Classes, Regular Season Football Practices Begin

Photo by: Brooke Frederickson

Classes, Regular Season Football Practices Begin

8/20/2018 10:46 AM | Football

Countdown to Kickoff
Classes at the University of Utah began today, signaling the start of the regular season for the Ute football team. Monday also marks the start of game preparation for Utah's 2018 season opener against Weber State on Thursday, Aug. 30. Kickoff is 6 p.m. MT in Rice-Eccles Stadium. Practices are closed to the public.

Inside the Huddle
The battle for the starting job at left guard has heated up between redshirt freshman Nick Ford and sophomore Orlando Umana. True freshman Braeden E. Daniels will have a place in the two deep at either guard or tackle … On the defensive line, junior Leki Fotu has emerged as the leader among the tackles. Three other defensive tackles who will rotate are junior John Penisini, sophomore Pita Tonga and sophomore Hauati Pututau … Junior Bradlee Anae is the clear starter at left end while a battle wages at right end between junior Caleb Repp and redshirt freshman Mika Tafua. The fourth end is sophomore Maxs Tupai … The starters are set at linebacker (seniors Chase Hansen and Cody Barton), corner (junior Julian Blackmon and sophomore Jaylon Johnson) and safety (seniors Marquise Blair and Corrion Ballard). Next in line on the outside is junior Josh Nurse, while junior Tareke Lewis is the backup at slot nickel. The second-string safeties are juniors Philip Afia and Terrell Burgess … Maddie Golden, a true freshman from Piedmont, S.C., has won the starting job at long and short snapper and was awarded a scholarship last week … Backup specialists Chayden Johnston and Preston Pitt are playing well behind 2017 Lou Groza Award winner Matt Gay and 2016 Ray Guy Award winner Mitch Wishnowsky. Pitt will go on a church mission after this season … A complete two deep will be issued on Aug. 27.

Roster Update
Twelve walk-ons joined the team on the first day of school, bringing Utah's roster total to 126. The additions were: Gavin Davey, WR; Holden Fielding, WR; Pena Fitisemanu, DT; Brydon Johnson, DB; Stockton Lund, K/P; Nicholas McGee, WR; Eli Morrow, DT; Tyeler Perri, OL; Dallin Pili, LB; Kaden Simmonds, LB; Tae Tonga, WR; Stratten Wagner, OL. Fitisemanu participated as a freshman in 2015 before leaving on a church mission. Wagner redshirted last season as a sophomore JC transfer.

Team Leaders
The 2018 team captains were announced on Saturday and they are Chase Hansen, Lo Falemaka, Tyler Huntley, Cody Barton, Matt Gay and Mitch Wishnowsky. Wishnowsky is in his second year as a team captain. All are seniors other than Huntley, who is a junior. Also selected was the 2018 Utah Football Leadership Council, which consists of the six captains as well as Jackson Barton, Britain Covey, Jameson Field, Jack Tuttle, Demari Simpkins, Bradlee Anae, Leki Fotu, Julian Blackmon and Terrell Burgess.