UteZone has learned through multiple sources tied to the program that linebacker Manny Bowen has met with head coach Kyle Whittingham and has come to the decision that he will step away from the football team and the game of football. The news comes the day before fall camp begins on a Pac-12 championship contending team.

Bowen came to Utah as a mid-year transfer. He elected to transfer from Penn State last season, and after an official visit to Utah in late November, Bowen decided to transfer to Utah. He was one of the more impressive players through spring camp and the expectations were high for him heading into the season. Their was a lot of optimism that he would be a big contributor to the defense this season.

Redshirt sophomore Devin Lloyd is expected to fill-in as the starting linebacker next to Francis Bernard. Lloyd is a 6-foot-3 and 235 pound backer, who has made great progress in his two years at Utah, and he will be tasked with stepping up as the playmaker in the linebacker group. Junior college transfer Trennan Carlson, Stanford transfer Sione Lund, and redshirt freshman Andrew Mata'afa will fill in as the primary backups to the starting linebacker.

This is an untimely event as the team prepares for the first day of fall camp. The good news is that the defensive staff will have the entire fall camp to prepare for the sudden change and make the necessary adjustments to best fit the players and skillsets.

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