshman All-America (2023); Played 37 games as a Ute with 36 starts.
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2025:Â Started at right tackle in all 12 regular season games.
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.Â
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Fano, the first offensive lineman taken in this year's draft, is the 11th Utah player selected in the first round. Fano follows tight end Dalton Kincaid (25th overall) to Buffalo in 2023 and is the 47th Utah offensive lineman to be taken. He is the fourth Ute to be selected in the Top 10 along with QB Alex Smith (No. 1, 2005, San Francisco), OT Jordan Gross (No. 8, 2003, Carolina) and QB Lee Grosscup (No. 10, 1959, New York Giants).
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SPENCER FANO | OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Hometown: Spanish Fork, Utah
High School: All-American four-star recruit out of Timpview High School
Utah Awards: Outland Trophy recipient (2025), Unanimous First Team All-American (2025); Polynesian College Football Player of the Year (2025); Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year (2025); Selected First Team All-Conference (2024-25); Freshman All-America (2023); Played 37 games as a Ute with 36 starts.
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2025:Â Started at right tackle in all 12 regular season games.
- Part of the unit named to the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll.
- Allowed just five pressures and five hurries and did not allow a sack in 357 pass blocking opportunities, per PFF.
- Helped Utah gain 587 yards of total offense against Colorado, including 422 rushing yards, the seventh-most in a single game in program history.
- Blocked for an offense that put up 483 yards of total offense against Baylor, including 380 rushing yards and five scores on the ground.
- Helped the Utes rush for 267 yards and pass for 213 yards while holding the ball for 40:02 in the 45-14 win over No. 17 Cincinnati.
- Helped Utah rush for 276 yards on 6.6 yards per carry against No. 21 Arizona State, scoring six rushing touchdowns, tied for the fifth-most in a single game in program history; did not allow a sack against the Sun Devils.
- Blocked for an offense that posted a season-high 541 yards of total offense at Wyoming (311 rushing, 230 passing).
- Blocked for an offense that put up 532 yards of total offense (242 rushing, 290 passing) at West Virginia.
- Helped Utah gain 492 yards against UCLA (286 rushing, 206 passing).
- Blocked for an offense that put up 518 yards of total offense (273 rushing, 245 passing) against Cal Poly.
- Helped Utah gain 470 yards of offense (244 passing, 226 rushing) at No. 15 BYU.
- Part of the unit named Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week four times (Sept. 2, Oct. 13, Oct. 27, Nov. 17).
- Academic All-Big 12 Team.
- Rumbled into the end zone for a two-point conversion against Colorado.
- Garnered All-American recognition from PFF (First Team), AP (Second Team) and Walter Camp (Second Team).
- Earned All-Big 12 First-Team (Coaches and AP) honors.
- Recognized with a spot on the 2024 PFF Midseason All-America Team.
- Was a finalist for the 2024Â Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award.
- CFN Freshman All-America first-team.
- One of two true freshmen to start at left tackle to begin the season.
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.Â
Players Mentioned
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