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Daniel Bray got just three carries in his college debut, but he made sure they were memorable.
The freshman running back made his offensive debut in Utah’s 48-14 win over West Virginia, getting his first collegiate carry early in the fourth quarter.
Bray’s lightning-fast speed stood out from the moment he took the sweep from quarterback Devon Dampier, hit the hole, made a cut and accelerated past a Mountaineer defender for a 17-yard gain.
Running backs coach Mark Atuaia ran down the sideline, fist pumping and yelling encouragement to his player.
Talk about a memorable first impression.
Two plays later, it was Bray again making his way through the West Virginia defense, juking and making a Mountaineer defender miss, this time for a 15-yard gain.
Utah’s coaches were so impressed by Bray’s performance in the West Virginia game that they worked him into the game plan against Arizona State.
“Honestly, I did think I was going to be a part and have a role in this team. I mean, maybe I assumed it’d be earlier, but God’s time,” Bray said.
The Utes, who have the No. 8 rushing offense in the country and are averaging 248.2 rushing yards per game, have a proven two-pronged rushing attack in Wayshawn Parker and NaQuari Rogers.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham and offensive coordinator Jason Beck, however, saw a chance for Bray to provide something different for the Utes’ offense, namely Bray’s unique speed.
“It was good to see Daniel Bray continue to add to what we’re doing on offense,” Whittingham said. “He gives us that speed on the edge that really had been lacking and so it’s good to have Daniel fill a role for us in that regard.”
Against Arizona State, it wasn’t just garbage-time carries for Bray, he was a clear part of the game plan from the beginning. Bray toted the ball for the first time on Utah’s first drive of the game — a 7-yard gain.
Bray had four more carries, each going for at least 5 yards, to finish the night with 41 yards on five carries.
“Ever since he’s been here, and that’s a culmination of months of doing a great job in preparing,” Atuaia said. “So it wasn’t by chance that he’s doing great because he’s worked hard and put in the time to help our team. So I’m grateful for him and excited to see what he does.”
As No. 23 Utah’s season rolls along, starting Saturday in Provo against No. 15 BYU, there’s a chance that Bray continues to get more touches.
“I think that would be a positive for us if it does expand,” Whittingham said of Bray’s role.
“He made some really good runs tonight and he’s a really explosive, fast kid. He ran, I think it was a 10.3 100-meter in high school. And so yeah, if we can continue to implement him and integrate him into what we’re doing, that just gives us another dimension. We don’t have many guys that can accelerate and hit the gas pedal like he can.”
Bray’s emergence at running back reduces some of the need for defensive players like cornerbacks Smith Snowden and Jackson Bennee to carry the ball on offense, allowing them to focus their attention on defense.
“We’re getting a little bit thin on defense in some spots, so that’s part of it,” Whittingham said of the lack of offensive snaps for Snowden and other defensive players.
“The emergence of Daniel Bray, he’s given us a lot of the same type of play that we get from Smith Snowden. And so with him coming along and with us getting just a little bit of thinness in the secondary, that is what’s precipitated the change. Smith will still play some offense but not as heavy a load as he was earlier.”
In the two games that Bray has played, Snowden has had zero touches on the offense side. Against Arizona State, Snowden was able to spend all of his time focusing on his matchup against Sun Devil receiver Jordyn Tyson, one of the best receivers in the country, and then getting a break when the Utes’ offense had the ball.
Snowden was matched up against Tyson for the majority of the game, defending 10 passes thrown Tyson’s way and limiting him to five catches, and importantly, just 26 yards on those five receptions, a noticeable decrease from the 12.5 yards per reception he was averaging heading into the game.
As the Utes gear up for a midseason rivalry game with high stakes in the Big 12 championship race, Bray could play a part in Beck’s game plan against his old school and possibly help deliver a rivalry victory.
“Let’s just work hard and go win,” Bray said.
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