Upcoming Event: Football at Kansas on November 28, 2025 at 10 a.m.
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
Football
at Kansas
The University of Utah Athletics
Kyle Whittingham Weekly Press Conference: Florida
8/28/2023 1:14 PM | Football
Utes host SEC foe on Thursday night in season opener inside Rice-Eccles Stadium
SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah head football coach Kyle Whittingham held his weekly press conference on Monday, meeting with members of the media inside the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center.
Â
Selected quotes from Coach Whittingham can be seen below.
Â
Opening Statement
"I want to start out by saying we're addressing the horrific situation in Maui and we're trying to help out as best we can there. The Sape Foundation is going to spearhead the efforts for us…whatever we can do to help those people. It's so tragic and just awful. We're going to make it a priority for us to be at the forefront of that and do what we can do. The Sape Foundation is the lead group on this. Any assistance on getting the word out would be great.
Â
"Football-wise, new year. It's here. It seems like it comes faster every year; Florida Gators coming to our place. First time with an SEC team coming to Salt Lake City, so groundbreaking in that respect. Second game of a home-and-home with the Gators. We all know what happened last year, came out on the short end. They played well and we didn't. Hopefully we'll play better this year. It's a big challenge for our program, for our team. [Florida] is outstanding as far as their personnel and SEC talent across the board; just what you'd expect for a team like Florida. So we've got to bring our A-game without a doubt. We're still unsure on some things. It's a challenge to have the depth chart a week out when you still have so many guys that are questionable, so we did the best we could with that. But a lot of that is still in flux today, and we play in three days. So we'll just have to see how that shakes out. I don't have anything to add or elaborate on with the depth chart; we just have to wait and see on some guys and see who's available and who's not.
Â
"Excited to get the season underway. Typically when you have an opener like this it gets your players' attention. It has gotten their attention for the last several months."
Â
On what he attributes the program's success to over the years…
"Besides recruiting, recruiting and recruiting, I would say being blessed with outstanding assistant coaches. Our assistant coaching staff, I think, is second to none in the country. Football is a lot different than many of the other sports (in that) the head coach simply can't do it all. Can't even come close to doing it all. You've got to rely on the people you surround yourself with and fortunately, we've got really good people in this program. Not just assistant coaches, (people) at every level: strength coaches, athletic training room, it takes a small city to run a Division I football program. I think it's just the quality of the people we have in place, and the retention—being able to hang on to people and not have a lot of turnover."
Â
On the defense feeling prepared entering the game…
"I know the defense has played with a lot of confidence, really since last Spring. This Fall camp, they picked up where they left off in Spring. Even though we've got quite a few guys that are question marks right now on that side of the ball as well. Good depth, we believe we've got talented players at every level of the defense. It starts up front; we've got some really good players up front. We're going to need that depth throughout the course of the season. Unfortunately, we're going to have to call upon it right away, most likely. But we feel like we've recruited very well and put together a solid one through 85 roster. Hopefully that manifests."
Â
On what it means to having an SEC team in Florida coming to Rice-Eccles…
"I think it speaks to our national brand. We're certainly in a different place now than we were even 10 years ago, certainly 20 or 30 years ago. I think it's night and day if you go back that far. A team like Florida, they don't leave Florida hardly ever for a non-conference game, if ever. It's been a lot of years; I couldn't give you the exact detail. But that just tells you that we're in a place program-wise—not where we want to be—but that we've made great strides and inroads into our national brand. It's still a work in progress, but that doesn't happen if our brand hasn't strengthened throughout the years."
Â
On Florida quarterback Graham Mertz…
"Good player. A lot different style than the quarterback we faced last year. (Anthony) Richardson is a guy that is a tremendous athlete, really willing to run the football any chance he could. (Mertz) is more of a thrower, more stay in the pocket. Not that he's not capable of moving around and extending plays, but he's quite a bit different than what we faced last year."
Â
On the kicking situation…
"I would say the comfort level has certainly gone up. I would say, if we can be 80% or better from 45 yards and in, that's kind of our barometer. We have been there throughout the course of scrimmages and live work. But that's got to translate into the game. Our kicker, Cole Becker, was exactly that at Colorado; 80%-plus at those distances. We'll have to see when the opportunities arise if we can convert. But so far, it's been very good throughout practice and throughout Spring ball.
Â
"And the punting has been solid. As I've mentioned, Jack Bouwmeester seems to get better and better every time he goes out there. His leg is stronger now than it's been at any point since he's been here. So we're hoping he's able to translate that to the game field as well."
