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Photo by: Hunter Dyke/Utah Athletics
2022 Football Fall Camp: Football is Back!
8/3/2022 6:28 PM | Football
Utes hold first practice with 31 days until season opener at Florida
SALT LAKE CITY – Wednesday was an exciting day to be around the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center, as the Utah football team opened fall camp to mark another milestone toward the start of the 2022 season.
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The Utes took to the field today in shells with the offense in red, defense in black and the quarterbacks in white, with the transition to full pads coming later in camp.
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"For the first day it went really good," said head coach Kyle Whittingham. "The offense has a lot of returning guys, at quarterback in particular. Defensively we were moving around well. The new additions, [among them] Mohamoud Diabate, Lander Barton, there's some really good additions that will be a factor for us on defense." Â
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Andy Ludwig echoed those sentiments around the returnees.
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"It is easier when you have veterans in their fourth year in the same system with very few changes in the system," Ludwig said. "There were a few tweaks and modifications coming into the season, but nothing those guys haven't been exposed to. You have to be careful because you don't want to skip the fundamentals and dive too much into the scheme."
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The Utes enter the 2022 season with 60 letter winners returning, which includes 17 starters and nine all-conference performers from 2021. Whittingham is set to enter his 18th season at the helm of the Utes and is the program's all-time wins leader, holding a record of 144-70.
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QUOTABLE – HEAD COACH KYLE WHITTINGHAM
On opening camp with this amount of returning experience…
"It was very evident that they spent a lot of time together on their own this summer. Today was more like a practice eight or practice nine feel, as far as the lack of mental mistakes and how smooth things went."
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On the leadership qualities of quarterback Cameron Rising…
"First of all, he's one of the hardest workers on the football team, if not the hardest. You can talk about it, but you have to be about it. His performance is outstanding, his film study, everything. There's no weakness in Cam Rising right now. He's doing everything right coming off an outstanding year. We're fortunate to have him on our team."
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On who stands out among the wide receivers…
"Devaughn Vele is target No. 1 right now. He had an outstanding day today. Solomon Enis has played a lot of good football for us. We also have five or six new guys that haven't quite sorted themselves out yet with just one practice, but all have showed that they have potential. We'll see how those guys sort out."
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On the offensive line…
"The offensive line is solid. We have 17 guys in camp. Everybody is healthy. Jaren Kump looked good today—he'll be lining up at right tackle for us."
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QUOTABLE – OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR / QBs COACH ANDY LUDWIG
On Cam Rising throwing the deep ball…
"Most of our work today was in the red zone, but I see more zip on the ball. We didn't get a good look at the deep throws being in that field position, but he has always had a lot of confidence in those fade throws. We will get to the middle of the field in a couple of days and air it out."
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On the running back situation…
"It is an open competition, and it's a good group, with Tavion Thomas, Micah Bernard, Jaylon Glover, and Chris Curry. We all know what Tavion Thomas is all about and what kind of weapon he can be."
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On his impression of the newcomers…
"There is a lot of athleticism and a lot of length. We have some tall long guys that can run. They are drinking water through a fire hose trying to get lined up, much less run the appropriate route, but I am fired up about the young wide receiver core."
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On the offensive line...
"The depth we have is outstanding. Coach Harding will get the best five in the right spots, and I am confident about that. All those guys we are counting on have played significant snaps, and I feel really good about the depth on the line."
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NEXT UP
Time is ticking down as Utah prepares to head to The Swamp in Gainesville, Florida, on Saturday, Sept. 3 to take on the Florida Gators. The game will air at 5 p.m. MT on ESPN.
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FOLLOW ALONG!
To get an inside look at the Utah Football program, follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @Utah_Football | Instagram: @UtahFootball | Facebook: Search Utah Football), along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com for news, schedule and roster updates throughout the season.
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The Utes took to the field today in shells with the offense in red, defense in black and the quarterbacks in white, with the transition to full pads coming later in camp.
