Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — Former BYU linebacker Francis Bernard has officially joined the Utah Utes.
“It’s great to have him in the program — a real great effort on his part to get himself eligible and where he needed to be to be able to join us,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham.
Bernard, who will not be allowed to speak with the media until further notice, practiced without pads Monday as he works through the five-day NCAA-mandated acclimatization period.
“He had some work to do to get here and he busted his rear end and got it all done,” said Whittingham, who noted that Bernard had to earn his associate’s degree and meet other unspecified requirements in order to join the Utes.