Travis has won that job. Travis played the best in our estimation and so Travis is the guy. – Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.
SALT LAKE CITY — At his first weekly press conference of the season, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham made it clear that senior Travis Wilson is the Utes’ starting quarterback.
“Travis has won that job,” said Whittingham, who added that senior Kendal Thompson and redshirt freshman Chase Hansen have also played well. “It was tight, but Travis played the best in our estimation and so Travis is the guy. We’re excited to see what he can do. Hopefully, he can pick up where he left off last season.”
Wilson was named Most Valuable Player of the Las Vegas Bowl after leading Utah to a 45-10 win over Colorado State. He rushed for three touchdowns and passed for another in the victory. Weeks earlier in the regular-season finale against Colorado, Wilson threw for a season-high 311 yards as the Utes prevailed 38-34.
“He just continued to play well,” Whittingham said of the decision to stick with Wilson. “We felt he was playing his best football as a Ute at the end of last season and we’re hoping that continues throughout this year.”
Wilson has similar thoughts.
“I’m hoping I can start off where I ended last year,” he said. “I played one of my best games in that bowl game so I’m hoping I can lead off from there — and like I’ve always said — hopefully I can end my career here on a high note and get started off this season on the right path.”
Linebacker Jared Norris expressed confidence in Wilson. Norris liked what he saw out of Wilson at a team leadership retreat in the offseason.
“I think he’s really taken ownership of his role on this team and what he needs to bring to the table every week,” Norris said.
Wilson has started 27 games and played in 34 over his first three seasons.
COMING HOME: Thursday’s game will be a homecoming for Michigan senior fullback Sione Houma, a Highland High graduate.
"I've been looking forward to this game since the beginning of the year," Houma told mgoblue.com. "It means a lot to me and my family, opening it up at Utah in front of my family. They'll be there, and it will be great."
Another former Highland Ram — sophomore defensive tackle Bryan Mone — was also supposed to have a homecoming. However, he was sidelined for the season after breaking a bone in his lower leg during fall camp.
HEALTHY UTES: Aside from the typical bumps and bruises, Whittingham noted that the team enters the season in good health. There has yet to be any season-ending injuries.
“We came out of camp, I would say, as good as maybe we ever had,” Whittingham said.
Although receiver Tim Patrick isn’t on this week’s depth chart, Whittingham is hopeful he’ll be available soon after being “hobbled” in camp with an unspecified injury.
SENIOR SIGNAL CALLERS: Utah and its neighboring FBS programs at BYU and Utah State share common ground when it comes to starting senior quarterbacks who have overcome adversity with injuries. Wilson, who was sidelined for the last three games of 2013 with a concussion and the discovery of an intracranial artery injury, acknowledged the link with BYU’s Taysom Hill and Utah State’s Chuckie Keeton. Both are back after suffering leg injuries.
“All of us have gone through things in our careers,” Wilson said. “I hope the best for them. It’s definitely going to be a fun senior season.”
Whittingham also took note of the situation.
“That hadn’t dawned on me,” he said. “But all three have been down a road that had some bumps in it and are now all sitting, poised and ready to have good senior seasons.”
EXTRA POINTS: Utah has prevailed in seven straight season openers and 10 consecutive home openers . . . The Utes have played before 31 consecutive capacity crowds at Rice-Eccles Stadium . . . FOX Sports 1 is broadcasting its college football studio show live from the stadium on Wednesday and Thursday. Hosts include Colin Cowherd, Matt Leinart, Rob Stone and Dave Wannstedt . . . The MUSS is sporting T-shirts with “Welcome to Sack Lake City” on the back this season . . . Whittingham said he hasn’t spoken to former Utah quarterback Alex Smith recently — although he plans to this week. The staff routinely keeps in contact with all ex-Utes in the NFL. Smith played for Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh during his stint with the San Francisco 49ers. The first 100 fans at this week’s pregame “Ute Walk” will receive “big head” cutouts of Smith.