After the Utah football team’s loss at Arizona on Nov. 18, head coach Kyle Whittingham lamented being without defensive stars Jonah Elliss, Karene Reid, and Cole Bishop.
The safety played the next week vs. Colorado, and subsequently declared for the NFL draft. The linebacker missed the game vs. the Buffaloes, but has been preparing to play in the Utes’ Las Vegas Bowl matchup vs. Northwestern this Saturday. As for the defensive end, while Whittingham did note that his injury was “season-ending,” Elliss hasn’t been heard from much in the interim, outside of all the announcements about the honors coming his way, that is.
While the kudos have been piling up, there have been lingering questions about exactly what his injury is, and, beyond that, what his plans are going forward, as some have projected the 6-foot-2, 246-pound junior as a potential second-round pick in the draft.
His dad, Utes legend and current defensive tackles coach Luther Elliss, has the answers to both mysteries, and shared them with The Salt Lake Tribune.
He disclosed that Jonah suffered a partially torn labrum in his shoulder, and after initially trying to battle through it, ultimately had to undergo surgery,
“It’s an injury that you could — and he tried to — play through it a little bit. But being that we are very much into hand-fighting and pushing and pulling and trying to throw people, it just made it more difficult for him to play” said Luther Elliss. “It was just hindering him. It was just one of those things where it was like, ‘Alright, I’ve just got to get this done.’”
Beyond Jonah’s on-field efficacy being limited, Luther said one other big component in opting to shut it down was the possibility of the injury getting exacerbated.
“[Part of] the decision-making was, ‘Hey, you want to take care of this before it gets any worse,” said Luther Elliss.
He noted that the timeframe for recovery is four to six months.
In elaborating on Jonah’s recovery and rehab, however, Luther effectively answered the question about whether fans will be seeing his son in a Utes jersey again.
“He’s already feeling pretty good, and hopefully he’s back, well, he should be back, I don’t know about for spring, but surely summer workouts,” Luther said.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes defensive end Jonah Elliss (83)celebrates after sacking UCLA Bruins quarterback Dante Moore (3), in the final Bruin drive in the 4th quarter, in PAC-12 football action between the Utah Utes and theUCLA Bruins, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.
That would surely be welcome news for a position group that’s been impacted by injuries all season long.
With projected starters Connor O’Toole and Van Fillinger out to begin the season, Utah relied upon Elliss and Logan Fano to fill in. Then Fano suffered a torn ACL at Oregon State, and Elliss went out a few weeks later.
O’Toole and Fillinger have been “busting their butts,” per defensive ends coach Lewis Powell, but he added that “it’s a whole different crew” now than at the start of the season, with younger guys such as freshman Jonah Lea’ea, and sophomores Vili Taufatofua and Gavin Nawahine stepping in and getting reps.
That group will be bolstered by the return of Elliss, who racked up 12 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in 10 games before the injury, en route to becoming the 12th Consensus All-American in the Utah program’s history.
He also was a Pac-12 All-Conference First Team honoree, and was named a finalist for the Lombardi Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Ted Hendricks Award, and Polynesian College Football Player of the Year, as well as a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award. On Monday, he added another honor to the list when he became a Phil Steele All-America First Team selection.
Luther Elliss noted what a humbling experience it has been seeing Jonah get so much recognition.
“It’s a huge blessing. We thank our Lord for the gifts and talents he’s given him and what he’s been able to do. But also, as we all know, no award — especially in this sport, in this game — is without the team,” said Jonah Elliss. “We’re so grateful [about the] caliber of team we have. Coach Powell’s done a great job with him and allowed him to show his talents, and to help him develop. So it’s just the combination of everything.
“For us as a family — I don’t want to speak for him — I would say it’s an attitude of gratitude,” Luther Elliss added. “Just because, again, was great as it was, as it’s been — it’s been fun doing those things — this does not happen without the team, without the coaching, without the opportunities he’s had.”
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