Ute Football Enters Week 3 of Spring Camp

3/30/2009 12:00 AM | Football

March 30, 2009

SALT LAKE CITY -

CAMP IN FULL SWING

Highlighting week three of spring camp is the first full-blown scrimmage, which is scheduled for Friday at 6:40 p.m. in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Utes will practice on Tuesday and Thursday from 3-5 p.m. The location of practices is TBD. Spring practices, scrimmages and the Red-White game on April 18 are open to the public.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The Mountain West Conference released the 2009 football schedule last week and defending MWC champion Utah is the first team slated for action. The Utes will host Utah State on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. in Rice-Eccles Stadium. See boxed inset for complete schedule.

THE END

Nai Fotu is sitting out of spring camp while rehabilitating from knee surgery, and when he returns, it will be at a "new" position. Fotu, the starting stud linebacker as a sophomore last year, will move back to defensive end, where he began his Ute career. He switched to linebacker part way through his true freshman season in 2007, when injuries depleted the position, and remained there last season. With Fotu's anticipated move to end in the fall, the Utes will essentially have three "starters" sharing time: Fotu, Derrick Shelby and Koa Misi.

QUARTERBACK MOVEMENT

In what is considered a temporary move at this time, redshirt freshman DeVonte Christopher finds himself on the other side of the thrown ball. Christopher, who was taking snaps as the third-string quarterback, switched to wide receiver last week in a move intended to get him on the field faster. Christopher is now listed as a joint WR/QB. Junior Corbin Louks and mid-year junior college transfer Terrence Cain are 1-2 at quarterback.

'BACKER BACKUP SHUFFLE

Matt Martinez returns from a hamstring injury and J.J. Williams goes to the sideline with the same ailment. Williams had won the No. 2 spot at stud linebacker, which now goes to Jamel King. Martinez slides into the No. 3 position at both middle and stud linebacker.

ETC.

The Utes will run about 100 plays in Friday's scrimmage. Several players will be held out, including the three starting linebackers (Stevenson Sylvester, Mike Wright and Kepa Gaison), and running back Matt Asiata ... Offensive linemen Derek Tuimauga and Walter Watts have flip-flopped positions. Tuimaga will now back up Neli A'asa at right guard, while Watts is the new backup to Zane Beadles at left tackle ... Tuimauga will see extra reps this week while A'asa rests a sore knee (he had it scoped in January and aggravated it last week) ... In other moves on the O-line, Tyler Williams will now back up at left guard, while Tevita Stevens assumes a backup role at center ... With starter Joe Dale sidelined for the spring due to offseason shoulder surgery, junior Justin Taplin-Ross earns the title of starting strong safety. Behind Taplin-Ross is sophomore Greg Bird ... On the defensive line, Sealver Siliga and Junior Tui'one have swapped backup positions. Siliga will now back up starting nose tackle Kenape Eliapo, while Tui'one is first in line behind Lei Talamaivao at tackle ... Junior defensive back Mookie Murphy will miss the remainder of spring camp with a shoulder injury suffered on Mar. 25. He will have surgery today (Mar. 30).