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The University of Utah Athletics
2023 Camp Kyle: Hear it From the Players (Week 3)
8/16/2023 1:00 PM | Football
Final few practices of camp before Utes shift to in-season schedule
SALT LAKE CITY – It was a warm and sunny day on Wednesday at the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center as the Utah Football team was back on the practice field, now sitting 15 days from its season opener vs. Florida inside Rice-Eccles Stadium.
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Depth and talent at seemingly every position has been a popular point of camp. It's created great competition as players look to earn time on the field come August 31 against the Gators.
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"It's been crazy," said Karene Reid of the linebacker room. "The talent is more than it's ever been. That's forced us to all play at a high level every single day. We're trying to push each other, and we're also trying to find a spot on the field."
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In a similar spot are the running backs, led in part by the returning trio of Micah Bernard, Jaylon Glover and Ja'Quinden Jackson.
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"I just feel like all of (us) are jacks of all trades," said Glover ahead of his second season at Utah. "[Ja'Quinden Jackson] is powerful, has speed and can make people miss. Micah Bernard definitely kills it with speed and can catch out of the backfield. We've got Charlie Vincent, Chris Curry, strong and powerful running backs…All the guys have their own talents, and I feel like we've got the guys that are pretty elite with the talent they have. That's what makes the room really special."
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Preseason Watch List reveals are also on the home stretch. Earlier this week, safety Cole Bishop was placed on the Bednarik Award Watch List, quarterback Cameron Rising earned a spot on the Manning Award Watch List and defensive tackle Junior Tafuna was named to the Lombardi Award Watch List.
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HEAR IT FROM THE PLAYERS
Levani Damuni | Jr. | LB
On his decision to come to Utah…
"There were a lot of moving parts in my decision. But at the end of the day, I just wanted to go to a great school that had a great tradition of defense, where I would fit well into the scheme and play in back of a great defensive line. All of that matched up at Utah."
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How is the depth throughout the defense?
"We're definitely deep. I feel great about all the positions on defense. You can look at all the positions and see that we've got players one, two, three-deep. Great depth on this team."
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On how his skillset fits Utah's defensive scheme…
"Coach Scalley, Coach Swan, all of our defensive coaches, preach physicality every day. I feel like that's something that I have shown to do well in the past. With the help of Coach Swan and all these great coaches…(they are) helping me develop into being even more physical and dominant on defense."
Jaylon Glover | So. | RB
On the skillsets of guys in the running backs room…
"I just feel like all of them are jacks of all trades. [Ja'Quinden Jackson] is powerful, has speed and can make people miss. Micah Bernard definitely kills it with speed and can catch out of the backfield. We've got Charlie Vincent, Chris Curry, strong and powerful running backs. Charlie can catch out of the backfield and make guys miss. All the guys have their own talents, and I feel like we've got the guys that are pretty elite with the talent they have. That's what makes the room really special."
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Ja'Quinden Jackson | So. | RB
How's camp been?
"It's been tough. It's not an easy program to go through day by day. I'm still trying to get my legs under me. But we're making improvements every single day and every week."
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How much does your past as a quarterback help you now?
"Coming from quarterback and going to running back, I see from a quarterback perspective and a running back perspective. Now, I'm in the backfield and see coverages. I know who's coming, who's not, I know what coverage they're in. Playing quarterback really helped me at running back."
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On improvements in his game from last year…
"Pass game, for sure. My reps are a lot crisper and I catch the ball way better than I did last year."
Karene Reid | Jr. | LB
On the talent and experience in the linebacker room…
"It's been crazy. The talent is more than it's ever been. That's forced us to all play at a high level every single day. We're trying to push each other, and we're also trying to find a spot on the field."
Â
On what Levani Damuni brings to the team…
"He's brought a lot of physicality and size to our group. Even leadership; he was a captain at Stanford and he's brought what he learned about leading to our group. It's fit perfectly with our group."
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FOLLOW US!
To get an inside look at the Utah Football program during its journey through the 2023 season, follow the Utes on social media along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
Twitter:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @Utah_Football
Instagram:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @UtahFootball
Threads:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @UtahFootball
Facebook:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Utah Football
TikTok:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @Utah_Football
COMING SOON
The Utes will open 2023 at home, hosting the Florida Gators on Thursday, Aug. 31 in Rice-Eccles Stadium at 6 p.m. MT on ESPN. The game against the Gators will be a Red Out with fans encouraged to wear red.
