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Utah's football roster continues to shuffle in the offseason as backup linebackers V.J. Fehoko and LT Filiaga and defensive back Joseph Smith all are transferring while several new players should be on campus in the coming weeks.
Fehoko, a junior who played in 11 games and finished with 20 tackles last year, is headed to Texas Tech. It's unknown where Filiaga and Smith are headed.
Filiaga, a sophomore, played in nine games and finished with three tackles. Smith, a junior, played in two games and had six tackles.
The good news for the Utes is even with their departures, Utah's coaches feel positive enough about the linebackers that Brian Blechen still will move from linebacker to safety for the 2014 season.
Blechen was expected to play at linebacker in 2013 before he was sidelined for the season while recovering from knee surgery.
Blechen was an honorable mention all Pac-12 player in 2012, making eight starts at strong safety.
"The way our linebackers developed last year, it gives us the luxury of moving Brian," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.
The Utes also expect to have Tevin Carter, a 6-foot-2 safety out of Southwest College in Los Angeles, on campus in the next few weeks, Whittingham said.
Carter signed with the Utes in the 2013 class but didn't enroll due to academic issues.
If all goes well, the Utes will add to their running back stable with Devontae Booker enrolling. The 5-11, 205-pound Booker signed with Utah last year but didn't enroll due to academic issues.
Freshman Jackson Barton, a 6-6, 275-pound offensive lineman from Brighton High, has enrolled along with Allan Havili, a 6-4, 270-pound defensive tackle out of Tooele High. —