Ute Football Team Is In Final Week Of Preseason Camp

Aug. 20, 2001

SALT LAKE CITY -

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QUICKLY

The Utes wrap up their summer camp this week ... The final day of triple practices is Monday (August 20) ... Classes start on Wednesday.

PRACTICE DETAILS

All Ute practices and scrimmages are closed to the general public, but open to the media. Practices during the season are tentatively scheduled to run from 3:40-5:40 p.m.

INTERVIEW POLICIES

Player and coach interviews are conducted at the conclusion of practice. Liz Abel, the assistant athletics director for sports information, will staff practice. To arrange for interviews, please call Liz at 801-581-3511.

RUNNERS' WORLD

Despite moving from a one-back to a two-back offense, Utah still has more than enough good runners to go around. Among those are two seniors who are engaged in a heated battle to start at halfback. Dameon Hunter is pushing returning all-conference runner Adam Tate so hard that the coaches have experimented playing both at once (they take turns at running back and fullback). The surprise of the preseason has been walk-on running back Marty Johnson, a 5-11, 222-pound junior college transfer. Johnson has moved up to third on the depth chart at halfback and led all runners in both of Utah's scrimmages. He rushed for 51 yards (10 carries) in the first scrimmage and 28 yards (7 carries) in the second.

CORNERSTONES

Utah's situation at cornerback, where both starters from a year ago graduated, is fairly settled. Redshirt freshman Bo Nagahi has replaced senior Yohance Scott as the starter at right corner. Junior D'Shaun Crockett, who a year ago at this time was Utah's starting tailback, has shot up the depth chart since moving to the defense midway through last season. Crockett is currently the first backup at both corners. When Utah is in its nickel package, Nagahi will slide to nickel back and Crockett will start at right cornerback. Nothing has changed from spring ball on the left side, where Airabin Justin is the clear cut starter.

SAFETY FIRST

Three safeties took turns starting last year and all of them graduated. Despite that, safety has developed one of the best positions on the team in preseason camp. All-conference candidate Arnold Parker, a 6-2, 214-pound sophomore, will start on the strong side. Rangy sophomore Antwoine Sanders (6-3, 193), a junior college transfer, was on campus for just a week before he wrested away the starting job at free safety. The duo gives Utah height and speed in the backfield.

CAMP NOTES

With the preseason drawing to a close, Lance Rice is still listed as the starter at quarterback, though he and Ryan Breska are evenly dividing the reps. Freshman Brett Elliott's efforts to move past the sophomore duo took a hit when he re-injured the thumb on his throwing hand early in camp. Elliott did not play in either scrimmage ... A pair of juco transfers has replaced two freshmen on the depth chart at wide receiver. Juniors Paris Jackson and Devin Houston are currently No. 2 at split end and flanker, respectively, bumping freshmen Morgan Scalley and Justin Walterscheid. Houston has been practicing with the No. 1 unit in Cliff Russell's injury-caused absence.

TRAINER'S TABLE

All-America candidate Cliff Russell missed spring ball with a hamstring injury and has been sidelined in summer camp due to a sprained knee. The speedy senior wide receiver has been cleared to run, and if things go well, he could be back practicing full time by late this week. It is anticipated he will play in Utah's opener against Utah State on September 1. Projected starting fullback Thomas Fortune has missed the entire preseason with a hamstring injury. He'll begin some light running this week, but his status for Utah State remains unclear.

FAN FEST

The Crimson Club and University of Utah athletics department will sponsor the second-annual Ute Fan Fest on Sat., Aug. 25 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the south plaza of Rice-Eccles Stadium. Student-athletes and coaches from all 19 varsity Ute athletic teams will participate in the Fan Fest, which is free and open to the public. The Fan Fest will also include demonstrations, coaching tips and competitions, autographs, prize drawings, food, drinks and entertainment by the U. pep band, cheerleaders and Crimson Line.

MCBRIDE SAYS

"The first couple of days this week are critical because we'll get in several practices. Once school starts on Wednesday, we'll be down to one practice a day. Our players have done a really nice job in the preseason. I really think the new format with three practices a day has helped keep the guys fresh and their concentration high. We've been giving them Sunday off, which has allowed them to recuperate and get their legs back.

"We broke down the film from the (August 18) scrimmage on Sunday and have mapped out exactly what we need to accomplish by the end of each practice this week. We'll probably start preparing for Utah State on Wednesday.

"Offensively, we made some improvements in the last scrimmage, but there are still some areas where we need work. We like what we've seen from our running backs and have determined that some guys will play both halfback and fullback. We want to make sure we have the best guys on the field. The defense still needs some work on a couple of packages, but other than that, has looked excellent. I am particularly pleased with the safeties."

AT THE HELM

Ron McBride has a 75-53 record in his 11 years as head Ute coach. He has the second most wins of any coach in Utah football history. McBride has won a share of two conference titles (1995 and 1999) and his teams have finished at .500 or better nine times, with eight winning seaons. He has taken the Utes to five bowl games and has a 2-3 bowl record. Utah's most recent bowl appearance was in 1999, when the Utes beat Fresno State 17-16 in the Las Vegas Bowl.

KAUFUSI, SMITH CITED FOR MWC HONORS

Doug Kaufusi, a senior offensive tackle, and Garrett Smith, a junior defensive lineman, were named to the 2001 preseason all-Mountain West Conference team. Kaufusi, a 2000 first-team all-conference pick, was previously recognized by several preseason publications on their all-conference teams. Also an All-America candidate, the 6-foot-6, 300-pounder has started since his freshman year at Utah. Smith (6-3, 285) made the honorable mention all-conference team as a sophomore last year after recording 72 tackles, 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. He is a ferocious pass rusher who stands to improve upon his third-place league finish in sacks last year.

COMING AT 'YA

Utah opens its 2001 campaign on September 1 in Rice-Eccles Stadium, hosting Utah State in a 6 p.m. contest. The Utes will not play on their home turf again until September 29, after they have completed a grueling three-week road swing that will pit them against Oregon, Air Force and Indiana. Utah's game against New Mexico on September 29 is Homecoming.

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