Utah’s Van Fillinger Added To Lombardi Award Watchlist
Oct 18, 2024, 12:28 PM | Updated: 12:45 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Football’s veteran defensive end Van Fillinger has had a productive first half of the 2024 season and has now been added to the Lombardi Award Watchlist.
The prestigious accolade recognizes the most Outstanding College Football Lineman on offense or defense. It is given to the top-performing lineman who also displays the character and discipline that Vince Lombardi championed throughout his life.
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👀 are on @van_filli as he now finds himself on the Lombardi Award Watchlist! #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/hsexkNlsmz
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) October 18, 2024
Through six games this season, Fillinger is on pace to post new career-highs in several categories. He’s already tied his career-best 5.5 sacks, which he posted in 2021. His 29 total tackles give him an average just shy of 5.0 tackles per game; his career-high is 41 tackles in 14 games back in 2021. He’s 2.5 tackles for loss away from a new high mark as well, 9.5 in 2021.
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Within the Big 12, Fillinger’s 5.5 sacks are good for No. 2, while he’s No. 8 with 17 total pressures and No. 3 with 7.5 tackles for loss. Fillinger has clearly benefitted from an offseason that allowed him to get back to the healthiest he’s been in a few seasons.
Van Fillinger entered the season rejuvenated
“Going through that, I feel very grateful for where I am now,” Fillinger said of his return to good health this offseason. “I feel like I can be really intentional with what I do. I’m actually getting better in practice and working on my craft. Whereas yet last year, I felt like I was kind of stale. I’m really excited to actually get better and improve and see how far I can go.”
It wasn’t just a physical process but a mental one too. Fillinger wanted to be there for his teammates but couldn’t perform to the level he wanted. That was an internal struggle but something that he feels has benefitted him in the long run, which speaks to his character and discipline.
“I felt like I knew what I had to do, and I couldn’t do it physically and it really took a hit on me mentally,” Fillinger described. “I would come to practice and I wouldn’t really get much better I was just trying to get by. Just want to come in with a good mindset every day, trying to get better and really just honing in on my skill, I’m really hoping for the best.”
How To Watch TCU vs Utah
Television:Â ESPN
Streaming: Fubo, YouTube TVÂ
Radio: ESPN 700 AM / 92.1 FM
Utah Football 2024 Season Results:
- Utes defeat Southern Utah, 49-0
- Utes defeat Baylor, 23-12
- Utes defeat Utah State, 38-21
- Utes defeat Oklahoma State, 22-19
- Utes fall to Arizona, 23-10
- Utes fall to Arizona State, 27-19
The Rest Of The Utes’ 2024 Schedule:
- Utah Football vs. TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday, October 19
- Utah Football @ Houston Cougars on Saturday, October 26
- Utah Football vs. BYU Cougars on Saturday, November, 9
- Utah Football @ Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday, November 16
- Utah Football vs. Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday, November 23
- Utah Football @ UCF Knights on Friday, November 29
Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.
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