Mendenhall Faces Former Players and Coaches | Salt Lake City News

Bronco Mendenhall faces a familiar foe this Saturday as Utah State prepares to battle the Utes, with deep personal and professional ties to key Utah players and coaches. He once coached Utah’s QB Devon Dampier at New Mexico and knows offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven from his time at Utah State. Even Utah’s top receiver, Braden Pegan, was a standout on Mendenhall’s roster last year. Praising these players as “amazing people” and skilled athletes, Mendenhall admits their talent gives him insight—but execution remains critical. He highlights Dampier’s elusive playmaking and McGiven’s complex offense, likening it to defending option football. Respecting new Ute head coach Morgan Scalley’s background, Mendenhall acknowledges Utah’s strength while focusing his team’s preparation on disciplined execution for what promises to be a tough, high-stakes showdown. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.deseret.com/sports/2026/09/15/what-bronco-mendenhall-said-about-utah-utah-state/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8cd66b78c158fa98 Report issues to [email protected].