SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah football program took the field in full pads today, wrapping up the seventh practice of spring ball. The spring season will end with the annual Red-White Game on Saturday, April 13 at 11 a.m. MT.
The Utes will have two more practices this week, along with Utah's annual Pro Day on Thursday (Closed to the Public).
Week 3 Schedule
Thursday, March 28: Pro Day, 8:15-11 a.m. (Eccles Field House, Closed to the public) | Practice 3-4:45 p.m. (Eccles Football Center)
Saturday, March 30: Scrimmage, 10 a.m. – noon (Rice-Eccles Stadium)
Utah's Pro Day will feature representatives from all 32 NFL teams with 13 outgoing seniors looking to take on an important job interview with the scouts.
Jordan Agasiva,
Aaron Amaama,
Anthony Armstrong,
Corrion Ballard,
Cody Barton,
Jackson Barton,
Marquise Blair,
Lo Falemaka,
Jameson Field,
Matt Gay,
Chase Hansen,
Alani Havili-Katoa and
Mitch Wishnowsky will all be in attendance to participate in measurements, lifts, jumps, sprints, shuttle and agility drills and position specific drills.
Highlights from Offense vs. Defense Today (no linemen)
Voices out of Practice: Head Coach Kyle Whittingham
On how practice went today…
"It was a good practice. We had too many drops so we have to get that cleaned up, but these guys have had seven really good practices and we are just about at the halfway mark. We've made good progress and we have a lot of progress that still needs to be made in these last eight. I think we are in a good spot right now."
On what the most competitive position is this spring…
"Probably the defensive line. They have the most depth, so I would say that is the most competitive as far as battling for playing time because we have a bunch of guys up front."
On the competition between the running backs…
"When
Zack Moss comes back, he is the clear featured back, but those backs are working hard. And then we add the two freshmen this fall and that should be a good group for us."
Safety Julian Blackmon
On how the transition to safety has gone…
"Very smooth. I already was familiar with the position so it wasn't too hard of a transition, it was just box play that I had to learn, but in terms of the position itself it has been pretty smooth."
On his experience with the position…
"That is all I played in little league. I didn't know what I was doing back then, I was just running around, but in high school I played safety too so I feel like coming here it is just more of playmaking which is something I feel I can do. It is a good transition."
On getting to play directly under Morgan Scalley…
"He is putting me in really good positions because he is a very smart coach. The time that he puts in just to make us better is amazing. I have so much respect for Coach Scalley, especially being in his room now and seeing what he does for us. Our success comes from all of the work that he puts in and it has been amazing to be a part of it."
On the addition of the new defensive coaches…
"It is amazing. It is a grind every day and we don't want anything but a grind. We know what our team can do and we just have to do it. Bringing in the new coaches has just brought a new level of intensity and we feel we are on the right path."
