SALT LAKE CITY — Utah opened camp Friday in a different role. The two-time defending Pac-12 South champions were picked to finish third in the conference’s annual preseason media poll. It’s their lowest expectation since 2016.
“We just tune it out. When you look at the players that we lost and who we have to replace I don’t blame them for picking us where they did,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. “That’s just a typical reaction. But it all depends on how these new guys that are getting opportunities handle it and that’s really the bottom line. We’ve got to have guys step up.”
Whittingham added that’s the nature of college football when your senior class and a handful of others move on.
“You’ve got to be able to reload and respond,” he continued. “And that’s what our objective is right now — is to get everybody positioned where they should be and playing at the level they need to be playing at and see what happens.”
The Utes, who open the season Nov. 7 at home against Arizona, kick off camp with plenty of question marks. They’re replacing nine starters on a defense that ranked among the national leaders last season.
“It seems like every year you’re having to replace someone. It just so happens that this year it’s a little bit more and guys will step up.” — Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley
“It seems like every year you’re having to replace someone. It just so happens that this year it’s a little bit more and guys will step up,” said defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley. “It’s our job as coaches — to recruit, develop and put them in the best situation possible. We’ve got guys. Now it’s a matter of just making sure that once the pads come on, that we’re hitting it properly, that we’re tackling properly. We’re excited with this young group and the guys that we’ve got coming back. We’ve had to replace guys in the past, that’s no different this year.”
Linebacker Devin Lloyd and defensive end Mika Tafua are the returning starters on defense. The offense, meanwhile, has a majority of its 2019 starting lineup back in the fold. The departures, though, were key components including quarterback Tyler Huntley, running back Zack Moss, left tackle Darrin Paulo and wide receiver Demari Simpkins.
Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig said the offense is committed to doing whatever it takes to win. The program, he explained, takes a lot of pride in the way it adapts and adjusts to personnel within the game.
First and foremost, Ludwig explained, is the quarterback position.
“We’re committed to doing whatever it takes to win. So if the strength of the offense is on the perimeter and the quarterback spot is up to the task, then things will open up and I really feel like last year, we played to the strengths of who we were. ... Every year is different. We take a lot of pride in the way to adapt and adjust to the personnel within this game. First and foremost, that will always start with the quarterback position.”
South Carolina transfer Jake Bentley, a graduate student with 33 games of starting experience in the SEC, is drawing a lot of early praise.
“He’s done a really nice job. He’s a football junkie and I thought, even in the short opportunity we had in March with the three practices we had in spring ball, that he showed a quick take to what we’re doing, offensively,” Ludwig said. “But he’s a guy that has made the absolute most of this unique time in history, and the pandemic, and taken advantage of every opportunity that he’s had to not only learn the offense but learn his teammates and develop chemistry with those guys.”
Ludwig added that Bentley is moving around a lot better now than he was in March. Bentley only played in one game last season because of injury.
“We’re really excited about the progress he made physically, as well as mentally in terms of adapting to the Utah football offense,” Ludwig said.
Bentley is competing with Texas transfer Cam Rising and veteran Drew Lisk for the starting job.
Utah’s camp begins with the NCAA-mandated acclimatization period. It starts with helmets Friday and Saturday. Shoulder pads are added Monday and Tuesday with full gear allowed to be worn on Wednesday. The Utes have not had a full contact practice since Alamo Bowl preparations in late December 2019.