Scalley, Utah’s defensive coordinator/safeties coach, and Shah, the Utes’ cornerbacks coach, watched junior cornerback Jaylon Johnson declare for the NFL Draft. Julian Blackmon was an All-American this fall in his lone season as a safety, but he was a senior. Terrell Burgess was a standout safety in 2019, but a senior, so he’s gone. Tareke Lewis and Josh Nurse combined to start 13 games opposite Johnson. When Johnson skipped the Alamo Bowl, Lewis and Nurse both started, but they too are seniors.
Scalley and Shah knew all this was coming, even Johnson declaring as a junior.