Well we are done with football until August now here in the state of Utah. The Utes wrapped up their month long spring football run with the annual Red and White Spring Football Game on Saturday at Rice Eccles Stadium. While the game itself was less than thrilling, with mostly 2nd and 3rd teamers playing, there are a few things that we can take away from the month long evaluation period. Head Coach Kyle Whittingham joined us Monday on ESPN 700 to discuss his team’s look coming out of the Spring.
Here are my 3 takeaways from Utah Football this Spring
1. The Quarterback Hierarchy appears set heading into the fall. Though he didn’t see any time in the Spring Game, Travis Wilson has a firm hold on the #1 QB position and that is not likely to change heading into the season without some sort of injury situation. Wilson’s combination of experience, throwing, running and confidence makes him Utah’s best option to compete in the Pac 12 South this season. Coaches tell me that Kendall Thompson has come a long way in his rehab and will play a key role with the team this fall, though they wouldn’t discuss what that role would be. The Utah coaches feel very good about Thompson’s ability to lead the team and win football games if something happens to Wilson. The real news on the quarterback front coming out of the Spring is that Chase Hansen appears to have a hold on the 3rd QB spot. The former Mr. Football in the State of Utah had an overall solid spring considering he returned from his mission in early December. Donovan Isom continues to be a project and the interesting things will be to see what happens with Connor Manning and Brandon Cox.
2. While the QB spot seems settled what isn’t is who they will throw to. The coaching staff was hoping to have 1 or 2 players emerge this spring to take the place of Dres Anderson and Kaelin Clay. After a month of practice and scrimmages those guys haven’t quite made themselves apparent yet. The best options still appear to be Delshawn McClellon, Kenric Young and Raelon Singleton. This won’t be sorted out until sometime in the fall.
3. The defense is deep and really talented. For all the angst that occurred when Kalani Sitake left for Oregon State, you’d have never known during the Spring. John Pease’s defense is especially deep along the defensive line. He’s got 4 guys at DT that could all start and at DE I’m not sure that anyone will replace the individual numbers put up a year ago by Nate Orchard, but Dimick, Fitts, Fanaeka and Taumoepenu should all combine to be just as prolific this year pressuring Pac 12 quarterbacks. The back end of that defense is talented and deep too. The only area that might remain a slight question mark is the depth at the linebacker spot. Whittingham, Norris and Paul are all more than capable, but it’s the experience behind those three that remains a question.
