After practice on Wednesday, safety and defensive captain Brian Blechen stayed late to play a game of catch with two young kids. Blechen played quarterback and taught the children how to run routes while delivering ball after ball to them.
Utah’s other defensive captain, defensive end Nate Orchard, returns home from practice each day to a wife and a 14-month-old daughter, eager to spend time with his small family.
Not what you would expect from the leaders of a defense that has made its name playing tough, physical football.
“I just got to be me,” Orchard said. “The guys know what I am about on and off the field. I am a loving father, but when it comes to the field and game time I’m all business. We have an amazing thing going on here and guys are looking up to me. So I just have to do everything right for them and for the sake of the team.”
Orchard said being a father gives him an opportunity to decompress. Each night following a day full of school and football, Orchard comes home to his wife Meagen and daughter Katherine Mae.
When his wife became pregnant, Orchard, who ranks second in the nation in sacks with 11, hoped for a girl. The reason? He wanted a soft spot in his heart.
“You want to go home at the end of the day and have that soft spot in your heart,” Orchard said. “To just let your guard down and just be a dad and have fun with your little one and your wife.”
His little girl provides Orchard with that opportunity and his face beams when he talks about her.
Opposing offenses have grown accustomed to a much different Orchard, one who is relentless in his pursuit to get to quarterbacks, to halt running backs and to provide a spark for his team with a big play. He has become one of the most feared defenders on what has become one of the conference’s top defenses.
Time and time again this season the Utes have shown the heart, grit and toughness to overcome adversity and find ways to win. Head coach Kyle Whittingham pointed to the leaders of the team for instilling that attitude among the rest of the squad and singled out Orchard specifically.
“We definitely have outstanding leadership, and that’s not to put down the leadership of the past, but this year’s group has really taken ownership of the team,” Whittingham said. “That really starts with Nate Orchard. If you had to pick out a leader of the leaders, it’s Nate. Just the governing from within that is usually associated with all good football teams is there. It’s great to see it happen, and our leaders are a tough group of guys and that permeates throughout the rest of the football team.”
The “leader of the leaders” credits his captain success to his responsibilities as a father but also admits that sometimes it can be a bit much to manage.
“At times, it can be a little overwhelming, but at the end of the day I got to know what I’m working for and who I have at home and who I have to provide for,” Orchard said. “I have all these responsibilities with school and taking care of a family and providing for them and have 105 guys looking up to me expecting me to do good things.”
Orchard does good things, and it’s not just the things that show up on a stat sheet on Saturday. He often stays after practice to work with fellow linemen and help them improve. Orchard has answered the call to try and take as many young defensive players under his wing to tutor and teach them. It’s the captain’s call, yes, but it’s also just the way Orchard is.
Blechen said Whittingham always tells the seniors, “It’s your team.” As a captain the safety feels the weight of that call grow a little heavier.
“Being it’s my last season I feel that extra pressure,” Blechen said. “I‘m well aware my time here is winding down, so each week I’m just trying to hit somebody hard. I love being out there with my team, and I’ll do whatever it takes to win for them and the guys are going to do the same. Our whole defense is on board. It’s awesome.”
Blechen has been consistent in an ever-changing secondary. Throughout the season he has lined up next to Tevin Carter, Marcus Williams, Andre Godfrey and Eric Rowe. As injuries have taken their toll on the Utah safeties, Blechen has done his part to keep the group together.
“It starts with our coaches,” Blechen said. “Coach [Kalani] Sitake is a great d-coordinator and he’s a great guy, too, so everybody loves playing for him. To us it doesn’t matter if you’re a senior or a true freshman, once you are part of this team we need you just as much as anyone else. All our guys feel that and everyone wants to help our cause.”
The Utah squad has gotten contributions from a number of different players including Gionni Paul, Jared Norris, Hunter Dimick, as well as others who have left their mark on games.
There have been huge hits, massive pass breakups and a plethora of sacks. It’s a defense that has stepped up when needed to and helped win games with their playmakers. It’s a hard-hitting, gritty bunch that has helped Utah to their best Pac-12 start.
They are a feared group on the field, even if their leaders’ off-the-field personas aren’t the most intimidating.
@millerjryan