Ute Scouting Report Part 1: The Offense

6/30/2016 3:03 PM | Football

OFFENSIVE LINE

THE LOWDOWN
Utah's offensive line should again be one of the best in the Pac-12 Conference under the direction of co-offensive coordinator Jim Harding. Four starters return, as do several seasoned starters-in-waiting, making this the most veteran of the offensive units. The experience up front takes on added importance this fall with new faces at quarterback, running back and wide receiver.

HEADLINERS RETURNING
All-America candidate J.J. Dielman (6-5, 300, Sr.) is preparing for his third season as the starting right tackle. Dielman was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2015 and has led the team in cuts for the past two years. At left guard, fellow honor candidate Isaac Asiata (6-3, 323, Sr.) will start for a fourth season.

NEWCOMER SPOTLIGHT
Utah landed the top overall junior college prospect in the country according to Scout.com in five-star recruit Garett Bolles (6-6, 296, Jr.). The 2015 NJCAA All-American out of Snow College is expected to make an immediate push for playing time at left tackle.

COACH WHITTINGHAM SAYS
"We have size, depth and experience across the offensive line. We return starters everywhere but center and our backups are solid. J.J. Dielman is our leader and one of the best offensive linemen in the country."

QUARTERBACK

THE LOWDOWN
Four-year starter Travis Wilson has graduated and competition for his vacated position is fierce. Co-offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick has identified three potential starters heading into fall camp and the outcome may be too close to call until the season is almost at hand.

DEPTH CHART SPOTLIGHT
Junior southpaw Brandon Cox (6-2, 205) is in his third year at Utah, but with a four-year starter ahead of him, has appeared in just one game. He hopes his familiarity with the offense gives him a leg up on junior Troy Williams (6-2, 200) and true freshman Tyler Huntley (6-1, 190). Williams—the No. 1 dual threat quarterback recruit in the nation by Rivals.com coming out of high school—played in five games (starting one) as a redshirt freshman at Washington in 2014, before transferring to Santa Monica College. Huntley finished high school early after being named the 2015 Florida Gatorade Player of the Year and came to Utah in January. His impressive showing in the Red-White spring game kept him on equal footing with Cox and Williams.

COACH WHITTINGHAM SAYS
"All three of our quarterbacks are athletic and have legitimate dual threat capability. It will come down to which one separates himself in fall camp. Brandon Cox has the best understanding of our offense, Troy Williams has the most NCAA game-day experience and Tyler Huntley is a playmaker."

RUNNING BACK

THE LOWDOWN
Two-time All-Pac-12 running back Devontae Booker—who accounted for more than a third of Utah's combined rushing and receiving yards over the past two seasons—has graduated to the NFL. Assistant head coach Dennis Erickson will look to two upperclassmen and a redshirt freshman to carry Booker's load.

HEADLINER RETURNING
Joe Williams (5-11, 205, Sr.) stepped in late last season when Devontae Booker was injured and averaged 133 yards rushing in Utah's final three games. Williams played in 10 total games and was the team's third-leading rusher with 477 net yards—399 of those coming in the last three games, including 187 yards against Colorado. Williams, the fastest player on the team, runs a 4.35-second 40.

NEWCOMER SPOTLIGHT
Marcel Manalo (5-11, 220), who rushed for nearly 2,000 yards as a senior in high school before redshirting as a Utah freshman in 2015, showed dramatic improvement through spring camp.

WHITTINGHAM SAYS
"Obviously it's difficult to replace a player the caliber of Devontae Booker, but we have a lot of confidence in Joe Williams as our primary ball carrier. It will be great to get Troy McCormick back (from last season's injury) and Marcel Manalo is much improved. We signed two good running backs out of Florida in freshmen Devonta'e Henry Cole and Zack Moss."

WIDE RECEIVER

THE LOWDOWN
Utah plans to stretch the field this fall after some roster moves and a staff change that brought in highly-regarded receivers coach Guy Holliday. With the leading pass catchers from a year ago gone, Holliday's unit will look significantly different.

HEADLINERS RETURNING
Expectations match the height of Tim Patrick (6-5, 210, Sr.), Tyrone Smith (6-4, 205, So.) and Caleb Repp (6-5, 210, So.). Patrick has recovered from an injury that kept him out of 16 games over the past two seasons and Repp no longer divides his time between tight end and receiver. Also making receiver his full-time position is fleet-footed Cory Butler-Byrd (5-10, 180, Sr.), who played mostly at cornerback in 2015.

NEWCOMER SPOTLIGHT
While he appeared in seven games on special teams last year, junior Kyle Fulks is new to the receiver two deep after a standout spring camp. With 4.44-second 40 speed, Fulks is Utah's second-fastest player.

COACH WHITTINGHAM SAYS
"Our receiving corps showed dramatic improvement over the course of spring ball and we believe that they possess the size and speed to be a big factor for us this season."

TIGHT END

THE LOWDOWN
Freddie Whittingham has some tough decisions to make in his first season coaching. An unexpected set of circumstances created by season-ending injuries a year ago has led to three starters returning at his position.

HEADLINERS RETURNING
Seniors Siale Fakailoatonga (6-4, 255) and Evan Moeai (6-2, 230) are the co-favorites to reclaim the starting job despite missing most of last season and all of spring camp with injuries. In their absence, junior Harrison Handley (6-5, 250) tied for the team lead with four touchdown catches and led the tight ends with 21 receptions for 286 yards.

NEWCOMER SPOTLIGHT
Freshman Chad Hekking (6-4, 240), a former high school quarterback, excelled in the Red-White spring game, catching seven passes for 63 yards.

COACH WHITTINGHAM SAYS
"We have quality and depth at tight end and we anticipate this group to be a major contributor to our offensive production."