Crimson Club Magazine - April 2023

Spring Football

Spring Football

Utah Football Opens Spring Drills Two-time defending Pac-12 Conference champions return 18 players who started at least five games last season

will continue to plug holes for the Utes with defensive ends Connor O’Toole, Jonah Elliss and Van Fillinger all returning as well. Mainstays in cornerback JaTravis Broughton and Cole Bishop are back for another year with Sione Vaki and Ritchie also fitting into the mix in a powerful secondary unit. Newcomer Notes Utah signed a top 25 recruiting class during national signing day this year that included nine four-stars and 10 three-stars along with several key transfers. While not all of the signing class will be present during spring practices, linebacker Owen Chambliss, defensive end Logan Fano, offensive lineman Spencer Fano, safety Johnathan Hall, quarterback Mack Howard, wide receiver Mikey Matthews, kicker Cole Becker and cornerback Miles Battle will all hit the gridiron with the Utes this spring.

On the heels of winning its second-straight Pac-12 Championship in 2022, the champs are back at work as Utah football team opened spring practices on March 21. Spring practices will run from March 21 to the spring game on April 22 (tickets and information on page 4). 2022 Season Rewind Back-to-back champs has a nice ring to it as the Utes became just the third team in Pac-12 Conference history to win back- to-back championship games in 2021 and 2022. In 2022, Utah claimed its seventh 10-win season under head coach Kyle Whittingham, finishing the year leading the Pac-12 in eight different statistical categories. The Utes led the Pac-12 and ranked second

in the FBS in first downs offense while averaging 38.6 points per game which ranked 11th in the FBS. On defense, the Utes ranked second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense, also leading the league in sacks and tackles for loss. Looking Forward Utah has a 12-game slate in the fall of 2023, starting with its season opener against Florida on Thursday, Aug. 31 in Rice- Eccles Stadium. The Utes’ non- conference schedule includes two Power Five programs (Florida, Baylor) with Utah also hosting a total of seven home games this year. Utah has sold out Rice-Eccles Stadium in 76 consecutive games, dating back to the 2010 season opener. Utah has been undefeated

at home the last two seasons and will look to continue that streak against Florida on Aug. 31. Spring Leadership The Utes announced its spring captains and leadership council for camp with Cameron Rising, Brant Kuithe, Cole Bishop and Karene Reid all earning captain status. Kuithe, Bishop, Rising and Reid are joined by Thomas Yassmin, Junior Tafuna, Lander Barton, Ja’Quinden Jackson, Keaton Bills, Bryson Barnes, Devaughn Vele, Connor O’Toole, Sione Vaki, Miki Suguturaga, Sataoa Laumea and Nate Ritchie on the spring leadership council. The Utah Man Kyle Whittingham, the longest-tenured coach in the Pac- 12 Conference and the second- longest tenured head coach at the same school in the FBS, is headed into his 19th season at the helm. He holds an overall record of 154-74 as the all-time wins leader at Utah. Utah has finished with a winning record in 16 of his 18 years as head coach, including in nine straight. He has coached 34 players to All-America teams and 103 first-team all-conference selections with the Utes finishing in the final CFP Top 25 seven times, including Utah’s highest- ever finish at No. 8 in 2022.

Quarterback Cam Rising and Kyle Whittingham will lead the Utes this fall.

mission after he started all five games as a true freshman in 2020. From the offensive side, the Utes bring back weapons all over the field including quarterback Cameron Rising, running backs Ja’Quinden Jackson, Micah Bernard and Jaylon Glover, wide receivers Devaughn Vele and Money Parks, and tight ends Kuithe and Thomas Yassmin. On defense, defensive tackles Junior Tafuna and Aliki Vimahi

New On The Sidelines Utah fans will see a new face on the sidelines this spring with Alvis Whitted starting his first year with the Ute wide receivers. Whitted comes to Utah after spending the past three seasons as the wide receivers coach at Wisconsin, helping the Badgers to three bowl wins during his time in Madison. Whitted has also spent time coaching with the Green Bay Packers and at Colorado State where he coached two Biletnikoff Award finalists and consensus All-Americans Rashard Higgins The Utes return 61 letter winners from last season, including 18 (8 offense, 10 defense) players who started at least five games last season. Along with the returning starters from last season, the Utes will welcome back senior tight end Brant Kuithe from injury and safety Nate Ritchie from his church and Michael Gallup. Reliable Returners

2023 Utah Football Schedule Aug. 31 (Thu) Florida

Salt Lake City Waco, Texas Salt Lake City Salt Lake City Corvallis, Ore. Salt Lake City Los Angeles Salt Lake City Salt Lake City

Sept. 9 (Sat) Sept. 16 (Sat) Sept. 23 (Sat) Sept. 29 (Fri) Oct. 14 (Sat) Oct. 21 (Sat) Oct. 28 (Sat) Nov. 4 (Sat) Nov. 11 (Sat) Nov. 18 (Sat) Nov. 25 (Sat)

at Baylor

Weber State

UCLA *

at Oregon State *

California *

at USC * Oregon *

Arizona State * at Washington *

Seattle

at Arizona * Colorado *

Tucson, Ariz. Salt Lake City

*-Pac-12 Conference game

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CRIMSON CLUB MAGAZINE APRIL 2023

CRIMSON CLUB MAGAZINE APRIL 2023

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