Three Defensive Leaders to Watch as Utah Reloads for 2025

The Utah Utes defense was one of the best units in the Big 12 in 2024 and hopes to turn in that kind of performance in 2025.

Here was how the Utah defense ranked last season in FBS:

Points allowed per game: 20.7 (No. 25)

Rushing yards allowed per game: 129.4 (No. 35)

Passing yards allowed per game: 200.3 (No. 39)

Total yards allowed per game: 329.7 (No. 29).

Utah will have to remake portions of the unit, thanks to graduation and the transfer portal. But some key players return from last year’s group.

Here are three defensive players to keep an eye on for the Utah Utes.

DE Logan Fano

Fano is a budding star who could take a big step in the defense coordinated by Morgan Scalley this year.

He started nine of Utah’s 12 games, finishing with 35 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks as he hurried the quarterback four times and forced a fumble. He was adept at getting into the backfield, as his 6.5 tackles for loss were third on the team, and he had at least one tackle for loss in each of his final four games.

The next step? Elevate that performance and get more sacks. He does that, and he could join his brother, right tackle Spencer Fano, as an all-Big 12 performer.

CB Smith Snowden

Snowden is one of two defensive backs returning for the Utes. The other is safety Tao Johnson.

He was Utah’s starting nickel back last year, as he finished with 48 tackles and four tackles for loss.

But cornerbacks make their reputation on defending the pass, and Snowden did well there a year ago. He had two interceptions, eight pass breakups, and forced a fumble. With 10 total passes defended, he was in the Top 10 in the Big 12. His nine tackles on third down led the team.

It will be interesting to see if Utah keeps him on kickoff returns, a job he took on late in the year. He would seem to be far more valuable to them remaining in either the nickel spot or playing more on the edge.

LB Lander Barton

Barton is a returning starter, and after three seasons, he’s provided the Utes with consistent performances each season.

He’s coming off a 2024 in which he started in all 12 games and finished with a team-best 72 tackles (five tackles for loss) plus six passes defended with two interceptions. He also recovered a fumble.

He’s played in nearly every game in his three-year career with 22 starts, and as a true freshman, he was named the Pac-12 freshman defensive player of the year and to the College Football News all-America team.

He should be competing for all-Big 12 honors in 2025.