2023 Utah Football Spring Practices Set To Start March 21

2023 Utah Football Spring Practices Set To Start March 21

3/15/2023 5:05 PM | Football

SALT LAKE CITY – The champs are back as the University of Utah Football team is set to open spring practices on Tuesday, March 21 on the heels of winning its second-straight Pac-12 Championship in 2022.

Spring practices will run from March 21 to the spring game on April 22. Tickets and information for the spring game will be released on Wednesday, March 22.

2022 SEASON REWIND
Back-to-back champs has a nice ring to it as the Utes became just the third team in Pac-12 Conference history to win back-to-back championship games in 2021 and 2022.

In 2022, Utah claimed its seventh 10-win season under head coach Kyle Whittingham, finishing the year leading the Pac-12 in eight different statistical categories. The Utes led the Pac-12 and ranked second in the FBS in first downs offense while averaging 38.6 points per game which ranked 11^th in the FBS.

On defense, the Utes ranked second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense, also leading the league in sacks and tackles for loss.

LOOKING FORWARD
Utah has a 12-game slate in the fall of 2023, starting with its season opener against Florida on Thursday, Aug. 31 in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Utes' non-conference schedule includes two Power Five programs (Florida, Baylor) with Utah also hosting a total of seven home games this year.

Utah has sold out Rice-Eccles Stadium in 76 consecutive games, dating back to the 2010 season opener. Utah has been undefeated at home the last two seasons and will look to continue that streak against Florida on Aug. 31.

SPRING LEADERSHIP
The Utes announced its spring captains and leadership council for camp with Cameron Rising, Brant Kuithe, Cole Bishop and Karene Reid all earning captain status.

Kuithe, Bishop, Rising and Reid are joined by Thomas Yassmin, Junior Tafuna, Lander Barton, Ja'Quinden Jackson, Keaton Bills, Bryson Barnes, Devaughn Vele, Connor O'Toole, Sione Vaki, Miki Suguturaga, Sataoa Laumea and Nate Ritchie on the spring leadership council.

THE UTAH MAN
Kyle Whittingham, the longest-tenured coach in the Pac-12 Conference and the second-longest tenured head coach at the same school in the FBS, is headed into his 19^th season at the helm. He holds an overall record of 154-74 as the all-time wins leader at Utah.

Utah has finished with a winning record in 16 of his 18 years as head coach, including in nine straight. He has coached 34 players to All-America teams and 103 first-team all-conference selections with the Utes finishing in the final CFP Top 25 seven times, including Utah's highest-ever finish at No. 8 in 2022.

NEW ON THE SIDELINES
Utah fans will see a new face on the sidelines this spring with Alvis Whitted starting his first year with the Ute wide receivers. Whitted comes to Utah after spending the past three seasons as the wide receivers coach at Wisconsin, helping the Badgers to three bowl wins during his time in Madison.

Whitted has also spent time coaching with the Green Bay Packers and at Colorado State where he coached two Biletnikoff Award finalists and consensus All-Americans Rashard Higgins and Michael Gallup.

RELIABLE RETURNERS
The Utes return 61 letter winners from last season, including 18 (8 offense, 10 defense) players who started at least five games last season. Along with the returning starters from last season, the Utes will welcome back senior tight end Brant Kuithe from injury and safety Nate Ritchie from his church mission after he started all five games as a true freshman in 2020.

From the offensive side, the Utes bring back weapons all over the field including quarterback Cameron Rising, running backs Ja'Quinden Jackson, Micah Bernard and Jaylon Glover, wide receivers Devaughn Vele and Money Parks, and tight ends Kuithe and Thomas Yassmin.

On defense, defensive tackles Junior Tafuna and Aliki Vimahi will continue to plug holes for the Utes with defensive ends Connor O'Toole, Jonah Elliss and Van Fillinger all returning as well. Mainstays in cornerback JaTravis Broughton and Cole Bishop are back for another year with Sione Vaki and Ritchie also fitting into the mix in a powerful secondary unit.

NEWCOMER NOTES
Utah signed a top 25 recruiting class during national signing day this year that included nine four-stars and 10 three-stars along with several key transfers. While not all of the signing class will be present during spring practices, linebacker Owen Chambliss, defensive end Logan Fano, offensive lineman Spencer Fano, safety Johnathan Hall, quarterback Mack Howard, wide receiver Mikey Matthews, kicker Cole Becker and cornerback Miles Battle will all hit the gridiron with the Utes this spring.