ST. GEORGE — The Utah Tech football team lost four top players from last year’s squad to the transfer portal, then used the portal to try to reload.
According to a press release, on the same day their 2023 fall camp began on Tuesday, the Trailblazers announced the addition of six transfers that they hope will have a significant impact on the field.
Running backs Chris Street and Ronnie Walker Jr. will tote the rock for Utah Tech.
On the other side of the ball, defensive lineman Moon Ashby, linebacker Dondi Fuller and defensive backs Dominic Brown and Anthony Hebert will bolster the overall depth of the Utah Tech defense.
Street was part of California’s program for three years, compiling 109 rushing yards on 22 attempts with one touchdown in that time.
Walker Jr. comes to St. George as a 5th-year senior. He ran for 138 yards and three TD’s over three seasons at Virginia and also compiled 221 rushing yards and two scores in 22 games as an Indiana Hoosier.
Ashby played three seasons for Washington State. He played at tight end for the Cougars last year but is on track to return to his original defensive end position at Utah Tech.
Fuller started at Division II New Mexico Highlands in 2019, then went to UNLV for two seasons, then played in two games last year at Arkansas-Monticello, where he finished with 12 tackles and one sack.
Brown played his previous two seasons at UNLV, where he totaled three career tackles in nine games.
Hebert played in 11 games at Mount SAC junior college last year, racking up 41 tackles, five interceptions and one forced fumble in a stellar sophomore campaign.
The Trailblazers hope the additions will compensate for the subtractions of wide receiver Joey Hobert, quarterback Victor Gabalis, running back Quali Conley and defensive back Tyrell Grayson.
Hobert earned first-team all Western Athletic Conference recognition last year after finishing his only season at Utah Tech with 1,258 receiving yards and 16 touchdown catches.
Hobert joined former Utah Tech offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann at Texas State in the Sun Belt Conference.
Gabalis played under center in all 11 games for Utah Tech last season, leading the team with 1,948 passing yards and 17 touchdowns.
Gabalis stayed in the conference and transferred to Tarleton State, but the Trailblazers and Texans are not scheduled to play this season.
Conley ran for 1,095 yards and eight touchdowns for Utah Tech last year. The bruising runner took his talents to San Jose State.
Grayson played four seasons at Utah Tech, finishing with 103 tackles in 2021 and 84 last year.
He transferred to Colorado State and will face his former teammates when Utah Tech goes to Fort Collins, Colorado for a game on Sept. 30.
Trailblazers back on the gridiron
Also from a press release, Utah Tech opened its fall camp on Tuesday in preparation for its first season in the United Athletic Conference.
Practice sessions inside Greater Zion Stadium officially begin Wednesday morning.
The Trailblazers will feature 19 practices and two scrimmages ahead of their season-opener at No. 3 Montana State on Saturday, Sept. 2.
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