Utah’s key player is reportedly set to depart
Elliss became Utah’s 12 consensus All-American this season, despite missing the last three games due to injury.
Utah defensive end Jonah Elliss declared for the 2024 NFL draft on social media Tuesday afternoon.
“First and foremost, I’d like to thank God for the gifts he has bestowed upon me and for allowing me to participate in the sport I adore.” “I’d like to thank Coach (Kyle) Whittingham, Coach (Morgan) Scalley, Coach (Lewis) Powell, and the rest of the coaching staff for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to play at the University of Utah,” Elliss wrote.
“To my teammates, the MUSS, and our fans, thank you so much for supporting me. This experience has been life-changing and something that I will cherish forever. With that being said, I’ve decided to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. God bless and Go Utes!”
Elliss led Division I football in sacks per game this season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury 10 games into the 2023 season. This season, the junior averaged 1.2 sacks per game for a total of 12 sacks. He had 3.5 sacks and 10 tackles in Utah’s victory over UCLA, which was rated No. 22 at the time, to open Pac-12 play.
“He’s unyielding. He has a powerful engine. He’s not the biggest guy, standing 6-2 and 245 pounds, but he just keeps coming at you. “He’s got some really good pass rush moves, great spin moves, and the speed rush is something that he excels in, and he’s just been a tremendous player for us,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said following the Bruins win.
Elliss was named to the FWAA, Walter Camp, and Sporting News All-America first teams this season, making him Utah’s 12th consensus All-American. A player is deemed a consensus All-American if he or she is named to at least two of the five All-America first teams: AFCA, AP, FWAA, Sporting News, and Walter Camp.
This season, Elliss was a force for the Utes, compiling 37 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and three pass breakups. With the season-ending injury, he missed Utah’s final three games, including the Las Vegas Bowl.
Elliss is ranked No. 8 on Pro Football Focus’ edge big board and No. 7 on ESPN’s Field Yates’ edge big board.
Elliss joins offensive guard Keaton Bills on the team. With eligibility still left, safety Sione Vaki, safety Cole Bishop, and receiver Devaughn Vele all declared for the NFL draft this summer. Sataoa Laumea, a junior offensive tackle, has not yet made a formal announcement on social media, but he has accepted a Senior Bowl invitation, which is normally a hint that a player would join the NFL draft.
