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The University of Utah Athletics
Camp Kyle 2020: Utes Wrap Up Fall Camp
10/30/2020 2:37 PM | Football
Final Day of Camp Before Turning Attention to Arizona
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah football team wrapped up its fall camp today at the Spence and Cleone Football Facility on a warm and sunny day as the 2020 season officially gets underway in a week from tomorrow.
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Next week will be game week for Utah as they start to prepare for the Arizona Wildcats. The game is Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. MT on ESPNUÂ in Rice-Eccles Stadium.
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Growth and development has been the key to this year's fall camp as several newcomers have shined in their first preseason training camp while the veterans showed their strengths at each position.
Speaking of newcomers, this week was freshman week with the media as multiple newcomers sat down with the media in a virtual format. Today, offensive lineman Jaren Kump and defensive ends Van Fillinger and Xavier Carlton spoke to the media for the first time since stepping foot on campus.
U Voices: Kyle Whittingham, Lewis Powell, Jaren Kump, Xavier Carlton, Van Fillinger
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Kyle Whittingham | Head Coach
On how hard the choice on the QB was...
"Tough decision but there was enough separation that it was apparent that one outperformed the other two. It wasn't the case where none of them were performing very well because all three were performing very well, but one of the three had separated themselves and it was pretty unanimous from the coaching staff as to what direction we were going to go. I really trust Andy and rely on him on these type of decisions and we were in the same camp on this one."
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On if he is happy with the progress the defense has made this week...
"Short answer is yes, the defense has taken strides this week. As we've known from the onset, we'll have nine guys playing for us that have virtually no Division I experience. It's been a process of getting them up to speed. There's going to be a period of time where they have to play their way into game situations. We're doing the best we can to simulate that and put them in a lot of live work, but there is nothing really that can replicate an actual game and what it'll be like. They'll just have to settle in and get used to the speed of the game once the season starts."
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On the common thread with the freshmen that have come in...
"Talent is the common thread with that class. I think that's a big reason particularly on defense why we were able to land a lot of those guys. The departure of nine starters pretty much all to the NFL created an opportunity for them. That was a big selling point as well where it was like hey these guys are gone and there is a good opportunity to come right in and play right away. That's a big reason why we were able to attract and land that type of quality."
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Lewis Powell | Defensive Ends Coach
On if it is unfair to put the same expectations on the new guys as Bradlee Anae last year...
"I think it's unfair to. What Brad did here had never been done before, but what we're hoping is these young guys can come in and do what he did. Even though they didn't play together, they sure hear a lot about Brad. What he left was hard work, determination and practice and game film they're watching. They're hoping to one day be like him or better. Seems like Mika and Maxs are the guys that are leading doing that this year and taking over in that role. Hopefully we get someone that will repeat and have 14 sacks again, but if not these guys are going to try as hard as they can."
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On if the guys he recruits have to grow in the role...
"We used to have to project and say Nate Orchard is a receiver right now, but he'll gain 40 pounds and be a good defensive end. A lot of it has to do with their parents. Are their parents athletes, did they continue to grow or did they stop growing. It's something you have to project, but a lot of athletes won't continue growing. Sometimes you hit the jackpot and you get lucky, but it seems like most of the time we've projected well."
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Jaren Kump | FR | Offensive Line
On his biggest adjustment of getting back on campus after a two-year mission...
"I think the biggest adjustment besides getting in football shape has been the mental side of it. I served an LDS mission for two years and was in that mindset and then coming back and flipping that switch to be a football player and learning plays, learning to get into the playbook and whatnot. The biggest adjustment I had to make was mentally."
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On Nick Ford's leadership...
"He's been exceptional as a leader for me, honestly since I've been here since I got back in March. He's been there for me and helped motivate me. Yesterday in practice there was a play I messed up on and the first person that helped me out was Nick Ford."
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Xavier Carlton | FR | Defensive End
On what the biggest adjustment he has had to make coming from high school...
"The biggest adjustment coming from high school is I'm not playing against offensive linemen that are the same height as me. Coming from Juan Diego High School, I was playing against guys that were 5'9" and lower. That's the biggest adjustment is going against guys that are bigger than me."
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On how he embraces the high expectations after a good fall camp...
"I just stay humble and continue to put the work in every day. Trying to get smarter off the field by watching film and staying in the playbook every night. That's the reason I'm getting better is continue to grind and just staying humble."
Van Fillinger | FR | Defensive End
On how beneficial it has been to have a routine...
"I am big on routine and I think when I am stuck in a routine it probably when I am prospering the best. We wake up, we have COVID testing, we have meetings, we go home, we do school, we come back and we do football, so it is kind of like the same thing every day. I feel like it is really pushing me to get better."
On having another freshman, Xavier Carlton, on the defensive line and how they have helped each other...
"Since we are going through such a similar situation, I think we have kind of connected off that. Being able to bond with each other on and off the field. We have the same classes and we have the same coach. So, we are going through the same thing and it has really made us come together. We are there for each other all the time."
