Injury update
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said the Utes got better news than expected concerning injuries to linebacker Kyle Brady (sprained right knee) and free safety John Peel (head and neck). X-rays on the latter came back negative.
"We're expecting to be a full strength, as of right now, for the UCLA game," Whittingham said.
Runnin' Utes
Noting that a lot of live action remained before solidifying the depth chart prior to the Sept. 2 season opener, Whittingham said a battle may be brewing at tailback.
"MIke Liti has had a very good camp. Darryl Poston is our No. 1 guy, but Mike Liti has definitely closed the gap and is playing his best football as a Ute during this camp," said Whittingham, who added the sophomore Darrell Mack is also making continual improvement.
In the trenches
Though Whittingham admits that losing Jesse Boone and David Dirkmaat to graduation was a big loss, he's excited about the current state of Utah's offensive line.
"I think we've got more experience on the line than we had last year," Whittingham said. "We only have one senior this year and so I think the offensive line is going to be a strength of ours for years to come."
Senior Tavo Tupola (left tackle), redshirt freshman Zane Beadles (left guard), junior Kyle Gunther (center), sophomore Robert Conley (right guard) and junior Jason Boone (right tackle) are the projected starters.
"We like the way the ones are working and performing as a unit," Whittingham said.
Jeremy Infererra and Corey Seiuli are among the reserves being primed to play multiple positions—giving the Utes versatility to plug others into the mix.
Climbing the chart
True freshman linebackers Matt Martinez and Stevenson Sylvester, who have moved into back-up roles on the depth chart, are in position to be among the half-dozen or so newcomers that Whittingham said will be utilized this season.
The transition, though, hasn't been painless.
"They've hit a bit of a wall mentally. There's a lot of install. Our defense is fairly voluminous. So they're, right now, swimming a little bit. They hit overload," Whittingham said. "But that's typical and it happens every year. It's a natural progression and they'll start to sort things out the next couple of days, digest what they have in their brains and then they'll be productive again."
Defensive coordinator Gary Andersen agrees. Newcomers are initially introduced to one package before being introduced to the entire scheme. That, he added, muddies the water very quickly.
"It's just part of two-a-days," said Andersen, who explained that the coaching staff saturates newcomers early to get their feet wet before focusing the game plan.
6th commitment
James Carter, a 5-foot-10, 161-pound wide receiver from Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley, Calif., is the sixth recruit to give Utah an early commitment. He made 48 catches for 894 yards and four touchdowns as a junior.
Utah's other early commits include defensive end James Alono (Cottonwood HS), defensive back Josh Broughton (CItrus CC, Calif.), offensive lineman Louis Finner (East Plano HS, Texas), quarterback Griffin Robles (Spanish Fork HS) and tight end Dallin Rogers (Union Mine HS, Calif.).
—Dirk Facer