Wherever we feel he’ll help the team most is where he’ll end up. But it’s not permanent. It’s just giving him a chance there. The time to do it is early in camp because we want to make that decision definitive as soon as we can focus on one or the other. – Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.
SALT LAKE CITY — Versatile junior college transfer Cory Butler moved up to the top of this week’s depth chart at wide receiver. Now he’s playing cornerback.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said Butler is going to be given the next three or four days to see what he can do on defense. A final decision on his position will be made by the end of the week.
“Wherever we feel he’ll help the team most is where he’ll end up,” Whittingham said. “But it’s not permanent. It’s just giving him a chance there. The time to do it is early in camp because we want to make that decision definitive as soon as we can focus on one or the other.”
There’s a chance, Whittingham continued, that Butler could play on both sides of the ball down the road.
“Not right away. It wouldn’t be early in the season,” he explained. “I think that’s too much to put on his plate.”
Later on, though, Whittingham said it could be a definite possibility.
MONDAY’S PRACTICE: Whittingham noted that sometimes after a day off there’s a tendency for teams to come back a little sluggish.
That, however, wasn’t the case with the Utes. Whittingham said they were ready to go when camp resumed Monday. He praised his squad for returning with great effort, great focus and great concentration.
The Utes were able to get into their first two-minute situations.
“The install is mostly done, not all done, but now it’s time to start focusing on situational football and the details of what we’re doing on the field,” Whittingham said.
DEPTH CHART CHANGES: This week’s depth chart is highlighted by junior J.J. Dielman’s move from left tackle back to right tackle, where he started last season. Junior Sam Tevi and redshirt freshman Jackson Barton are now battling for the left spot.
“As it sits right now, that’s how we’ll go,” said Utah offensive line coach Jim Harding. “But if things need a change we’ll go ahead and switch it around.”
In other depth chart news: Butler moved ahead of Bubba Poole at receiver and freshman Tyrone Smith is now listed as Kenneth Scott’s backup at another receiving spot.
VERY CONFIDENT: Sophomore free safety Marcus Williams, who moved ahead of junior Jason Thompson on the depth chart, is brimming with confidence as he enters his second season with the Utes. He played in all 13 games (starting six) as a true freshman, making 59 tackles and intercepting a pass.
“I’m a natural athlete, to be honest,” Williams said. “I can play anything that they put me at.”
EXTRA POINTS: Utah’s first double day is Wednesday. A 65-play scrimmage is scheduled for Thursday . . . Single-game tickets to see the Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium this season go on sale next Monday (Aug. 17) . . . The Pac-12 Network’s “Football Training Camp” program will be up on the hill this Thursday. The show airs Friday at 7 p.m.
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