Mohamoud Diabate is a former University of Utah linebacker who has moved into the professional ranks of the NFL. According to a 2023 preseason report from University of Utah Athletics, Diabate was expected to play for the Cleveland franchise during Week 2 of the preseason on Thursday, August 17, 2023. This professional engagement followed his time as a member of the Utah defensive unit, where he was part of a linebacker group that emerged to help the team win its second straight Pac-12 Championship and return to the Rose Bowl Game, as recorded by a 2026 University of Utah Athletics biography of coach Colton Swan.
During the 2023 preseason, Diabate was listed as the #43 player for Cleveland. In a game against Washington on an undated date, Diabate recorded one tackle and one QB hurry, according to a recap of Preseason Week 1. His presence on the Cleveland roster was noted alongside other former Utah players, such as Britain Covey of the Philadelphia franchise, who were expected to cross paths during the preseason.
Diabate's path to the professional level included development under the tutelage of Colton Swan. As of his 2026 profile on the University of Utah Athletics website, Swan is in his eighth season as the Utah linebackers coach and his first season as the defensive coordinator. The 2026 profile notes that Swan's proteges have included several players who landed free agent signings, specifically naming Francis Bernard, Mohamoud Diabate, and Nephi Sewell.
The linebacker room Diabate was part of contributed significantly to the team's defensive statistics. An undated document notes that the linebacker room contributed 32.5 of Utah's 90 tackles for loss during a season where the team's total ranked ninth in program history for a single season. This defensive unit helped the team achieve success in the Pac-12 conference, including a second consecutive championship.
While Diabate has moved on to professional competition, his collegiate performance was part of a broader era of defensive success for the University of Utah. According to the 2026 profile of Colton Swan, the defense has maintained high standards, including a top-19 national ranking in pass efficiency defense during the 2024 season. The program's defensive reputation was built through the development of players like Diabate, who transitioned from the collegiate level to the professional gridiron. Residents of Nephi may encounter his professional career through televised NFL preseason and regular season broadcasts, as the University of Utah Athletics noted that many preseason games are televised nationwide on networks like NFL Network.
What this means for Nephi
For the residents of Nephi, Diabate's progression from a University of Utah linebacker to a professional player for Cleveland highlights the high level of talent produced by the local collegiate programs. His success underscores the effectiveness of the defensive coaching staff at the University of Utah during the early 2020s.
