This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Salt Lake Tribune has learned that Utah's Harvey Langi will play defense when he returns from his LDS mission.

Langi was one of the most prolific running backs in state history as a prep at Bingham, leading the Miners to two straight 5A state titles while amassing 4,289 yards and 55 touchdowns. As a freshman in 2011, Langi carried 13 times for 70 yards for the Utes.

But Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham listed Langi as a 6'2, 250-pound defensive end on his most recent roster. The move appears to shore up a position of need and clear up a logjam at running back, where Bubba Poole, Troy McCormick, Devontae Booker and Lucky Radley will compete for reps this fall.

He will return from his Tampa, Fla., mission on July 9th. His mother, Kalesita, told The Tribune on Monday that he not only knows about the switch but that he asked for it.

Langi told The Tribune before announcing at the 2011 U.S. Army All-American Bowl that he chose to play for Utah over USC because at Southern Cal, "I just had a feeling they were going to throw me on defense."

— Matthew Piper

Twitter: @mattew_piper