Utah Football Begins Spring Camp Mar. 8

3/7/2011 12:00 AM | Football

March 7, 2011

SALT LAKE CITY

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SPRING CAMP OPENS MAR. 8

The 2011 edition of the annual Utah spring football camp opens on Tuesday, Mar. 8 with a no-pads' practice kicking off a series of 15 total practices. Spring practices will be open to the public. Camp will be split into two sessions surrounding spring break (Mar. 18-27). The eighth-annual Red-White game on April 16 marks the conclusion of camp.

OPENING WEEK SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Mar. 8       No pads    3:00-5:00 p.m. (Field House)Thursday, Mar. 10     No pads    3:00-5:00 p.m. (Stadium)Saturday, Mar. 12     Tackle     10 a.m.-noon   (Stadium)

SCRIMMAGES, SPRING GAME

The Utes will hold scrimmages on Friday, April 1 (4:00 p.m.) and Saturday, April 9 (10 a.m.). The Red-White spring game on Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. Scrimmages and the spring game will be played in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The public may attend free of charge and the players will sign autographs after the spring game.

TAKE A BREAK

The Utes will hold five practices prior to the start of spring break on Mar. 18, with the remaining 10 practices (includes scrimmages and Red-White game) resuming on Mar. 28.

CHANGING PLACES

The move to the Pac-12 Conference is the biggest change awaiting the 2011 Utes, but it's not the only one. Here are some of the other changes afoot: *Coaching: Norm Chow takes over as offensive coordinator/tight ends, Tim Davis will coach the offensive line and Chad Kauha'aha'a is the new defensive line coach. All three are former Utah football players. Dave Schramm resumes coaching the running backs after two years with the quarterbacks (2009) and tight ends (2010). *Offense: The Utes will install a multiple offensive scheme, replacing the spread offense they have run since 2003. *Positions: Several players will try new positions in the spring, including returning starters Dave Kruger (a tackle his first two years, he will experiment at 5-technique end this spring), Brian Blechen (freshman All-America safety in 2010 is moving to linebacker) and Luke Matthews (junior moves from receiver to running back). Others changing places include: Boo Andersen, RB (from LB), Eric Dago, DE (from LB), Tyron Morris-Edwards, DB (from WR), Lucky Radley, DB (from RB) and Trevor Reilly, LB (from DE).

CAMP NOTES

Players who will miss spring ball due to injuries include starting quarterback Jordan Wynn (shoulder), starting tight end Dallin Rogers (shoulder) and projected starting linebacker J.J.Williams (foot). Others with injuries that will sideline them in the spring are defensive backs Greg Bird (shoulder) and Chris Washington (shoulder) ... Utah's new multiple offense will feature a starting fullback. Early candidates for the position include Boo Andersen, Karl Williams and Jake Murphy ... With starter Wynn on the disabled list, Utah has two healthy scholarship quarterbacks: sophomore Griff Robles and true freshman Tyler Shreve ... Junior Tevita Stevens will take over at center after starting at guard last year ... Utah lost its entire starting defensive backfield from a year ago. Projected to start at the corners this spring are junior Ryan Lacy and senior Conroy Black, while freshman Damian Payne and sophomore Michael Walker are the leading candidates at safety ... Sophomore Nick Marsh takes over for graduated first-team all-Mountain West Conference kicker Joe Phillips ... 2011 signees who will participate in spring camp are freshman offensive lineman Isaac Asiata, freshman running back Harvey Langi and junior running back John White IV.

SOME TO WATCH

Tony Bergstrom, OT: Second-team all-MWC offensive tackle in 2010 has started all 26 games in the past two seasons. Brian Blechen, LB: All-America candidate has moved to linebacker after earning Freshman All-America honors at strong safety as a true freshman in 2010. Playmaker had two game-saving interceptions as a freshman and four picks total. John Cullen, OT: Came to Utah as the No. 1-rated junior college lineman (Rivals.com) last fall and started 12 games at left tackle. He has recovered from the arm injury that kept him out the Las Vegas Bowl. Star Lotulelei, DT:All-conference candidate joined the team in late last August and developed into one of the best tackles on the team by season's end.