Four members of the University of Utah football team traveled to Frisco, Texas, to represent the program during the 2026 Monster Energy Big 12 Football Media Days held on July 7 and July 8. The student-athletes participated in the conference event at The Star, the headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.
Utah Players Representing Utes
The Big 12 Conference announced the lineup of student-athlete attendees for the media days in late June, confirming that Utah would be represented on the second day of the event. The university's delegation included quarterback Devon Dampier, linebacker Johnathan Hall, defensive end Lance Holtzclaw, and running back Wayshakan Parker.
Media Appearances and Coverage
During the July 8 session, players Dampier, Hall, Holtzclaw, and Parker appeared on The KSL Sports Zone to discuss the upcoming season. The broadcast, part of the Jake & Ben program, provided insight into the team's outlook during the conference-wide media festivities.
Conference Media Showcase Details
The 2026 event was officially branded as the Monster Energy Big 12 Football Media Days following a naming rights partnership announcement by the conference. The two-day showcase featured eight programs each day, with live broadcasts on ESPNU and simulcasts on Big 12 Studios.
Kevin Connors hosted the coverage for ESPN, joined by analysts Dusty Dvoracek and Louis Riddick, along with reporters Jen Lada and Sydney Jones. The linear broadcasts were produced by BYUtv.
Individual Player Accolades
The media days coincided with a period of individual recognition for several Utah players. According to the University of Utah Athletics awards tracker, linebacker Lance Holtzclaw was named an AFCA Good Words Team Nominee on July 21, 2026.
Additionally, as of July 21, 2026, several Utes were listed on the Shriners Children's East-West Bowl 1,000 Watch List. This list included Devon Dampier, Johnathan Hall, Lance Holtzclaw, and Wayshawn Parker, alongside teammates such as Jackson Bennee, Keith Olson, and Elijah Reed.
Preseason Honors and Tracking
Other notable preseason honors for the Utah program included Mana Carvalho being named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, as noted by University of Utah Athletics on July 6, 2026. The university's athletics department continues to track all awards and accolades earned by the football program throughout the duration of the 2026 season.
Conference-Wide Participation
The Big 12 Media Days featured a wide array of programs from across the conference, including Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, UCF, Colorado, Houston, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech on the first day, as well as Arizona, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, TCU, and West Virginia on the second day.
