The Utah football team ruled defensive tackles Semi Taulanga and Dallas Vakalahi ‘out’ for Saturday’s showdown against Cincinnati. Taulanga and Vakalahi were do …
The Utah football team ruled defensive tackles Semi Taulanga and Dallas Vakalahi “out” for Saturday’s showdown against Cincinnati.
Taulanga and Vakalahi were downgraded from “doubtful” in the Utes’ Thursday availability report.
Vakalahi is set to miss his second straight game after playing in his team’s 24-21 loss to BYU on Oct. 18. The 6-foot-2 sophomore from West Valley, Utah, made starts against UCLA and West Virginia earlier in the season.
Taulanga is listed as a defensive tackle, though the Utes have gotten creative with how they use the 317 pound freshman from Santa Ana, California. He’s lined up as an extra offensive lineman on run plays and even as a tight end in some instances, catching two passes from that spot during the Cougars game.
Tobias Merriweather remained “questionable” for the Week 10 contest at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The 6-foot-5 wide receiver is fourth on the team in receiving yards (130) after missing last week’s 53-7 triumph over Colorado.
As for the Bearcats, they didn’t make any changes to their availability report on Thursday. Leading rusher Evan Pryor remained “out,” along with linebacker Terrell Holcomb, while linebacker Montay Weedon was categorized as “probable.”
Pryor had to leave Cincinnati’s 41-20 win over Baylor last week early due to a lower leg injury. The 5-foot-9 redshirt senior leads Cincinnati in rushing yards (478) and and yards per carry (7.2, also No. 1 in the Big 12).
Here’s a look at Thursday’s availability report for Saturday’s game.
Out
Questionable
Out
Probable
Big 12 football programs are required to submit daily availability reports beginning three days before each game. The initial reports are posted on the league’s website at 8 p.m. MT.
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Source: Utah News