Utah Offensive Lineman Paul Maile Enters The Transfer Portal
Jan 5, 2023, 4:30 PM
Head coach Kyle Whittingham of the Utah Utes gets a Gatorade bath by Paul Maile #54 during the fourth quarter in the Pac-12 Championship against the USC Trojans at Allegiant Stadium on December 02, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY- Utah offensive lineman Paul Maile has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. Maile will be a graduate transfer in 2023. Maile has been with the Utes since 2018 and has played in 28 games on the offensive line.
In 2022 Maile played in 11 games at center. His efforts as one of the starting five for most of the season helped the Utes average 220.2 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry in the rush attack. The Utah offensive line only allowed nine sacks in 2022 which was good for sixth in the country at the FBS level.
Christmas came early this year😍Woke up feeling like a Champ! #GoUtes #BACK2BACK💍 pic.twitter.com/pynaFrBXqb
— Paul Maile (@PaulMaile54) December 3, 2022
The East High product was rated as one of the top players coming out of the state of Utah in the 2018 signing class and earned an invite to play in the Polynesian Bowl.
How Utah’s Offensive Line Stacks Up In 2023
With Braeden Daniels almost certainly declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft, Maile becomes the second offensive lineman with playing experience that will not be returning to the Utes. However, Utah has done a great job the past two seasons bringing in talent and developing it.
Position coach Jim Harding had a rough stretch with the Utes after the 2016 season saw all five starting linemen get a shot in the NFL. Unfortunately, the guys recruited behind them all seemed to have to medically retire leaving what once felt like a full cupboard, looking a little bare. The recovery time from that set back took a few years but looked to be back on track in 2021.
2022 may have been the best season for the group from start to finish with Harding feeling confident he had between 10 and 12 guys that could start if needed.
2023 and beyond looks to be in similar shape with the emergence of guys like Johnny Maea, Kolinu’u Faaiu, Michael Mokofisi, and Falcon Kaumatule while the Utes also brought in new talent they are excited about in Spencer Fano, Caleb Lomu, and Roger Alderman.
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for KSLsports.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports
