Football | 7/29/2024 9:24:00 PM

Utah Tech Football begins formal preparations for the 2024 season this Wednesday morning as the Trailblazers open their fifth NCAA Division I FCS fall camp at Greater Zion Stadium.

With the four-year transition to full D-I status successfully completed, the Trailblazers are set to embark on their second season of United Athletic Conference (UAC) play, and their first season fully eligible for the 2024 FCS Playoffs.

The 2024 campaign also marks a new era for Utah Tech as first-year head coach Lance Anderson (Idaho State, 1997) and his staff will have 25 early morning practices, along with two scrimmages, over the next four-plus weeks in advance of the Trailblazers' season opener at home vs. Big Sky Conference power Montana State on Saturday, August 31.

All media members are asked to contact Utah Tech Associate AD for Media Relations Steve Johnson to request practice access and interview availability.  

The 2024 Roster

Utah Tech welcomes back 42 players who saw playing time from last year's team and 22 redshirts, including eight starters (O-2, D-6), along with four specialists. Among the offensive starters returning are senior OL Bayo Kannike, who started in all 11 games at either right guard or right tackle last season, along with junior receiver Daniel Thomason, who caught 15 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown a season ago.

On defense, linebackers Sam Kanongata'a (Sr. – 11 tackles, 1 INT in 2023) and Jared Fotu (Jr. – team high 82 tackles) return, as do junior DL Fasito'Otai Sagapolu (30 tackles), and a trio of defensive backs in redshirt juniors Jagger Williams (61 tackles, 1 INT) and Jayden Sheridan (29 tackles), and sophomore Scooter Jackson (18 tackles).

On special teams, redshirt sophomore All-American long snapper and 2024 Preseason All-WAC selection Ryan Kean is back, as is senior punter Andy Day, who is Utah Tech's career leader in punt yardage (6,745).

Other key returnees who saw significant time for the Trailblazers last season include running backs Chris Street (R-Jr.) and Nygel Osborne (So.), receiver Damani Wilks (Sr.), offensive linemen Porter LaChance (R-So.), Nolan Reynolds (R-Jr.), Bryce Crowley (R-Jr.), Carter Bessire (R-So.) and Mason Clark (R-So.), defensive linemen John Sniffen (Sr.) and Laytan Tanuvasa (R-Jr.), linebacker Moon Ashby (R-Jr.), and defensive backs Gabriel Valenzuela (R-Jr.), Brevin Hamblin (So.), Bryant Weekly (R-Jr.), Micah Gardner (R-Jr.), and Amari Duncan (R-Jr.).

The Trailblazers open fall camp with six quarterbacks, including a pair of returning redshirts in freshmen Skyler Cassel and Reggie Graff. Utah Tech also landed two former FBS signal callers out of the transfer portal in junior transfers Luke MacPhail (Syracuse) and Deacon Hill (Iowa), while Dixie HS graduate Bronson Barben and Hawai'i prep standout Ty McCutcheon both enter their first collegiate seasons.

2024 Newcomers

In all, Utah Tech welcomes 54 newcomers to fall camp, 17 of whom are four-year transfers. In addition to MacPhail and Hill, DaJon Harrison (WR – UConn), Caleb Canada (OLB – Mississippi Valley State), Shamar Garrett (RB – San Jose State), Amari Pouncy (OLB – New Mexico State), Eni Falayi (TE – UMass), Fisher Jackson (OLB – BYU), Elijah Wood (LB – San Jose State), Jake Hill (WR – BYU), Spencer Rich (LB – Memphis), Trey Kalauli (LS – Weber State), Dane Whalen (DL – Nicholls State), Tugase Williams (OLB – Missouri Southern), Rambo Mageo (OL – San Diego State), Chernet Estes (WR – Colorado), and Alec Burton (TE – Ohio) will all look to make immediate impacts in their new home. 

2024 Schedule

Utah Tech's 2024 schedule features a program NCAA-era high 12 games, including six home games, and a full eight-game UAC slate.

Three Trailblazers' four non-conference games will come against Big Sky Conference opponents, beginning with that season opener against Montana State inside Greater Zion Stadium on Saturday, August 31.

Utah Tech will open its six-game road schedule one week later with a quick trip to Las Vegas to take on 2023 Mountain West Conference runner-up and Guaranteed Rate Bowl game participant UNLV on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Allegiant Stadium.

The Blazers then return home one week later for a match-up against Northern Arizona (Sept. 14), before wrapping up their non-conference schedule with a road date at UC Davis (Sept. 21).

Utah Tech will kick off its second season of UAC play at home vs. Abilene Christian on Homecoming Saturday, Sept. 28, followed by consecutive road games at North Alabama (Oct. 5) and at Tarleton State (Oct. 12).

Utah Tech will then play four of its final five games of the season in the Beehive State, starting with a home date vs. Austin Peay on Saturday, Oct. 19. The Blazers follow that up with their first-ever trip to "The Bluegrass State" for a road match-up at Eastern Kentucky (Oct. 26).

Utah Tech returns to Greater Zion Stadium for a two-game homestand against first-time opponents, beginning with a home date vs. Central Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 2. Then after their bye week (Nov. 9), the Trailblazers will square off against UAC and Division-I newcomer West Georgia on Senior Day Saturday, Nov. 16.

The Trailblazers will close out the regular season with the annual "Battle For The Ax" showdown at in-state rival Southern Utah (11/23). 

2024 Season Ticket Information

Several 2024 season ticket packages are now available starting at $40 per seat for general admission seating.

Utah Tech Athletics also features three reserved seating packages, which are exclusively available with a current and active Utah Tech Trailblazer Club membership, starting with reserve level season tickets located in the west grandstand sections 110 and 114.

Trailblazer Club members will also have access to purchase reserve plus level season tickets (west grandstand sections 111 and 113), as well as premium level season tickets, which includes the chairback seats located in the west grandstand's section 112.

In addition, in-game hospitality and parking will be available to purchase with any level of season ticket purchase.

Advanced single game tickets will go on sale on Thursday, August 15. Reserved single game ticket prices will range from $8-$25, while single game general admission seating will range from $5-$8.

For more information on purchasing Trailblazer football season tickets, please contact the Utah Tech Ticket Office at 435-652-7800, or visit https://utahtech.evenue.net/TBCM.

Trailblazer Football 2024 season ticket and 2024-25 Trailblazer Club membership information can be found online at www.utahtechtrailblazerclub.com. For other inquiries about the Trailblazer Club, members and prospective members may call Wendi Bulkley in the Utah Tech Development Office at 435-879-4788, or email tbclub@utahtech.edu.