SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – University of Utah safety Julian Blackmon and defensive end Mika Tafua were honored by the Pac-12 this week, earning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week and Defensive Lineman of the Week.
Blackmon and Tafua’s honors are the ninth and 10th Pac-12 player of the week selections for the Utes this season. It is both players’ first career Pac-12 player of the week honors, also marking the fourth defensive player of the week and fourth defensive lineman of the week honor for the Utes this year.
The Utes have won Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week for four consecutive weeks with Tafua joining Bradlee Anae, Leki Fotu, and John Penisini.
Tafua and Blackmon were both key parts in Utah’s 49-3 victory over UCLA on Saturday night. They are a part of a defense that has held five opponents to single digits this season and nine of its 10 opponents to under 100 yards rushing.
Tafua finished the game with five tackles (1.0 TFL) and his fourth fumble recovery of the season, running it back 68 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. It was the fifth defensive touchdown for the Utes this season and the fourth-longest fumble return in school history.
Tafua is tied for first in FBS football and ranks first in the Pac-12 in fumbles recovered (4) this season. He ranks second among defensive linemen on the team this season with 28 tackles, adding 4.0 tackles for loss, one sack and two pass breakups.
Blackmon was virtually everywhere on the field against the Bruins, bringing in a game-high 12 tackles (1.5 sacks, 1.5 TFL), adding a forced fumble and an interception. Blackmon has a team-high four interceptions this season, tying for the Pac-12 lead while tying for ninth in FBS football.
His interception came on the third play of the second quarter, picking off the Bruins at the Utah 35-yard line on a third-and-11. He followed it up with a forced fumble on a sack for a loss of 17 yards on a third-and-10 with Tafua picking up the fumble and running it back for the touchdown to give Utah a 21-3 lead in the second quarter.
Tafua, Blackmon and the Utes return to action this week when they travel to Tucson, Ariz. to take on the Arizona Wildcats. The game is slated for an 8 p.m. MT kick and will air on FS1.