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Depth and talent at seemingly every position has been a popular point of camp. It's created great competition as players look to earn time on the field come August 31 against the Gators.
Â
Embrace the effort ?? pic.twitter.com/NM8wMpvq2S
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 15, 2023
"It's been crazy," said Karene Reid of the linebacker room. "The talent is more than it's ever been. That's forced us to all play at a high level every single day. We're trying to push each other, and we're also trying to find a spot on the field."
Â
In a similar spot are the running backs, led in part by the returning trio of Micah Bernard, Jaylon Glover and Ja'Quinden Jackson.
Â
"I just feel like all of (us) are jacks of all trades," said Glover ahead of his second season at Utah. "[Ja'Quinden Jackson] is powerful, has speed and can make people miss. Micah Bernard definitely kills it with speed and can catch out of the backfield. We've got Charlie Vincent, Chris Curry, strong and powerful running backs…All the guys have their own talents, and I feel like we've got the guys that are pretty elite with the talent they have. That's what makes the room really special."
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ÂPractice flicks ?? pic.twitter.com/XTHJby2M0G
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 15, 2023
Preseason Watch List reveals are also on the home stretch. Earlier this week, safety Cole Bishop was placed on the Bednarik Award Watch List, quarterback Cameron Rising earned a spot on the Manning Award Watch List and defensive tackle Junior Tafuna was named to the Lombardi Award Watch List.
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ÂReppin'.
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 15, 2023
Cam Rising, Brant Kuithe and Sataoa Laumea are among ESPN College Football's Top 100 Players for 2023 https://t.co/1uISRjPLA1 pic.twitter.com/Cof8kgH4Bn
HEAR IT FROM THE PLAYERS
Levani Damuni | Jr. | LB
On his decision to come to Utah…
"There were a lot of moving parts in my decision. But at the end of the day, I just wanted to go to a great school that had a great tradition of defense, where I would fit well into the scheme and play in back of a great defensive line. All of that matched up at Utah."
Â
How is the depth throughout the defense?
"We're definitely deep. I feel great about all the positions on defense. You can look at all the positions and see that we've got players one, two, three-deep. Great depth on this team."
Â
On how his skillset fits Utah's defensive scheme…
"Coach Scalley, Coach Swan, all of our defensive coaches, preach physicality every day. I feel like that's something that I have shown to do well in the past. With the help of Coach Swan and all these great coaches…(they are) helping me develop into being even more physical and dominant on defense."
Jaylon Glover | So. | RB
On the skillsets of guys in the running backs room…
"I just feel like all of them are jacks of all trades. [Ja'Quinden Jackson] is powerful, has speed and can make people miss. Micah Bernard definitely kills it with speed and can catch out of the backfield. We've got Charlie Vincent, Chris Curry, strong and powerful running backs. Charlie can catch out of the backfield and make guys miss. All the guys have their own talents, and I feel like we've got the guys that are pretty elite with the talent they have. That's what makes the room really special."
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Ja'Quinden Jackson | So. | RB
How's camp been?
"It's been tough. It's not an easy program to go through day by day. I'm still trying to get my legs under me. But we're making improvements every single day and every week."
Â
How much does your past as a quarterback help you now?
"Coming from quarterback and going to running back, I see from a quarterback perspective and a running back perspective. Now, I'm in the backfield and see coverages. I know who's coming, who's not, I know what coverage they're in. Playing quarterback really helped me at running back."
Â
On improvements in his game from last year…
"Pass game, for sure. My reps are a lot crisper and I catch the ball way better than I did last year."
Karene Reid | Jr. | LB
On the talent and experience in the linebacker room…
"It's been crazy. The talent is more than it's ever been. That's forced us to all play at a high level every single day. We're trying to push each other, and we're also trying to find a spot on the field."
Â
On what Levani Damuni brings to the team…
"He's brought a lot of physicality and size to our group. Even leadership; he was a captain at Stanford and he's brought what he learned about leading to our group. It's fit perfectly with our group."
Â
FOLLOW US!
To get an inside look at the Utah Football program during its journey through the 2023 season, follow the Utes on social media along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
Twitter:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @Utah_Football
Instagram:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @UtahFootball
Threads:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @UtahFootball
Facebook:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Utah Football
TikTok:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @Utah_Football
COMING SOON
The Utes will open 2023 at home, hosting the Florida Gators on Thursday, Aug. 31 in Rice-Eccles Stadium at 6 p.m. MT on ESPN. The game against the Gators will be a Red Out with fans encouraged to wear red.
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Players Mentioned
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QB
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