Tucked in the corner of the University of Utah football team’s sprawling new, 5,500-square-foot locker is a familiar face.
His smile shows teeth. He’s wearing Utes red. His jersey dons the No. 22.
Ty Jordan will have his own locker this season — a tribute to the late running back who tragically died last December in an accidental shooting in Dallas.
The new locker room was unveiled to media and donors Thursday along with the rest of the new Ken Garff Red Zone. The night before, the entire Utes football team saw their new digs and also watched a video tribute to Jordan on the new turf field at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Jordan was a force, especially over the final three games of Utah’s pandemic-shortened season a year ago. During that stretch, all Utah wins, Jordan rushed for 468 yards and six touchdowns. For the season, he rushed for 597 yards and the six touchdowns, plus 126 receiving yards on 11 catches on his way to being named Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and the league’s Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press.
“We miss you. We love you. This season is for you,” the team’s official Twitter account posted Thursday.
The Utes open their season Sept. 2 at home against Weber State.
