Wasn’t the Rose Bowl simply final week?
No, but it surely actually feels that manner because the College of Utah, back-to-back champion of the Pac-12 with sufficient at its disposal to contend for No. 3 in a row, is about to open spring follow on Tuesday afternoon.
Forward of Tuesday’s first session, which can embody a 20-minute viewing window for the media, right here are some things we’ll be taking note of.
Subscribe To The TribUte Publication
Get the most recent information by subscribing to our
The TribUte e-newsletter. Enter your e-mail under
to obtain extra tales like these proper to your inbox.
The quarterback scenario: Cam Rising is on the shelf till summertime with a torn ACL, and Kyle Whittingham has already mentioned that springtime will probably be Bryson Barnes vs. Nate Johnson vs. Brandon Rose.
These 15 spring practices grew to become much more important after Rising was dominated out, as a result of the Utes now need to establish the most-viable possibility behind Rising in case the sixth-year senior is just not able to play within the Aug. 31 season-opener vs. Florida at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Throughout an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune final month, Whittingham made it clear that he views Barnes as a identified commodity, so numerous the QB reps will go to Johnson and Rose. Sure, Johnson performed final season as a real freshman, however his work was not intensive and there are questions on his throwing mechanics and his command of the offense. Rose ran the scout crew final fall, drawing reward a number of occasions from Whittingham and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig.
Who emerges on the two security spots?: This didn’t really feel like a lot of a query in any respect till earlier this week when Clayton Isbell hit the NCAA Switch Portal. Now, it’s very a lot a factor.
The excellent news is, Utah is deep at security. The dangerous information is, regardless of the depth, there doesn’t appear to be an apparent reply after the departure of Isbell, who performed totally on particular groups in 2022, and projected to get a a lot larger position in 2023.
Working underneath the rational assumption that All-Pac-12 security Cole Bishop is one starter, outdoors consideration instantly begins with Nate Ricthie, a returned missionary, who began all 5 video games in 2020 at robust security, which is Bishop’s place.
Past Ritchie, sure, there may be depth, however the room is a bit inexperienced. Sione Vaki performed in all 14 video games final season and began 5, however his future could also be at nickel, whereas JuCo switch Jadon Pearson could get a protracted take care of enjoying totally on particular groups in 2022.
Is it Ja’Quinden Jackson’s backfield?: The transformed quarterback had a monster end to final season, dashing for 303 of his 521 yards between wins over Colorado and USC, plus the Rose Bowl loss vs. Penn State.
Now a fourth-year sophomore, Jackson is spending this offseason concentrating on operating again, and there may be optimism he may be the kind of workhorse operating again Utah has employed throughout so many seasons underneath Kyle Whittingham.
Past Jackson, the place room is intriguing. Micah Bernard is again after flirting within the portal, Jaylon Glover is a real sophomore, and Chris Curry will probably be restricted this spring coming off a season-ending ankle harm final season, however Whittingham is assured the LSU switch will probably be prepared for the beginning of spring camp.
My take: Operating again is a little more of a query mark than numerous different individuals imagine. Jackson remains to be new to the place, Bernard has handled accidents, and what can Whittingham anticipate out of Curry?
Sure, there are questions.
Cole Becker’s arrival: The scenario at kicker is an underrated piece of the puzzle as spring ball begins, principally as a result of kicking was a reliable mess in 2021 and 2022 between Jadon Redding and Jordan Noyes.
Out of the portal, right here comes Redding from Colorado, having made 11 of 13 area aim makes an attempt in 2022, after going 14-for-20 as a real freshman in 2021.
Whether or not or not Whittingham will conduct a kicking competitors stays to be seen, however Becker, on paper, ought to be the choose. Ben Norton appeared in a single sport in 2022 and didn’t try a area aim, though he kicked off seven occasions, and Joey Cheek cracked the two-deep because the No. 2 kicker for the Rose Bowl after Redding left this system.