A 6-foot-2, 240-pound backer played in 27 career games for Arizona, totaling 80 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss and two fumble recoveries. He’s known as a run-stopper, and figures to bring physicality to a position where Utah lacked it last season.
But Ippolito, 23, also brings extensive injury concerns: He’s suffered three ACL tears in his career, including two that kept him out for full seasons. His injury in 2014 left the door open for Scooby Wright, one of his best friends, to become a star. He’s hunting for a sixth year of eligibility — Jerry Ippolito said his son has received assurances from the NCAA that it shouldn’t be a problem.