SALT LAKE CITY — Although Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said that the first time Devontae Booker will be tackled this fall is in the season opener against Michigan, it doesn’t mean the Heisman Trophy candidate is covered in bubble wrap.
Far from it, as a matter of fact.
“Really I treat every day like a real game. So when I’m going against the defense I’m still getting hit,” Booker said after Utah’s first fall scrimmage at Rice-Eccles Stadium. “It’s not like I’m not getting touched at all and then go into the Michigan game feeling my first bit of contact.”
Booker added that he’s running hard against the defense in practice.
“Each day they put a couple of pops on me or whatever,” he said. “But, you know, I just get back up and have got to keep running. When the Michigan game comes it’ll just make it easier for me.”
All things considered, Booker noted that he feels great entering his senior season.
“I don’t do too much of everything, every day, but when I do I’m out there working hard and giving it my all,” he said. “Basically more just doing conditioning stuff so I can be ready for that game.”
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham told reporters that Booker will get as many carries as he wants. And so far, in the process, the senior has proven that he doesn’t get tired.
“Nothing’s going to dilute Devontae’s reps as long as he’s fresh and ready to go,” Whittingham explained.
THE QUARTERBACKS: After Thursday’s scrimmage, co-offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said that Travis Wilson still has the edge as the No. 1 quarterback and that Kendal Thompson and Chase Hansen continue to try to unseat him.
“They are all doing some good things,” Roderick said. “(But) all three of them had interceptions today which is not good.”
Wilson’s came on the last play in a "desperation" situation.
“All three of them had their lows today and all three had their highs,” said Roderick, who reeled off positive plays made by each quarterback. “So there’s some good things. We’ve just got to keep getting better.”
AT THE CORNER: Whittingham said that highly touted junior college transfer Cory Butler-Byrd, who was originally ticketed to play wide receiver, will continue to make a move to cornerback.
“It’s a little bit too early to make it a permanent decision but he’s going to stay there to finish this week out for sure,” Whittingham said. “Then we’ll make a definitive decision next week.”
Butler-Byrd had a 55-yard intereption return in the scrimmage.
EXTRA POINTS: Utah’s second “double day” of camp is set for Friday . . .Whittingham said the Utes came out of the scrimmage “very good” health-wise. The early, early indication is there was no major injuries . . . In the battle for the starting spot at left tackle, Whittingham said that junior Sam Tevi is starting to separate himself a little bit from redshirt freshman Jackson Barton.
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