Hoffman Named Pac-12 Specialist of the Week

SAN FRANCISCO – Utah gymnast Jillian Hoffman was named the Pac-12 Specialist of the Week after posting a career high on floor for her first career event victory, as well as a career-tying mark on vault against Arizona State last weekend. The selection marks Hoffman's second weekly honor of the year after she had earned the Coaches Choice Award the first week of the season.

Hoffman entered the floor lineup for the first time of the season against the Sun Devils and was put in the leadoff position. The junior from Murrieta, Calif., posted a career-best 9.975 in her floor debut and went on to win the floor title, which marked the first win of her career. Hoffman's 9.975 led Utah to a 49.675 floor score, which was the nation's second-best through three weeks of competition.

The breakout routine was just the fifth floor routine of her career after she had battled injuries during her first two seasons as a Red Rock. It was also her first floor routine since her freshman season in 2020. Hoffman also served as the vault leadoff for the third-straight meet where she matched a career-best 9.80 with her Yurchenko full.

Utah has earned seven Pac-12 weekly awards this season, including all three specialist of the week honors. Winners this season for the Red Rocks are: Gymnast of the Week: Cristal Isa (Jan. 11); Specialist of the Week: Jaedyn Rucker (Jan. 11), Sage Thompson (Jan. 18), Hoffman (Jan. 25); Freshman of the Week: Amelie Morgan (Jan. 11), Grace McCallum (Jan. 18); and Coaches Choice: Hoffman (Jan. 11).

Hoffman and the second-ranked Red Rocks will be back in action this Saturday, Jan. 29, against No. 19 Stanford. The Utes and Cardinal will compete at 2 p.m. MT in Salt Lake City for Character Day. Introductions will start at 1:45 p.m. MT in the Jon M. Huntsman Center.