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The dream continues part I

Although Utah Football’s annual Pro Day was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic, multiple former Utes are currently training and preparing for the chance to take their careers to the next level – to become a pro.

The 2020 NFL Draft is presently scheduled to take place April 23-25 and will be televised, but the annual selection process will not include public events in Las Vegas, Nev. The NFL will continue to release more details on the television broadcast as the date gets closer.

Utah had 18 former athletes ready to participate in pro day on campus with UtahUtes.com breaking down the group in a two-part series.

BRADLEE ANAE | DEFENSIVE END

Participated in the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine … played in the Reese’s Senior Bowl … 2019 consensus All-American … 2019 Morris Trophy winner … two-time All-Pac-12 first-team selection … led the Utes in sacks for three straight seasons (2017-19) … started all 14 games in 2019, ranking eighth in the FBS and second in the Pac-12 with 13.0 sacks, which ties for fifth in single-season sacks at Utah … tied for second in the Pac-12 with 14.0 tackles for loss … finished the season with 41 total tackles … two-time Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week in 2019 … set a career-high with seven tackles against Arizona … tied his career-high in sacks in a game (3.0) against Northern Illinois and Arizona State.

FRANCIS BERNARD | LINEBACKER

Participated in the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine … played in the Reese’s Senior Bowl … first-team All-Pac-12 linebacker in 2019 as a senior, finishing second on the team with 85 total tackles … started all 14 games as a senior … his 7.5 tackles for loss in 2019 tied him for fifth on the team … also had two interceptions and was a two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week … three double-digit tackle games as a senior, including tying his season-high with 12 twice vs. Washington State and Northern Illinois … had 10 tackles against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship game … returned an interception for 58 yards for a pick-six against BYU in the season opener … also played in 12 games with two starts as a junior in 2018.

TYLER HUNTLEY | QUARTERBACK

Played in the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl … first-team All-Pac-12 selection as a senior in 2019 … ranks third all-time at Utah in career wins (23) … broke the school records for career completion percentage (.672) and single-season completion percentage (.731), yards per pass completion (14.1), passing efficiency (177.6) and total offense yards per play (8.3) in 2019 … his 20 career 200-yard passing games ranks fourth all-time … earned Pro Football Focus All-America third-team and was a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Manning Award as a senior … finished the 2019 season ranked second in the FBS and first in the Pac-12 in completion percentage (.731), fifth in the FBS and first in the Pac-12 in passing efficiency (177.6) and third in the FBS and first in the league in yards per pass attempt (10.27) … was 220-of-301 passing (4 INT, 19 TD) for 3,092 yards, adding 104 carries for 290 yards and five rushing touchdowns in 2019.

"What sets me apart from other people is I was never the biggest, I was never the strongest, and I was never the fastest, but my WILL to get better is what put me over the top every time. Never have I looked at a day and just tried to make it through it. I use every day to better myself."

TAREKE LEWIS | DEFENSIVE BACK

Integral part of Utah’s secondary in 2019, playing in all 14 games at right corner, earning the starting nod in five games … finished the year ranked second on the team with seven pass breakups and had eight passes defended … recorded 16 tackles in 2019, including a career-high five with a pass breakup against Texas in the Alamo Bowl … three tackles and two pass breakups against Northern Illinois … notched an interception against Arizona State … played in 11 games in 2018, starting against Washington State and Colorado … four tackles against the Cougars in his first career start as a Ute … transferred to Utah from Riverside CC after earning first-team All-SCFA as a cornerback his true freshman season.

"I would bring versatility being able to play inside and out, press man, off man, zone. I am someone that would be accountable, coachable and someone that would soak in all the knowledge that is given to me. I have that dawg mentality with a chip on my shoulder and a great work ethic."

JOHN PENISINI | DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Two-time All-Pac-12 selection … played in all 14 games with 13 starts at left tackle in 2019 … finished second on the defensive line with 38 tackles (7.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks) with two forced fumbles … his two forced fumbles tied for the team lead and ranked eighth in the Pac-12 … earned Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week with his career-high tying seven tackles against Washington, also forcing a fumble in the game … played in all 14 games with eight starts at right tackle in 2018 as a junior with 12 games of action his sophomore season … started his collegiate career Snow College, earning all-league honors as a freshman.

DEMARI SIMPKINS | WIDE RECEIVER

Played in all 54 games with 36 starts during his time at Utah, breaking the school record for career games played … played in all 14 games as a senior in 2019, starting 11 … finished the year second on the team in receptions (32) for 352 yards (11.0 ypc), adding eight rushes for 43 yards (5.4 ypc), 16 punt returns for 145 yards (9.1 ypr) … scored three touchdowns in 2019 (1 rush, 1 rec., 1 PR) … season-high four receptions for 97 yards at Oregon State in 2019 … 13-yard rushing touchdown against Northern Illinois … 66-yard punt return for a touchdown against Colorado in Utah’s regular season finale … started all 14 games in 2018 as a junior … played in all 13 games in 2017 (6 starts), recording a career-high 99 receiving yards on four catches vs. Washington State, also throwing a touchdown pass against USC.

"What sets me apart is my work ethic and my faith in knowing I will be successful because of my ability and the talent I was blessed with."

ANDREW STRAUCH | KICKER

Played in all 14 games for the Utes in 2019 as a graduate transfer, handling all kickoffs … had 41 touchdowns in 85 kickoffs for 4,994 yards (60.4 ypk) … season-high nine kickoffs against Oregon State for 455 yards … had eight kickoffs for 499 yards with six touchbacks against UCLA … scored a 41-yard field goal against BYU … played in five games at UCLA prior to his time with Utah as a kicker and a punter … punted three times against Stanford in 2018, averaging 36.3 yards (long of 42 yards) … played in four games in 2016 as a sophomore, knocking in a 39-yard field goal and going 9-for-9 in extra points.

HUNTER THEDFORD | TIGHT END

Strong blocking tight end for the Utes in 2019 as a graduate transfer … played in all 14 games, starting three … had two catches for 12 yards, including one for 11 yards against Washington State … came to Utah after playing in 23 games for Southern Methodist University … played in 12 games with three starts for the Mustangs in 2018, catching three passes for 36 yards … caught SMU’s game-winning two-point conversion against Navy in overtime … was rated the No. 29 tight end in the nation by Scout out of Commanche HS in Comanche, Texas.

"What sets me apart and what folks didn't get a chance to see is my speed and agility. While training at EXOS, I've been putting up times that you just don't see from a 6-7, 270 pound tight end. I'm currently running a 6.65 cone drill and a 4.63 in the 40-yard dash. I was really looking forward to showing that skill set and I hope we all get an opportunity to do that in the future."

DERRICK VICKERS | ATHLETE

Hybrid player that showed his versatility in 2019 for the Utes after receiving a five-year clock extension from the NCAA … played in all 14 games in 2019, starting against Texas in the Alamo Bowl … had 19 catches for 202 yards (10.6 ypc) and 20 rushes for 94 yards (4.7 ypc), adding five kick returns for 118 yards (23.6 ypr) … three catches for 38 yards and four rushes for 26 yards against USC … two kick returns for 52 yards, including a season-long 38-yard return against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship game … scored a seven-yard rushing touchdown against Washington State … played in five games for the Utes in 2018 … came to Utah from Bakersfield CC where he was a two-time All-America all-purpose player.

"I've always been the underdog. I have something to prove. I would be an asset to any NFL team because I can make plays at different positions. Also, when adversity hits, I got to work and see it as another opportunity."