#CUvsUTAH: News Out Of Practice

11/21/2017 6:33 PM | Football

SALT LAKE CITY - It is the final week of regular season play and the Utes are set for its battle against the Buffaloes as they honor 22 seniors in Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 25. The game is set for an 8 p.m. MT kick.

Use #CUvsUTAH for conversation this week on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

News, Notes, Depth Chart
• Donavan Thompson has moved ahead of senior Sunia Tauteoli at mac linebacker.
• Terrell Burgess has moved to safety, where he is backing up Chase Hansen.
• Mitch Wishnowky and Matt Gay have been finalists for the Ray Guy Award and Lou Groza Award, respectively.
• Kylie Fitts accepted an invitation to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl.

Vote for @MGtweetymonster! https://t.co/zu57RGAaKh
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 21, 2017

Congratulations to Matt Gay, finalist for the @LouGrozaAward, and Mitch Wishnowsky, finalist for the @RayGuyAward! #goutes @Utah_Football pic.twitter.com/SfAmGO8di9
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 20, 2017

A converted soccer player, Matt Gay had only played one year of football prior to this season (at Orem High in 2011). #goutes #MattGFor3 https://t.co/93SBFh0cnt
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 20, 2017

Senior Day: The 2017 senior class has won three bowl games and 33 total games (33-17), in the last four seasons, including a 10-win season in 2015 and nine wins in both 2014 and 2016. The 22 members of this year's senior class are Cooper Bateman, Tyler Bell, Darren Carrington II, Christian Drews, Siale Fakailoatonga, Jameson Field, Kylie Fitts, Kyle Fulks, Harrison Handley, Shawn Hansen, Boobie Hobbs, Jordan Howard, Copy Ippolito, Lowell Lotulelei, Kavika Luafatasaga, Troy McCormick, Jr., Filipo Mokofisi, Sunia Tauteoli, Salesi Uhatafe, Alex Whittingham, Troy Williams and Kenric Young.

Congratulations to @K_Fitts11 who has accepted an invitation to the 2018 @seniorbowl! ?? pic.twitter.com/QhvrStBy2Z
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 20, 2017

Voices From Practice

Head Coach Kyle Whittingham
On how the mood of the team has been...
"Very good and its because of the seniors and their attitude and they way they handle their leadership. This team has been the same team all season long with their work ethic and their focus and attention to detail, which is a very positive thing to see."
On their Thanksgiving day schedule...
"We will go in the morning with meetings and practice and get them out of here by noon. We make sure everyone has a place to go whether it is a teammate's house or a coach's house to make sure no one is sitting in the dorm during Thanksgiving."
On Kylie Fitts...
"I think Kylie Fitts is a tough costumer and if people are doubting that he is injured, then there is something wrong there. He is a talented kid who wants to be out here."

Offensive Line Coach Jim Harding
On what it is like preparing for a game over a holiday...
"Normally after Wednesday's practice we take off, but tomorrow night we will watch tomorrow's practice, that way the kids can come in that morning and then have the entire afternoon for the holiday and stuff like that. So other than just Wednesday night, things stay the same."
On Colorado...
"They are a talented group. I know they lost some guys last year, but they have done some nice things. They have had a little extra time to prepare for us, so I know that there will be some things that we have not seen on film yet, so we have to identify that early in the game and make adjustments. We know that it is a big challenge. They will be up for it just like our kids will be and that will make a great environment."

Linebackers Coach Justin Ena
On what they are focusing on this last week...
"We are focusing on getting to a bowl game. That is the number one thing and that we play sound football. As a defensive coaching staff, you look at the season and see too many mental errors and missed assignments, had we cleaned that up we'd already be going to a bowl game. That is the stark reality, so our guys are locked in and focused because we want to get that bowl game."
On the atmosphere he is expecting on Saturday...
"Competitors always want to compete. Whether you are playing for a bowl game or just playing another game on a Saturday, it doesn't matter. You want to make sure you are in tune, you are focused and that you are flying around. Any chance that you get to play with your 10 best friends on any given Saturday, you are going to take it. And hopefully, you are going to play it the same way as if you were playing for a National Championship or just for another regular season Saturday."