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The University of Utah Athletics
1998 Season Outlook
6/21/1999 12:00 AM | Football
April 9, 1998
SALT LAKE CITY - Utah Men's Football spring prospectus:
OFFENSE
Strengths: Quarterback, line
Weaknesses: Running backs and wide receivers are largely untested
Question marks abound everywhere but the line, where the Utes return three all-conference candidates in left tackle Nathan Sybrowsky (6-5, 326, Sr.), right tackle Josh Cochran (6-6, 305, Sr.) and center Darren Walker (6-4, 292, Sr.). Luis Park (6-2, 302, Jr.), who started the first three games at left guard before a season-ending knee injury, is another honor candidate on a veteran line.
Behind the trenches is another story. Unlike last year, when Utah was powered by the all-conference trio of wide receiver Kevin Dyson and running backs Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala and Juan Johnson, proven skill players are in short supply this year.
That said, Utah's skill positions should still pack plenty of punch--in the case of quarterback, a one-two punch, with "both" returning starters back. Senior Jonathan Crosswhite (6-3, 207) started the first nine games and finished third in the WAC in pass efficiency while completing 59 percent of his passes. Sophomore Darnell Arceneaux (6-1, 190) started the last two games--both Ute wins--and displayed a tantalizing array of offensive weapons. Whoever wins the right to start will make quarterback a strength.
Although a little thin on game experience, Utah should maintain its reputation for a great receiving game in '98. Senior Daniel Jones, aided by his 4.40 speed in the 40 and 38-inch vertical jump, proved nearly unstoppable when healthy last year--his first at Utah. Another talented senior will likely start opposite of Jones: Jerome Anderson had little chance to showcase his considerable talents playing behind Dyson, but did get a taste of NCAA ball. Slot back Boo Bendinger and incoming junior college transfer Demetrius Posey are also expected to shine, as is freshman Clifford Russell.
Utah's running game is the most suspect, with 84 percent of its ground yards gone the way of Johnson and Fuamatu-Ma'afala. Arceneaux, who rushed for 208 yards and 3 TDs despite carrying the ball in just five games, is the only returnee with significant numbers from 1997. Junior Omar Bacon (6-1, 211), back from a redshirt year, and senior Roy Allen (5-11, 204), Utah's third string runner a year ago, also have game experience. Junior college All-American Mike Anderson was a big catch during signing period and should make an immediate impact.
DEFENSE
Strengths: Line, safeties
Weaknesses: Depth at cornerback
Utah's defense should again rank with the WAC leaders, thanks to experienced depth at every position and an outstanding recruiting year. Two first-team all-WAC players return in noseguard Pene Talamaivao (6-5, 304, Sr.) and linebacker Phil Glover (6-0, 235, Sr.). Senior strong safety Robert Love, Utah's tackle leader for the last two years, is a two-time second-team all-WAC player.
Utah's line is formidable, especially at tackle, where Talamaivao and senior Mike Thomas (6-3, 304) form perhaps the WAC's best twosome. Talamaivao was generally acknowledged as the best noseguard in the WAC a year ago and Thomas, honorable mention all-WAC in 1997, led the Utes in sacks and tackles for loss. Behind them are two highly touted recruits from 1997, eligible to play for the first time this year: Sophomore Ed Ta'amu (6-4, 280, So.) and All-America juco transfer Rod Talaeai (6-0, 253) will help make tackle perhaps the deepest, strongest position on the team. Utah looks solid at end as well, in part due to setbacks last season. Utah suffered a rash of injuries to its ends in '97, resulting in six different players starting at various times. Key returning among those are John Frank (6-5, 265, Jr.) and Everestt Matagi (6-3, 245, Jr.). Look for incoming junior college transfer Ed Johnson (6-5, 270) and redshirt junior Tony Hingano (6-4, 264) to push for immediate playing time. Linebacker is similarly stocked, with rover Glover a top candidate for WAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Sophomore Howard Christianson (6-3, 222) proved himself a capable backup to Glover before a season-ending injury. In the middle, junior Taulia Lave (6-2, 255) and senior Cyrus Satoafaiga (6-1, 248) are back after splitting starts last year. At the "stud," the Utes must replace Chris Godfrey, their starter for the last two years. But even here, there is experience. Sophomore Kautai Olevao, a freshman sensation three years ago before going on a Mormon church mission, is back. If he redshirts, Utah has a stable of others to choose from, including senior Dicky Purcell (6-1, 243), who has moved over from right end where he started four games last year. The secondary poses probably the most questions defensively, especially at cornerback. For the first time in four years, Utah won't have Clarence Lawson (first-team all-WAC in 1997) at left corner. Still, starter Teneil Ethridge returns for his junior year at right corner, senior David Richards also owns starting experience on the right side, and sophomore Andre Dyson got spot time behind Lawson. But chances are newcomers will have to make an impact to improve Utah's rating against the pass last year, when it finished fifth in the WAC. A pair of JC guys--Jay Hill (Ricks) and Jeff Ray (Hartnell)--are prime candidates to step right in and play. The backfield is more settled at safety, where Robert Love might be the best strong safety in the league. At free safety, a war will be waged between senior Brandon Dart and sophomore Kimball Christianson. Dart, Utah's starting strong safety in 1996, won the free safety derby last preseason, but wrecked his knee before the first game. Christianson did a stellar job as his replacement.
KICKER
Strengths: Punting
Weakness: Field goals and PATs must improve
Utah returns both starters--juniors Chris Hunter and Tommy Truhe. Hunter, a big guy (6-5, 232) with a big leg, is a bonafide All-America candidate at punter. Second-team all-WAC a year ago, he has already boomed two of the five longest punts in school history (80 and 75 yards) and had 12 punts of 50 yards or more in 1997 alone. Truhe was hurt by a foot problem in his first year as the starting kicker, but still made 1.3 field goals per game--second in the WAC. He must improve his PAT performance, as he missed four attempts. He might get inspiration from incoming sophomore Golden Whetman. Whetman led the nation's junior colleges in punting last year and is rumored to be an even better kicker.
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