Upcoming Event: Football at Baylor on November 15, 2025
Football
at Baylor
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
The University of Utah Athletics
Game Week Player Quotes: Oregon
10/24/2023 2:51 PM | Football
Bryson Barnes | QB | Jr.
On preparing as No. 1 QB . . .
"I feel like I was going to prepare the same way regardless if Cam [Rising] was able to play or not. Knowing his status this week didn't change the way I prepared as I did earlier in the season when he was taking some reps."Â
On Sione Vaki . . .
"During the summer he would be working DB drills and we would ask him to come run some routes with us after we heard what he did in high school. The guy was electric and we all joked that we needed him on the offensive side of the ball. Just to see him out there now and the things he does is unreal."
On his relationships with teammates . . .
"It feels great knowing my teammates have confidence in me. With how everything has panned out this season, having that trust between me and my teammates is all that really matters."
Alvis Whitted | Asst. Coach - Wide ReceiversÂ
On Sione Vaki . . .
"He came out as a wide receiver and is exceptionally gifted. You can see his skillset on display when he plays. He is an amazing person too, not just an amazing football player. He is willing to do whatever he needs to for the team and that says a lot about him. We are going to continue to use him in ways we can find mismatches and utilize that skill set to help our football team. We knew he could help the offense for quite a while but he is a defensive player. We want to find ways to get guys the ball and space and use their ability. He's done a great job and it's awesome to see."
On Mikey Matthews . . .
"He has football intelligence. He has an ability to learn very fast and he studies. He studies the game, he loves the game and he goes about it the right way. When he got here in the spring he applied himself and the rest is history."
On Bryson Barnes. . .Â
"Bryson [Barnes] is a very sharp kid. That position entails being able to manage the offense and he can manage the offense. He has shown that he is capable of making plays for us with the ball in the air or with his legs."
Ja'Quinden Jackson | RB | So.Â
On his performance against USC. . .
"I felt like I really didn't have my best game. That's why we have this week, to correct things and get better. We have another great team coming in here and we have to lock and load and get ready for it."
On Bryson Barnes. . .
"We knew his breakout game was coming. It was just a matter of time. I'm happy for him and he'll just keep going. He has a lot of grit in him and he'll run through you."
On Oregon's defense . . .
"They are athletic. They are big and strong and we have a lot of work to do this week to fix some mistakes. We will take it a day at a time to get right."
On Utah's coaching staff . . .Â
"We have an incredible coaching staff. The plays they come up with just shows how smart they are."
Sharrieff Shah | Asst. Coach Cornerbacks/Special Teams Coordinator
On Cole Bishop . . .
"We were counting the minutes and just hoping we could play well enough to keep it competitive to a point where he could come back in and help us. Cole does so many things to positively affect the game, the fumble recovery, the big hit, the communication he provides, his comfort and ability to make others feel at ease, just shows the type of player he is."
Sione Vaki | S | So.
On how his high school experience set him up for success . . .
"I had great coaches that trained me to be an athlete and believed in me. I'm grateful for the coaches I have here right now that also believe in me to do the same thing."
On his preference of offense or defense . . .Â
"I'm just here to help the team. That's pretty much it. I love defense but I love offense as well. I'm not surprised at the success I've found on offense. The coaches put me in the right positions. They make the right play calls and trust me enough to put the ball in my hands and let me make some plays. "
Â
On preparing as No. 1 QB . . .
"I feel like I was going to prepare the same way regardless if Cam [Rising] was able to play or not. Knowing his status this week didn't change the way I prepared as I did earlier in the season when he was taking some reps."Â
On Sione Vaki . . .
"During the summer he would be working DB drills and we would ask him to come run some routes with us after we heard what he did in high school. The guy was electric and we all joked that we needed him on the offensive side of the ball. Just to see him out there now and the things he does is unreal."
On his relationships with teammates . . .
"It feels great knowing my teammates have confidence in me. With how everything has panned out this season, having that trust between me and my teammates is all that really matters."
Alvis Whitted | Asst. Coach - Wide ReceiversÂ
On Sione Vaki . . .
"He came out as a wide receiver and is exceptionally gifted. You can see his skillset on display when he plays. He is an amazing person too, not just an amazing football player. He is willing to do whatever he needs to for the team and that says a lot about him. We are going to continue to use him in ways we can find mismatches and utilize that skill set to help our football team. We knew he could help the offense for quite a while but he is a defensive player. We want to find ways to get guys the ball and space and use their ability. He's done a great job and it's awesome to see."
On Mikey Matthews . . .
"He has football intelligence. He has an ability to learn very fast and he studies. He studies the game, he loves the game and he goes about it the right way. When he got here in the spring he applied himself and the rest is history."
On Bryson Barnes. . .Â
"Bryson [Barnes] is a very sharp kid. That position entails being able to manage the offense and he can manage the offense. He has shown that he is capable of making plays for us with the ball in the air or with his legs."
Ja'Quinden Jackson | RB | So.Â
On his performance against USC. . .
"I felt like I really didn't have my best game. That's why we have this week, to correct things and get better. We have another great team coming in here and we have to lock and load and get ready for it."
On Bryson Barnes. . .
"We knew his breakout game was coming. It was just a matter of time. I'm happy for him and he'll just keep going. He has a lot of grit in him and he'll run through you."
On Oregon's defense . . .
"They are athletic. They are big and strong and we have a lot of work to do this week to fix some mistakes. We will take it a day at a time to get right."
On Utah's coaching staff . . .Â
"We have an incredible coaching staff. The plays they come up with just shows how smart they are."
Sharrieff Shah | Asst. Coach Cornerbacks/Special Teams Coordinator
On Cole Bishop . . .
"We were counting the minutes and just hoping we could play well enough to keep it competitive to a point where he could come back in and help us. Cole does so many things to positively affect the game, the fumble recovery, the big hit, the communication he provides, his comfort and ability to make others feel at ease, just shows the type of player he is."
Sione Vaki | S | So.
On how his high school experience set him up for success . . .
"I had great coaches that trained me to be an athlete and believed in me. I'm grateful for the coaches I have here right now that also believe in me to do the same thing."
On his preference of offense or defense . . .Â
"I'm just here to help the team. That's pretty much it. I love defense but I love offense as well. I'm not surprised at the success I've found on offense. The coaches put me in the right positions. They make the right play calls and trust me enough to put the ball in my hands and let me make some plays. "
Â
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
S
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
S
/ FootballUtah: 45, Cincinnati: 14 | POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Saturday, November 01
Head Coach Kyle Whittingham weekly press conference - 10.27.25
Monday, October 27
Utah: 53, Colorado: 7 | POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Saturday, October 25
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - ESPN's Fran Fraschilla
Wednesday, October 22