Utah
Utah

Utah Team Report

Updated: April 22, 2012 04:21 EST

The Utes proved two things to themselves and the rest of college football in 2011: They were unaccustomed to week-in, week-out BCS competition, and they were fast learners.

Now with an offseason to regroup, Utah is starting to get its spring swagger.

At the midpoint of spring practice, the Utes had good vibes all around. Junior quarterback Jordan Wynn, who has undergone two surgeries -- one to each shoulder -- the last two seasons, is back, healthy and hungry. The Utes' all-time leading rusher for a single-season, John White, returns, as does one of the best nose tackles in the Pac-12, senior-to-be Star Lotulelei. Life in the second year of the Pac-12, if not good, is promising.

And it's not as if Utah went winless last year. After a 3-4 start, the team won five of its last six and could've played in the conference title game if not for an upset loss at Colorado. The Utes capped their 8-5 season with a 30-27 overtime win over Georgia Tech in the Sun Bowl.

"I think we learned a lot along the way," coach Kyle Whittingham told the Deseret News. "It was a big change, without a doubt. There's a lot of talent in the Pac-12, most notably the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers. It seems like everybody's got exceptional players at those positions. Defensively, you've got your work cut out for you every single week.

"You look at the season in its entirety, and the way we finished, obviously, was a positive. I think we're pleased with how the season ended, but like I've said, we've got a lot of work to do."

Even with senior wide receiver DeVonte Christopher returning, the Utes need a bigger deep threat. The defensive line needs to create more pressure to allow the secondary to keep up with all those talented wideouts the Pac-12 has to offer.

But the Utes now have an idea of how their new competition stacks up, and Whittingham is one of the best coaches in the country at making the adjustments to get his team to rise to the next level. Utah's physical style still should have an impact in what has been considered a finesse conference for quite some time.

Utah may not win the Pac-12 in 2012, but it will now look more like a Pac-12 team, rather than a Mountain West team making the adjustment to BCS football.

--The Utes are beginning demolition of the Dee Glen Smith Athletics Center, which served as the home to the team's football offices, locker rooms, strength facility and training/rehabilitation room as well as team meeting rooms. A $30 million facility is under construction and will be completed in time for the 2013 football season.

--Utah hired Ilaisa Tuiaki away from Utah State to coach tight ends and fullbacks. Jay Hill, who moved from defense to become the team's running game coordinator, also will be the Utes' special teams coordinator.

SPRING MOVERS:

--Redshirt freshman Jared Norris has played so well behind sophomore V.J. Fehoko at middle linebacker that the Utes have moved him to rover, where he he'll battle senior Dave Fagergren and junior Victor Spikes for playing time.

--The Kruger brothers -- senior DT Dave and junior DE Joe -- both came to camp with 15 added pounds and in better shape. Both can now use their strength as well as speed to contend with offensive linemen. Dave, 6-foot-5, weighs 295 pounds, while the 6-7 Joe checks in at 275 pounds.

"I have a lot more power," Joe Kruger told the Deseret News. "I can just throw the O-linemen around a little bit easier. (Dave) is throwing the O-linemen around like they're nothing. So it's good."

--Redshirt freshman RT Daniel Nielson has a toehold on the starting job during spring practice. The Utah product has benefited from going through spring practice as a true freshman, so he knows more of what to expect this time around, and he has been able to show some of the physical attributes the coaching staff wants to see from its starting linemen.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's actually got some arms now. Instead of No. 2 pencils hanging from his shoulders, he's got some arms to him. He looks good. Getting Jordan back and healthy is the most important thing that has happened this season." -- Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, to the Deseret News, on QB Jordan Wynn's offseason transformation.

2012 OUTLOOK: Rosy for a team that had to adjust to the rigors of facing BCS foes on a weekly basis and still was just one game away from playing for a conference championship and a spot in the Rose Bowl. One of the differences between 2012 and last season is the fact that the Utes have fewer positions at which depth is an issue if the starter gets hurt. Utah is more prepared at quarterback, running back and in the secondary. The program should be able to show itself as a bona fide BCS team in its second season. The Utes again avoid playing Pac-12 stalwarts Oregon and Stanford, and that should help their continued building efforts.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: QB Jordan Wynn's health remains a concern after he's missed time the last two seasons with injuries to both shoulders. The Utes, however, are much more prepared if he goes down. Senior QB Jon Hays now has starting experience, and true freshman QBs Chase Hansen and Travis Wilson both have enrolled early to participate in spring drills. RB John White now has help in the backfield with junior-college transfer Kelvin York available to share the load. York brings a 5-foot-11, 225-pound frame that can absorb a lot of the blows that the 5-8, 186-pound White had to endure in 2011. The Utes need to demonstrate an over-the-top passing game. If Wynn stays healthy, they've got the arm. Their receivers need to show it on the other end.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The Utes could have one of the more formidable lines in the Pac-12 with the nose tackle Star Lotulelei, Dave Kruger and Joe Kruger manning three of the four spots up front. OLB Trevor Reilly and SS Brian Blechen are proven playmakers, and the Utes need to connect the dots around them to enter 2012 with a potentially dominating defense ready to contend in the offense-happy league. Utah does need to show it has the speed in the defensive backfield to match up before it can start thinking about winning a division and playing for the conference championship.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: The Utes should be in good shape with the return of both K Coleman Petersen and P Sean Sellwood. The return game is in good hands with KR DeVonte Christopher and PR Griff McNabb.

TOP NEWCOMERS: QBs Chase Hansen and Travis Wilson are freshmen who are participating in spring practice, and both have impressed early. Hansen is a four-star Rivals.com recruit who was Utah's lone Parade All-American (as an all-purpose player), and he was Utah's Gatorade Player of the Year. Hansen threw for 3,066 yards and 38 TDs, and he rushed for 1,404 yards and 16 TDs on 180 carries. Wilson, rated the No. 11 overall QB by Rivals, threw for 2,289 yards with 24 TDs and ran for 467 yards with nine TDs last year. Coach Kyle Whittingham said both have been quick learners during the spring.

--OL Junior Salt is an interesting prospect. He was a first-team All-America Community College selection as an offensive guard, yet he's also listed as the No. 12 junior-college prospect at defensive tackle. The Utes likely will try him out first on offense, but the 6-foot-3, 340-pound transfer definitely will add bulk to whichever side of the line he ends up.

ROSTER REPORT:

--The Utes are woefully thin at tight end. David Rolf, who has been pegged as the starter during the spring due to injuries to seniors Kendrick Moeai (shoulder) and Dallin Rogers (ACL), will miss at least a week with a calf injury. Moeai and Rogers are out for the entire spring.

--Senior Westlee Tonga had moved from tight end to defensive end before spring practice began, but he will be back at tight end to help with depth until Rolf returns. Tonga then is expected to move back to the defensive side of the ball.

--Redshirt freshman Jared Norris has moved from middle linebacker to rover and is competing for playing time with senior Dave Fagergren and junior Victor Spikes.

--Thretton Palamo, who was threatening to earn playing time last spring with his performance at running back, has moved to defensive end this spring.

--Other moves include Keith McGill from safety to cornerback and Joape Pela from defensive tackle to the offensive line.

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