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Football Names 2021 Team Captains and Leadership Council

by Utah Athletics
Aug 23, 2021

SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah Football program headed back to the classroom today for the first day of classes, officially bringing in the fall semester.

With a new school year, comes a new set of team captains and leadership council. Both captains and the leadership council are voted on by the team each year to end fall camp, with the special teams captain spot rotating this season each week.

"Five good selections by our team for our team captains," head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "We also have a full 16-man leadership council, and felt like our players did an outstanding job of selecting their leadership."
 

Offensive Team Captains
Cameron Rising | QB | Sophomore
Britain Covey | WR | Junior

Junior Wide Receiver Britain Covey
On what it means to be named a team captain…
"Honestly, it's the biggest honor I could ever receive. I think that being a captain says a lot about what your teammates feel from you on daily basis. Anyone can be captain-like or have leadership qualities when things are going great. But it's when things are going really tough that I think that the true leaders are made and when the true leaders come out. I think last year was an example of that. I'm really grateful to my teammates–it's about what they think, it's not about me."
 
On captain and leadership qualities he seeks to show on a daily basis…
"My grandpa defined leadership as communicating to others their worth and potential so clearly, that they see it in themselves. Leadership has no selfish qualities about it, and most of the time a good leader won't even be recognized as a good leader. It is what you do for the other person and how they view themselves in their own lives. Not so they can look back on you and say 'wow, he was a great leader,' but so that they can see 'wow, I accomplished that. I changed. I grew.' We all have our selfish battles within and I'm not saying I'm perfect in that. But that's my goal in life, to genuinely have that mentality."
 
Defensive Team Captains
Devin Lloyd | LB | Junior
Mika Tafua | DE | Junior

Junior Linebacker Devin Lloyd
On what it means to be named a team captain…
"Being a captain is the biggest honor I can hold as a member of this team. I strive to be the best leader, teammate and friend I can be on a daily basis, so to be recognized is an amazing feeling."

Special Teams Captain – Week One
Keegan Markgraf | SN | Senior
 

Leadership Council – Offense, Special Teams
Charlie Brewer | QB | Senior
Britain Covey | WR | Junior
Solomon Enis | WR | Junior
Nick Ford | OL | Junior
Cole Fotheringham | TE | Junior
Brant Kuithe | TE | Junior
Keegan Markgraf | SN | Senior
TJ Pledger | RB | Junior
Cameron Rising | QB | Sophomore

Junior Tight End Brant Kuithe
On what it means to be part of the team's 16-man Leadership Council…
"It's great to be recognized as one of the guys. You can be recognized in that role, but I think as the team and the season goes on, I think it's everyone's responsibility to hold themselves accountable and the other guys accountable. You don't need a title to do that."
 
On describing himself as a leader and the values that go with that…
"I've been one of those guys to lead by example since I got here. I've been trying to be a little more vocal. I think I've done that; I don't think I've gotten to where I want to be yet just because of different circumstances. But I'm not going to have any regrets; I'm happy with where I'm at now. It's just about leading by example and being vocal when I can."

Leadership Council – Defense
Vonte Davis | S | Senior
Devin Kaufusi | DT | Junior
Devin Lloyd | LB | Junior
Clark Phillips III | CB | Freshman
Hauati Pututau | DT | Senior
Nephi Sewell | LB | Junior
Mika Tafua | DE | Junior

Freshman Cornerback Clark Phillips III
On what it means to be on the leadership council…
"Honestly it means the most to me for my brothers to vote me in for such a valued role on our team. I am so grateful and love my guys."
 

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