Â
On the QB2 battle between Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson…
"Very close, it still is. Nate has really closed the gap. You've got to weigh everything; you've got Barnes who won the Washington State game (in 2022) and performed very well in the Ohio State game (in the Rose Bowl). Nate has done well in the limited reps he's gotten, but it hasn't been extensive. There's a lot of, I don't want to say guesswork, but you've got to project. You will see Nate Johnson in this game no matter what happens."
Â
Does the game plan change depending who the quarterback is?
"It changes fairly significantly. Nate is obviously a tremendous athlete, we've talked about his speed and what he brings to the table with running the football. Whereas Bryson is more in the pocket and operating from there. And then Cam has both. If Cam's available, he's the guy that can make the yards and extend when he needs to with his legs, and throw the ball exceptionally well. It does change (the game plan), particularly between Bryson and Nate."
Â
On listing Spencer Fano as the starting left tackle…
"He has gotten better and better since he arrived on campus in the Spring. He's gotten bigger; he was a little undersized when we first got him, in the mid-280s (pounds). I think I mentioned last week, he's over 300 now, which is where he needed to get. He simply was the best performer. It's not very common to have your left tackle be a true freshman. But he is talented enough and has performed well enough against really good players. It's not like he's going against average Joe's. He's got Jonah Elliss, Logan Fano, Van Fillinger; those are quality defensive ends and he's held his own versus those guys."
Â
On the running backs room bringing more experience this year…
"I'd say the depth is probably equal (to last year) but the experience is what makes it a better situation. I don't think we have any more guys than what we had last year. But the guys we do have are guys that we're counting on and are all one year more experienced. Ja'Quinden Jackson, of course, went from having no experience and he got thrust into (playing running back) last year, and has a whole year under his belt of playing nothing but running back. So he's obviously much more comfortable. Jaylon Glover was one of our most improved players in Spring ball and did a good job in Fall camp. Micah Bernard, we all know what he brings to the table. It's a more talented room than last year because of the experience factor."
Â
On the differences in a season opener with a Power Five opponent…
"There's definite pros and cons. The pros of opening up with a game like this, as I mentioned, it gets your players' attention right away. There's no easing into the season. You've got to be ready from the onset. You're not going to be able to have the luxury, most likely, of looking at a bunch of players and getting some guys reps that you hope to see get into the game. There's none of that. It's essentially like a conference game; that kind of mentality and that kind of feel to it."
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.
Â
Â
Selected quotes from Coach Whittingham can be seen below.
Â
Opening Statement
"I want to start out by saying we're addressing the horrific situation in Maui and we're trying to help out as best we can there. The Sape Foundation is going to spearhead the efforts for us…whatever we can do to help those people. It's so tragic and just awful. We're going to make it a priority for us to be at the forefront of that and do what we can do. The Sape Foundation is the lead group on this. Any assistance on getting the word out would be great.
Â
"Football-wise, new year. It's here. It seems like it comes faster every year; Florida Gators coming to our place. First time with an SEC team coming to Salt Lake City, so groundbreaking in that respect. Second game of a home-and-home with the Gators. We all know what happened last year, came out on the short end. They played well and we didn't. Hopefully we'll play better this year. It's a big challenge for our program, for our team. [Florida] is outstanding as far as their personnel and SEC talent across the board; just what you'd expect for a team like Florida. So we've got to bring our A-game without a doubt. We're still unsure on some things. It's a challenge to have the depth chart a week out when you still have so many guys that are questionable, so we did the best we could with that. But a lot of that is still in flux today, and we play in three days. So we'll just have to see how that shakes out. I don't have anything to add or elaborate on with the depth chart; we just have to wait and see on some guys and see who's available and who's not.
Â
"Excited to get the season underway. Typically when you have an opener like this it gets your players' attention. It has gotten their attention for the last several months."
Â
On what he attributes the program's success to over the years…
"Besides recruiting, recruiting and recruiting, I would say being blessed with outstanding assistant coaches. Our assistant coaching staff, I think, is second to none in the country. Football is a lot different than many of the other sports (in that) the head coach simply can't do it all. Can't even come close to doing it all. You've got to rely on the people you surround yourself with and fortunately, we've got really good people in this program. Not just assistant coaches, (people) at every level: strength coaches, athletic training room, it takes a small city to run a Division I football program. I think it's just the quality of the people we have in place, and the retention—being able to hang on to people and not have a lot of turnover."
Â
On the defense feeling prepared entering the game…
"I know the defense has played with a lot of confidence, really since last Spring. This Fall camp, they picked up where they left off in Spring. Even though we've got quite a few guys that are question marks right now on that side of the ball as well. Good depth, we believe we've got talented players at every level of the defense. It starts up front; we've got some really good players up front. We're going to need that depth throughout the course of the season. Unfortunately, we're going to have to call upon it right away, most likely. But we feel like we've recruited very well and put together a solid one through 85 roster. Hopefully that manifests."
