Ranking Utah Football's Ten Most Important Players For The 2026 Season

Steve Bartle and Josh Bennett rank the 10 most important players to Utah’s 2026 season—not simply the best players, but the Utes whose roles may be the hardest to replace. They debate Devon Dampier’s command of an offense built around him, Karson Kaufusi’s ownership of Utah’s defensive-tackle tradition, Braden Pegan’s impact and whether Wayshawn Parker is ranked too low. Plus, “6–7” gets its moment, and Eric Weddle receives proper recognition with his Ring of Honor induction.

The Utah Blockcast is a podcast for University of Utah Athletics fans. Focusing on Utah Football and Runnin' Utes basketball, the Blockcast is just what passionate Utah fans need. Hosted by KSL Sports' Steve Bartle and often co-hosted by Cameron Beck and Tyson Moll, particularly during football season, the Blockcast is a great place to discuss, argue, and stay current on Utah Athletics.