Morgan Scalley ‘not concerned one bit’ about lack of sacks by defensive ends

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Through five games, no Utah defensive end has registered a sack.

Defensive ends Lance Holtzclaw, Kash Dillon and Ethan Day have combined for 37 quarterback pressures and 34 quarterback hurries, but no one has been able to get that elusive sack.

“Sack Lake City” has yet to make its return this season and no “mayor” has emerged.

Utah is tied with BYU, Cincinnati, Texas Tech in sacks per game (2.2), ranking No. 52 nationally. The Utes are led in sacks by a defensive tackle, Karson Kaufusi, and a linebacker, Elijah Ellis, both of whom have two apiece on the season.

The defensive ends have yet to bring down the quarterback, a concerning trend for a program that usually excels in that aspect.

Utah’s lack of sacks was glaring in its 41-24 victory over Kansas on Saturday as Jayhawk quarterback Isaiah Marshall had all kinds of time to throw and repeatedly made Utah pay, passing for 333 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. While his completion percentage was just 55%, when he did connect, it often went for a large gain.

Morgan Scalley on the lack of sacks by Utah's defensive ends.

"Yes, I want sacks. I think everyone wants sacks. You want those disruptive plays. At the same time, if I'm getting max protection every single down and they're trying to protect because they know we have good… pic.twitter.com/D8lIOpeM4k

— Joe Coles (@JoeAColes) October 12, 2026

“We’re all about pass efficiency and 17-point something (yards) per completion, not good enough, not even close to good enough,” Scalley said. “However, 51% completion percentage, definitely good enough.”

Some of it was Kansas playing well and its receivers making great catches and some of it was the lack of pressure that Marshall faced, which put a lot of stress on a secondary playing man-to-man coverage.

By design

Part of the shortage of sacks was by design, as Utah mostly focused on containing the dual-threat Marshall with a “cage rush” instead of sending pressure. That aspect worked as intended, as the rush-heavy Jayhawks were held to only 58 rushing yards, only 21 of which came from Marshall.

Utah forced Kansas to beat them through the air and the Jayhawks responded with the best passing performance against the Utes this season.

“Yes, they’re throwing and when you can make them one dimensional, again, their strength coming in, they were No. 1 in the conference in rushing offense … and I think we limited them to 58 yards rushing. So you make them one dimensional doing something that you don’t think they do necessarily well enough. Now he did, he threw the ball and completed it,” Scalley said.

In the red zone and in parts of the fourth quarter, Utah sent more pressure and made some key stops, but the lack of sacks from the defensive ends is becoming a trend.

However, Scalley isn’t worried.

Utah has been stout against the run this season, something that was a concern during parts of last season. The Utes have faced two run-happy teams in both of their Big 12 games and have shut down their opponents’ rushing attack.

“However, 51% completion percentage, make them one dimensional, 58 yards rushing. We’ll take that,” Scalley said. “We will take that. Now are there some things that we need to clean up on the back end? You bet. Getting set quicker, couple communication issues, penalties that gave him longer-yard situations. So there’s definitely stuff to clean up there and we’ve got the guys to do it.”

Utah is No. 9 in the nation in rush defense, allowing only 78.8 yards per game, and part of that is the play of the defensive ends against the run.

“In 2014, we led the nation in sacks. We had 55, and you know what? Sacks go into rush defense. You know what we were in the country in rush defense that year? With 55 sacks, we were 41st in the country,” Scalley said. “You know where we are in the country right now in rush defense? We’re top 10.

“So if you were to say, would you rather have a good rush defense and less sacks? I’d say, sign me up right now. Yes, I want sacks. Everyone wants sacks. You want those disruptive plays. At the same time, if I’m getting max protection every single down and they’re trying to protect because they know we have good defensive ends, then OK, you just got to find ways to get sacks other places.

“I’m not concerned one bit about the sacks.”

Utah’s offensive line wins Big 12 weekly award

After powering a 283-yard rushing performance and keeping quarterback Devon Dampier clean 78.9% of the time, per Pro Football Focus, Utah’s offensive line was named the Big 12’s offensive line of the week.

Though the Utes did allow two sacks, the offensive line continued its solid performance to start the season.

“I would say really good,” Scalley said of the offensive line play this season. “Not knowing what we were going to have with the transfers. We knew the guys currently in the program, but the way coach (Jordan) Gross and coach (Alex) Gerke have had those guys come along.”

Utah has honed in on a starting lineup of Zereoue Williams, Kelvin Obot, Alex Harrison, Keith Olson and Cedric Jefferson. The group has produced good results over the last two games.

Williams has been the Utes’ best O-lineman and is already drawing NFL draft buzz.

“You look at where we are right now in the Big 12, it’s 7.19 yards per play. That’s ninth in the country and first in the Big 12, and it doesn’t happen without a great offensive line,” Scalley said. “So those guys are playing really, really well. Zereoue Williams playing really elite football and the rest of those guys are gelling. ”

Utah may be getting additional help on the line, too.

Isaiah Garcia, who has had a tough go with injuries over his college career, is back practicing with the team this week. The former Corner Canyon four-star recruit has played just 21 snaps this season, missing the opener against Idaho and the past two games against Iowa State and Kansas.

“Good to have him back. Love Ike,” Scalley said.

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