#51

Karson Kaufusi

DT · Utah · R-Jr. · #51

Returning to Utah for 2026
R-Jr. · Holladay, Utah → Skyline HS
via utahutes.com ↗
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Karson Kaufusi

DT · Utah · Fr · #51

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#628 national
CFB
College
Utah
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Utah11-2HC: Kyle Whittingham · Run-heavy

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Utah1350.50.5------
Career1350.50.5------

How he plays

Play style

Wins his gap play after play.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Utah

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive tackle · Utah

Returning around him

  • 14% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
  • 3 Utah players drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: -3 net (17 in / 20 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Utah · Last season: 11-2 (AP #15) · Talent rank #44 · 2026 recruiting class #27

DNA match

Player DNA

Two-Gap Base

Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.

IDL

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Brett Johnson’s 2023 season.

California · 2023

#2
72%
#3

Gabe Jones

New Mexico State · 2024

72%
#4

Walter Nolen

Texas A&M · 2022

NFL Rd 1 · Pk 16
71%
#5

Daevin Hobbs

Tennessee · 2023

71%

Matches Brett on

TFL rate
Class year
Weight

Differs from Brett on

Height (higher)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Markus Boswell's freshman season at Akron (2025).

Akron · 2025

#2

Brent Gordon Jr.

Louisiana · 2025

73%
#3

Mason Posa

Wisconsin · 2025

All-Big Ten
70%
#4

Brendan Flakes

Northwestern · 2023

70%
#5

Conlan Greene

Temple · 2023

70%

Matches Markus on

Class year
Hurry rate
TFL rate

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #8089

Final rank
#8089
Avg #9378.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #8089 this season.

Background

2025: Played in 12 games on defense and special teams. Season totals included 13 tackles (0.5 TFL, 0.5 sack). Three stops (0.5 TFL, 0.5 sack) in his Utah debut against UCLA. Five other multi-tackle performances, capped off in the Las Vegas Bowl vs. Nebraska. High School: Four-star recruit out of...

via utahutes.com ↗