NFL mock draft highlights Utah’s growing strength in the trenches

The Utah Utes tend to keep things low key. They always have. But as the NFL Draft approaches this April in Pittsburgh, Utah finds itself in a rare position with two projected first round picks on the offensive line.

It starts with Spencer Fano, who has felt like an NFL lineman for a while now. Even NFL.com draft analyst Eric Edholm acknowledges the context around his rise, writing, “I don’t think Fano would be a top five pick in most years, and there’s a long way to go until the Cardinals have to make a call here.” But the follow up matters more. Edholm adds that Fano “would help fortify an offensive line that struggled to pass block last season.”

That description fits Fano well. He is not flashy or loud. He shows up, plays multiple spots, and fixes problems. Coaches trust him. Scouts do too. That is why his name continues to appear near the top of early mock drafts.

The shift in the conversation comes with Caleb Lomu.

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Edholm is just as direct in his evaluation. “He’s not a physically dominant blocker,” he wrote, “but Lomu has the strong technique and good balance to be a starting left or right tackle.” Lomu has already started 22 games and has not allowed a sack this season. Utah leaned on him in the run game because it consistently worked. That is not projection. That is production.

Together, Fano and Lomu formed the backbone of an offensive line that quietly controlled games. Long drives. Clean pockets. Rushing lanes that stayed open.

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If both names are called on opening night, it will feel like the payoff for a program that has made a habit of turning linemen into pros.

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