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Next week will be game week for Utah as they start to prepare for the Arizona Wildcats. The game is Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. MT on ESPNUÂ in Rice-Eccles Stadium.
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Tough. #UBoyz pic.twitter.com/5iA24kCAWQ
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) October 30, 2020
Growth and development has been the key to this year's fall camp as several newcomers have shined in their first preseason training camp while the veterans showed their strengths at each position.
Speaking of newcomers, this week was freshman week with the media as multiple newcomers sat down with the media in a virtual format. Today, offensive lineman Jaren Kump and defensive ends Van Fillinger and Xavier Carlton spoke to the media for the first time since stepping foot on campus.
U Voices: Kyle Whittingham, Lewis Powell, Jaren Kump, Xavier Carlton, Van Fillinger
Â
Kyle Whittingham | Head Coach
On how hard the choice on the QB was...
"Tough decision but there was enough separation that it was apparent that one outperformed the other two. It wasn't the case where none of them were performing very well because all three were performing very well, but one of the three had separated themselves and it was pretty unanimous from the coaching staff as to what direction we were going to go. I really trust Andy and rely on him on these type of decisions and we were in the same camp on this one."
Â
On if he is happy with the progress the defense has made this week...
"Short answer is yes, the defense has taken strides this week. As we've known from the onset, we'll have nine guys playing for us that have virtually no Division I experience. It's been a process of getting them up to speed. There's going to be a period of time where they have to play their way into game situations. We're doing the best we can to simulate that and put them in a lot of live work, but there is nothing really that can replicate an actual game and what it'll be like. They'll just have to settle in and get used to the speed of the game once the season starts."
Â
On the common thread with the freshmen that have come in...
"Talent is the common thread with that class. I think that's a big reason particularly on defense why we were able to land a lot of those guys. The departure of nine starters pretty much all to the NFL created an opportunity for them. That was a big selling point as well where it was like hey these guys are gone and there is a good opportunity to come right in and play right away. That's a big reason why we were able to attract and land that type of quality."
Â
Lewis Powell | Defensive Ends Coach
On if it is unfair to put the same expectations on the new guys as Bradlee Anae last year...
"I think it's unfair to. What Brad did here had never been done before, but what we're hoping is these young guys can come in and do what he did. Even though they didn't play together, they sure hear a lot about Brad. What he left was hard work, determination and practice and game film they're watching. They're hoping to one day be like him or better. Seems like Mika and Maxs are the guys that are leading doing that this year and taking over in that role. Hopefully we get someone that will repeat and have 14 sacks again, but if not these guys are going to try as hard as they can."
Â
On if the guys he recruits have to grow in the role...
"We used to have to project and say Nate Orchard is a receiver right now, but he'll gain 40 pounds and be a good defensive end. A lot of it has to do with their parents. Are their parents athletes, did they continue to grow or did they stop growing. It's something you have to project, but a lot of athletes won't continue growing. Sometimes you hit the jackpot and you get lucky, but it seems like most of the time we've projected well."
Â
Jaren Kump | FR | Offensive Line
On his biggest adjustment of getting back on campus after a two-year mission...
"I think the biggest adjustment besides getting in football shape has been the mental side of it. I served an LDS mission for two years and was in that mindset and then coming back and flipping that switch to be a football player and learning plays, learning to get into the playbook and whatnot. The biggest adjustment I had to make was mentally."
Â
On Nick Ford's leadership...
"He's been exceptional as a leader for me, honestly since I've been here since I got back in March. He's been there for me and helped motivate me. Yesterday in practice there was a play I messed up on and the first person that helped me out was Nick Ford."
Â
Xavier Carlton | FR | Defensive End
On what the biggest adjustment he has had to make coming from high school...
"The biggest adjustment coming from high school is I'm not playing against offensive linemen that are the same height as me. Coming from Juan Diego High School, I was playing against guys that were 5'9" and lower. That's the biggest adjustment is going against guys that are bigger than me."
Â
On how he embraces the high expectations after a good fall camp...
"I just stay humble and continue to put the work in every day. Trying to get smarter off the field by watching film and staying in the playbook every night. That's the reason I'm getting better is continue to grind and just staying humble."
Van Fillinger | FR | Defensive End
On how beneficial it has been to have a routine...
"I am big on routine and I think when I am stuck in a routine it probably when I am prospering the best. We wake up, we have COVID testing, we have meetings, we go home, we do school, we come back and we do football, so it is kind of like the same thing every day. I feel like it is really pushing me to get better."
On having another freshman, Xavier Carlton, on the defensive line and how they have helped each other...
"Since we are going through such a similar situation, I think we have kind of connected off that. Being able to bond with each other on and off the field. We have the same classes and we have the same coach. So, we are going through the same thing and it has really made us come together. We are there for each other all the time."
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Players Mentioned
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