Football | 8/24/2023 1:34:00 PM

Utah Tech football landed three players on the 2023 United Athletic Conference's debut preseason all-conference team on Thursday.
 
Junior defensive lineman Syrus Webster was tabbed as the UAC's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the preseason all-defensive team. Junior linebacker Will Leota was also voted to the preseason defensive team, while senior wide receiver Rickie Johnson was named to the preseason all-offensive team.  
 
Webster (6-4, 255; West Jordan, Utah/West Jordan HS) is coming off a stellar sophomore campaign in 2022, which saw him earn first team all-Western Athletic Conference accolades after he co-led the conference in sacks (5.5) and led the Trailblazers with 10.0 tackles for loss. 

Webster finished the 2022 season with 42 total tackles (22 solo) and tallied at least three total tackles in nine of 11 games played. In addition, Webster racked up four quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, one pass break up, and collected Academic all-WAC honors. 
 
In addition, Webster has been named to the 2023 Buck Buchanan Award preseason watch list, and selected to both the 2023 Phil Steele and Blue Bloods All-United Athletic Conference preseason first teams.
 
Leota (6-2, 215; Salem, Utah/Salem Hills HS), who is a two-time second team all-WAC selection, led the conference in total tackles with 84, which included 40 solo stops. The sophomore registered double digits in tackles three times last season, highlighted by a career-high 16 total tackles (10 solo) with 1.0 TFL in UT's upset win at Stephen F. Austin (10/29). 
 
Leota also collected 14 tackles with 1.0 TFL at Northern Iowa (10/15) and had 12 tackles, 1.0 TFL and a career-high two PBUs in the home win vs. Tarleton (11/12).
 
Johnson (6-3, 202; Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta HS) enjoyed a banner 2022 season, which saw him post career highs receiving yards (697), receptions (40 - 17.4 YPC) and touchdowns (6).  

The senior wideout had a career night in the Trailblazers' Homecoming win over in-state rival Southern Utah (11/5), against which he hauled in nine catches for an NCAA-era school record 277 yards. He also tied a school record with three touchdowns receptions against the Thunderbirds, including a career long 79-yard TD reception. He all, Johnson finished the year with five 50+ yard receiving games and scored at least one touchdown in four starts overall.
 
Utah Tech was picked to finish in a tie for seventh in the inaugural UAC coaches poll, which was released earlier this week. The Trailblazers received one first place vote and tallied 25 points in the poll, which tied them with SUU.
 
Eastern Kentucky topped the poll with 71 points and two first place nods, while Central Arkansas received five first place votes and wound up second in the rankings with 69 points. Austin Peay also garnered one first place vote and was ranked third in the poll with 57 points, followed by Stephen F. Austin (54 pts) in fourth, Abilene Christian (52 pts) in fifth, Tarleton (37 pts) in sixth, and North Alabama (15 pts) rounded out the poll in ninth. 
 
EKU senior quarterback Parker McKinney was selected at the conference's offensive player of the year. 
 
The Trailblazers will kick-off the 2023 season on the road at No. 3-ranked Montana State on Saturday, Sept. 2, in Bozeman.