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The University of Utah Athletics
Photo by: Eli Rehmer/Utah Athletics
2023 Camp Kyle: Hear it From the Players (Week 2)
8/9/2023 5:25 PM | Football
Utes practiced inside Rice-Eccles Stadium on Wednesday afternoon
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah Football team shifted the stage inside Rice-Eccles Stadium for practice on Wednesday, giving some of the Utes' newcomers their first taste of RES while getting the returners back inside the home of 76 straight gameday sellouts.
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With 22 days remaining until the squad's season opener against the Florida Gators, growth from a year ago is clear among the veterans in the locker room. The newest members of the team continue to take in the playbook and are making strides on and off the field each day.
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"Mostly the speed of the game and the reads are starting to slow down for me," said linebacker Lander Barton of year one to year two. "It's a big help being out there, because there's a lot of reads you have to make at linebacker. To be able to slow that down, it's been good."
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Barton continued, "I'm just going to do my job. As Coach Scalley preaches, and Coach Whitt, we need to take care of our 20 square feet. I'm going to go out there and do what I'm expected to do. Hopefully that's good enough."
Several Utes met with the local media this week to check up on how things are progressing in the 2023 edition of Camp Kyle.
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HEAR IT FROM THE PLAYERS
Lander Barton | So. | LB
On being more comfortable going into his sophomore season…
"(I'm a) completely different person. It feels way different being out there now."
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Miles Battle | Sr. | CB
How are things different now than the Spring?
"Fall is a lot more focused on the plan we've got ahead. We've got games now, it's not just going against each other. We've got games we've got to prepare for in the future, so it's a lot more game preparation."
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On learning new aspects of the game and differences in play at Utah…
"Here, we run a lot more man coverage, so it's a lot more running across the field, traveling with receivers. Where I came from, we were running more zone concepts like cover-4 and cover-3. (I'm learning) being able to play man longer…That was a big reason why I came here, was to play a lot of man and show that I can do that at the next level."
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On the secondary as a group…
"We're headed in the right direction. We've got a lot of chemistry with each other already. The communication's been great, on and off the field. I think we're building a great unit."
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Mycah Pittman | Sr. | WR
On acclimating into the Utah offense…
"I've been a part of multiple offenses now…picking up a pro style offense is something I haven't done, but it's not something I can't do. I'm learning quickly and pretty easily as an older guy, being mature, being in the playbook and taking care of my body."
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On how this camp compares to others he's been through…
"Not being injured is something that's nice…every single year of my college career, unfortunately, has humbled me. I've been injured most of the time. It's finally nice to have a healed labrum, healed arm and a healed collarbone. It's great being able to be out here with the guys, competing and just practicing smarter. That comes with age."
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On who stands out to him in the wide receiver room…
"A lot of guys stand out. (Devaughn) Vele is Vele. The fact that he is such a big body and can move…he's agile and can easily move. That's really good. Mikey Matthews is a young guy who's learning. He's wanting to always get reps in the front. It's great that he's wanting to push himself to that. You always want that out of freshmen. We've got Money Parks, Money's a burner guy who can take it deep, especially if he wants to run. Everyone brings a different skillset. Makai Cope has one of the best releases I've seen from a big man. Vele's always going to make those contested catches. There's so many of these guys, Jett Meine's strong and knows when to get off the block."
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Emery Simmons | Sr. | WR
On Utah's pro style offense playing a role in his decision…
"That was one of the reasons why I came (to Utah), because I knew they ran the pro style offense. One of the next things I'd like to do, of course, is going to NFL. That's the main type of offense they run—why not come from somewhere where they run it and train in that environment?"
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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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With 22 days remaining until the squad's season opener against the Florida Gators, growth from a year ago is clear among the veterans in the locker room. The newest members of the team continue to take in the playbook and are making strides on and off the field each day.
Â
"Mostly the speed of the game and the reads are starting to slow down for me," said linebacker Lander Barton of year one to year two. "It's a big help being out there, because there's a lot of reads you have to make at linebacker. To be able to slow that down, it's been good."
Â
Barton continued, "I'm just going to do my job. As Coach Scalley preaches, and Coach Whitt, we need to take care of our 20 square feet. I'm going to go out there and do what I'm expected to do. Hopefully that's good enough."
ÂIt's just practice ?? pic.twitter.com/lFMyFScOnC
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 9, 2023
Several Utes met with the local media this week to check up on how things are progressing in the 2023 edition of Camp Kyle.
Â
HEAR IT FROM THE PLAYERS
Lander Barton | So. | LB
On being more comfortable going into his sophomore season…
"(I'm a) completely different person. It feels way different being out there now."
Â
Miles Battle | Sr. | CB
How are things different now than the Spring?
"Fall is a lot more focused on the plan we've got ahead. We've got games now, it's not just going against each other. We've got games we've got to prepare for in the future, so it's a lot more game preparation."
Â
On learning new aspects of the game and differences in play at Utah…
"Here, we run a lot more man coverage, so it's a lot more running across the field, traveling with receivers. Where I came from, we were running more zone concepts like cover-4 and cover-3. (I'm learning) being able to play man longer…That was a big reason why I came here, was to play a lot of man and show that I can do that at the next level."
Â
On the secondary as a group…
"We're headed in the right direction. We've got a lot of chemistry with each other already. The communication's been great, on and off the field. I think we're building a great unit."
Â
Mycah Pittman | Sr. | WR
On acclimating into the Utah offense…
"I've been a part of multiple offenses now…picking up a pro style offense is something I haven't done, but it's not something I can't do. I'm learning quickly and pretty easily as an older guy, being mature, being in the playbook and taking care of my body."
Â
On how this camp compares to others he's been through…
"Not being injured is something that's nice…every single year of my college career, unfortunately, has humbled me. I've been injured most of the time. It's finally nice to have a healed labrum, healed arm and a healed collarbone. It's great being able to be out here with the guys, competing and just practicing smarter. That comes with age."
Â
On who stands out to him in the wide receiver room…
"A lot of guys stand out. (Devaughn) Vele is Vele. The fact that he is such a big body and can move…he's agile and can easily move. That's really good. Mikey Matthews is a young guy who's learning. He's wanting to always get reps in the front. It's great that he's wanting to push himself to that. You always want that out of freshmen. We've got Money Parks, Money's a burner guy who can take it deep, especially if he wants to run. Everyone brings a different skillset. Makai Cope has one of the best releases I've seen from a big man. Vele's always going to make those contested catches. There's so many of these guys, Jett Meine's strong and knows when to get off the block."
Â
Emery Simmons | Sr. | WR
On Utah's pro style offense playing a role in his decision…
"That was one of the reasons why I came (to Utah), because I knew they ran the pro style offense. One of the next things I'd like to do, of course, is going to NFL. That's the main type of offense they run—why not come from somewhere where they run it and train in that environment?"
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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