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The University of Utah Athletics
News Out Of Practice: Five Days Away
8/24/2019 1:59 PM | Football
SALT LAKE CITY - The University of Utah football program wrapped up another successful practice from the Eccles Football Center today as the 2019 season opener gets closer.
The Utes will kick off the year against the BYU Cougars on Thursday, Aug. 29 in Provo. The game will start at 8:15 p.m. MT in LaVell Edwards Stadium and will air live on ESPN.
The Utes celebrated senior safety Julian Blackmon's birthday today. Blackmon, a Layton, Utah, native, is a two-time All-Pac-12 defensive back that has played in 36 career games with 27 starts for the Utes.
Junior wide receiver Britain Covey chatted with the Pac-12 Networks this week to talk about fall camp, what to expect this season and how he feels about his teammates getting awarded new scholarships.Â
Head coach Kyle Whittingham caught up with the media after practice.
On how Tyler Huntley's progression has been under Andy Ludwig's new system...
"Really good. He is just soaking in everything that Andy has. He has done a great job of putting that into practice. The skill set that Tyler has and what Andy is going to do when they lineup, it is a great fit."
On if the two's are starting to progress more...
"They've closed the gap, but we still aren't where we need to be. It is always going to be a work in progress to a certain extent, but those guys have worked hard and they've accepted the challenge to get better. They are doing everything they can. Like I said, the gap has closed, but we would like it to close even more."
On how confident he is in the kicking game leading into game week...
"Well Andrew Strauch has looked very good in practice, but you never truly know until you get in a game situation. Ben Lennon has done a nice job punting, so we feel like we have two solid guys. I've said many times, they have big shoes to fill. We had two great ones, and these guys might turn out to be great, only time will tell."
On where he feels they are at with the linebackers at this point...
"Sione Lund had made a great deal of progress as has Trennan Carlson. So we have four guys that we feel really good about. Andrew Mata'afa is making strides, he is our fifth guy right now and then our sixth would be Moroni Anae."
On what position he is the most curious to find out about in the first game...
"Probably the offensive line, to see how they come together. We've always prided ourself as being a physical team and they've got a big challenge this week."
On if he watched College Game Day and saw that Lee Corso picked Utah to make the National Championship game...
"Well good for Lee. Seems like most of the time when I am watching that and he has to choose between us and the opponent he doesn't choose us too often. Maybe he has had a change of heart. Thanks Lee, appreciate it."
The Utes will kick off the year against the BYU Cougars on Thursday, Aug. 29 in Provo. The game will start at 8:15 p.m. MT in LaVell Edwards Stadium and will air live on ESPN.
5?? days out ?? pic.twitter.com/YIC3txwLpS
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 24, 2019
The Utes celebrated senior safety Julian Blackmon's birthday today. Blackmon, a Layton, Utah, native, is a two-time All-Pac-12 defensive back that has played in 36 career games with 27 starts for the Utes.
HBD, @JulianBlackmon! pic.twitter.com/MENJtz50us
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 24, 2019
Junior wide receiver Britain Covey chatted with the Pac-12 Networks this week to talk about fall camp, what to expect this season and how he feels about his teammates getting awarded new scholarships.Â
No one does surprise scholarship announcements like @Utah_Football.
We spoke to Britain Covey about the excitement around his newly-inked teammates. ?? https://t.co/SRe9uikeSI pic.twitter.com/T9hKKtEAvk
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) August 23, 2019
Head coach Kyle Whittingham caught up with the media after practice.
On how Tyler Huntley's progression has been under Andy Ludwig's new system...
"Really good. He is just soaking in everything that Andy has. He has done a great job of putting that into practice. The skill set that Tyler has and what Andy is going to do when they lineup, it is a great fit."
On if the two's are starting to progress more...
"They've closed the gap, but we still aren't where we need to be. It is always going to be a work in progress to a certain extent, but those guys have worked hard and they've accepted the challenge to get better. They are doing everything they can. Like I said, the gap has closed, but we would like it to close even more."
On how confident he is in the kicking game leading into game week...
"Well Andrew Strauch has looked very good in practice, but you never truly know until you get in a game situation. Ben Lennon has done a nice job punting, so we feel like we have two solid guys. I've said many times, they have big shoes to fill. We had two great ones, and these guys might turn out to be great, only time will tell."
On where he feels they are at with the linebackers at this point...
"Sione Lund had made a great deal of progress as has Trennan Carlson. So we have four guys that we feel really good about. Andrew Mata'afa is making strides, he is our fifth guy right now and then our sixth would be Moroni Anae."
On what position he is the most curious to find out about in the first game...
"Probably the offensive line, to see how they come together. We've always prided ourself as being a physical team and they've got a big challenge this week."
On if he watched College Game Day and saw that Lee Corso picked Utah to make the National Championship game...
"Well good for Lee. Seems like most of the time when I am watching that and he has to choose between us and the opponent he doesn't choose us too often. Maybe he has had a change of heart. Thanks Lee, appreciate it."
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