Â
On what it means to having an SEC team in Florida coming to Rice-Eccles…
"I think it speaks to our national brand. We're certainly in a different place now than we were even 10 years ago, certainly 20 or 30 years ago. I think it's night and day if you go back that far. A team like Florida, they don't leave Florida hardly ever for a non-conference game, if ever. It's been a lot of years; I couldn't give you the exact detail. But that just tells you that we're in a place program-wise—not where we want to be—but that we've made great strides and inroads into our national brand. It's still a work in progress, but that doesn't happen if our brand hasn't strengthened throughout the years."
Â
On Florida quarterback Graham Mertz…
"Good player. A lot different style than the quarterback we faced last year. (Anthony) Richardson is a guy that is a tremendous athlete, really willing to run the football any chance he could. (Mertz) is more of a thrower, more stay in the pocket. Not that he's not capable of moving around and extending plays, but he's quite a bit different than what we faced last year."
Â
On the kicking situation…
"I would say the comfort level has certainly gone up. I would say, if we can be 80% or better from 45 yards and in, that's kind of our barometer. We have been there throughout the course of scrimmages and live work. But that's got to translate into the game. Our kicker, Cole Becker, was exactly that at Colorado; 80%-plus at those distances. We'll have to see when the opportunities arise if we can convert. But so far, it's been very good throughout practice and throughout Spring ball.
Â
"And the punting has been solid. As I've mentioned, Jack Bouwmeester seems to get better and better every time he goes out there. His leg is stronger now than it's been at any point since he's been here. So we're hoping he's able to translate that to the game field as well."
Â
On the QB2 battle between Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson…
"Very close, it still is. Nate has really closed the gap. You've got to weigh everything; you've got Barnes who won the Washington State game (in 2022) and performed very well in the Ohio State game (in the Rose Bowl). Nate has done well in the limited reps he's gotten, but it hasn't been extensive. There's a lot of, I don't want to say guesswork, but you've got to project. You will see Nate Johnson in this game no matter what happens."
Â
Does the game plan change depending who the quarterback is?
"It changes fairly significantly. Nate is obviously a tremendous athlete, we've talked about his speed and what he brings to the table with running the football. Whereas Bryson is more in the pocket and operating from there. And then Cam has both. If Cam's available, he's the guy that can make the yards and extend when he needs to with his legs, and throw the ball exceptionally well. It does change (the game plan), particularly between Bryson and Nate."
Â
On listing Spencer Fano as the starting left tackle…
"He has gotten better and better since he arrived on campus in the Spring. He's gotten bigger; he was a little undersized when we first got him, in the mid-280s (pounds). I think I mentioned last week, he's over 300 now, which is where he needed to get. He simply was the best performer. It's not very common to have your left tackle be a true freshman. But he is talented enough and has performed well enough against really good players. It's not like he's going against average Joe's. He's got Jonah Elliss, Logan Fano, Van Fillinger; those are quality defensive ends and he's held his own versus those guys."
Â
On the running backs room bringing more experience this year…
"I'd say the depth is probably equal (to last year) but the experience is what makes it a better situation. I don't think we have any more guys than what we had last year. But the guys we do have are guys that we're counting on and are all one year more experienced. Ja'Quinden Jackson, of course, went from having no experience and he got thrust into (playing running back) last year, and has a whole year under his belt of playing nothing but running back. So he's obviously much more comfortable. Jaylon Glover was one of our most improved players in Spring ball and did a good job in Fall camp. Micah Bernard, we all know what he brings to the table. It's a more talented room than last year because of the experience factor."
Â
On the differences in a season opener with a Power Five opponent…
"There's definite pros and cons. The pros of opening up with a game like this, as I mentioned, it gets your players' attention right away. There's no easing into the season. You've got to be ready from the onset. You're not going to be able to have the luxury, most likely, of looking at a bunch of players and getting some guys reps that you hope to see get into the game. There's none of that. It's essentially like a conference game; that kind of mentality and that kind of feel to it."
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.
Â
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
K
/ Football
RB
/ Football
P
/ Football
DE
/ Football
DE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DE
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballUtah vs. Kansas State | POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Saturday, November 22
Head Coach Kyle Whittingham weekly press conference - 11.17.25
Monday, November 17
Utah: 55, Baylor: 28 | POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Sunday, November 16
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Baylor's John Morris & Utah Track & Field Head Coach Kyle Kepler
Wednesday, November 12