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— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 3, 2022
Up close look at the new front bumpers for the practice helmet. A great reminder of the promise made to get 22% better every day. Shoutout to @SportStarGear for making it happen. #22Forever pic.twitter.com/EN3CPq6f0c
— UtesEquipment (@UtesEquipment) August 2, 2022
ÂHere we go @Utah_Football @utahathletics fans! A little taste from day one of Fall camp up on the hill... #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/4nG3qb9DpI
— Adam Mikulich (@AdamMikulich) August 3, 2022
"For the first day it went really good," said head coach Kyle Whittingham. "The offense has a lot of returning guys, at quarterback in particular. Defensively we were moving around well. The new additions, [among them] Mohamoud Diabate, Lander Barton, there's some really good additions that will be a factor for us on defense." Â
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Andy Ludwig echoed those sentiments around the returnees.
Â
"It is easier when you have veterans in their fourth year in the same system with very few changes in the system," Ludwig said. "There were a few tweaks and modifications coming into the season, but nothing those guys haven't been exposed to. You have to be careful because you don't want to skip the fundamentals and dive too much into the scheme."
Â
The Utes enter the 2022 season with 60 letter winners returning, which includes 17 starters and nine all-conference performers from 2021. Whittingham is set to enter his 18th season at the helm of the Utes and is the program's all-time wins leader, holding a record of 144-70.
Â
QUOTABLE – HEAD COACH KYLE WHITTINGHAM
On opening camp with this amount of returning experience…
"It was very evident that they spent a lot of time together on their own this summer. Today was more like a practice eight or practice nine feel, as far as the lack of mental mistakes and how smooth things went."
Â
On the leadership qualities of quarterback Cameron Rising…
"First of all, he's one of the hardest workers on the football team, if not the hardest. You can talk about it, but you have to be about it. His performance is outstanding, his film study, everything. There's no weakness in Cam Rising right now. He's doing everything right coming off an outstanding year. We're fortunate to have him on our team."
Â
On who stands out among the wide receivers…
"Devaughn Vele is target No. 1 right now. He had an outstanding day today. Solomon Enis has played a lot of good football for us. We also have five or six new guys that haven't quite sorted themselves out yet with just one practice, but all have showed that they have potential. We'll see how those guys sort out."
Â
On the offensive line…
"The offensive line is solid. We have 17 guys in camp. Everybody is healthy. Jaren Kump looked good today—he'll be lining up at right tackle for us."
Â
QUOTABLE – OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR / QBs COACH ANDY LUDWIG
On Cam Rising throwing the deep ball…
"Most of our work today was in the red zone, but I see more zip on the ball. We didn't get a good look at the deep throws being in that field position, but he has always had a lot of confidence in those fade throws. We will get to the middle of the field in a couple of days and air it out."
Â
On the running back situation…
"It is an open competition, and it's a good group, with Tavion Thomas, Micah Bernard, Jaylon Glover, and Chris Curry. We all know what Tavion Thomas is all about and what kind of weapon he can be."
Â
On his impression of the newcomers…
"There is a lot of athleticism and a lot of length. We have some tall long guys that can run. They are drinking water through a fire hose trying to get lined up, much less run the appropriate route, but I am fired up about the young wide receiver core."
Â
On the offensive line...
"The depth we have is outstanding. Coach Harding will get the best five in the right spots, and I am confident about that. All those guys we are counting on have played significant snaps, and I feel really good about the depth on the line."
Â
NEXT UP
Time is ticking down as Utah prepares to head to The Swamp in Gainesville, Florida, on Saturday, Sept. 3 to take on the Florida Gators. The game will air at 5 p.m. MT on ESPN.
Â
FOLLOW ALONG!
To get an inside look at the Utah Football program, follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @Utah_Football | Instagram: @UtahFootball | Facebook: Search Utah Football), along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com for news, schedule and roster updates throughout the season.
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Players Mentioned
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