Photo by: Liv Medivitz/Utah Athletics
Camp Kyle 2024: It’s Here!
7/29/2024 5:44 PM | Football
Utes off and running with first practice in the books
SALT LAKE CITY – We. Are. Back!
The Utah Football team took to the field on Monday outside the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center, for the first practice of Fall camp. The Utes were in shells for today's drills—full gear practices will come soon—but nevertheless, the vibes were high as players brought the energy, physicality and grit.
"We had a great Summer, first of all," said head coach Kyle Whittingham. "The players had a lot of player-run practices, and that showed up today. It was pretty smooth, given that it was the first day out. The execution was pretty good. Today was mainly assignment football, but about what we expected for the first day. It was good. Solid day."
A solid core of veterans return throughout all three phases—including five All-Conference performers from the 2023 season. Whittingham estimated about a third of the team to be new this season, with that group now settling in to life as a Ute and continuing to learn the Utah Way. The latter will pan out thanks largely to the player-led leadership that has been a hallmark of the program for years now.
"(The leadership) cannot be overstated; it's absolutely critical," Whittingham said. "If you've got no leadership, you're going to be a bad team. If you have coach leadership, you're going to be OK. If you have player leadership, you're going to have a chance to be great. That's what we talk about constantly here is having the players own the program and having a player-run program, in a positive way. We've got plenty of good leaders here and we expect that to be the case this year."
Today's practice was another step in beginning a new era of Utah Football with the Utes set to begin their first season in the Big 12 Conference. Voted by the media as the league's preseason favorite, the Utes kick off the season on Thursday night, August 29, when the team hosts Southern Utah inside Rice-Eccles Stadium.
It'll mark Whittingham's 20th season at the helm, where he has become the winningest leader in program history with 162 victories.
Watch List Season Underway
A pair of Utes were named to preseason watch lists on Monday as Cameron Rising was placed on the Maxwell Award Watch List, while snapper JT Greep was one of 30 players nationally at his position tabbed to the Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List.
For a running tally of Utah's preseason, in-season and postseason award recipients, click here.
Quotables
Senior Tight End Brant Kuithe
What did you do to make the most of a year without games?
"I learned a lot mentally and got back physically. The best part was regaining the love of football again and gaining a new appreciation of being out here and playing football."
On the eagerness to get back out there on the field…
"I was doing that during spring ball, but today, I got hit a little bit and it felt nice. We're not even in pads yet. I'm just excited and can't wait for the first game. Today was a good day and we just have to keep stacking them."
On being back around familiar faces…
"It's great and its basically a whole new team, which is crazy. It's a fun new experience and I'm excited for the challenge that's ahead."
Senior Quarterback Cameron Rising
On day one…
"It was fun. It was good to be back with the team. Everybody looks good and is flying around. Still some stuff to clean up, but it's just the first day."
On the game coming back to him…
"Still kind of getting it back. I definitely feel 100%; just trying to make sure I get some more cuts and stuff at high speeds."
On helping the guys behind him in the QB room…
"I always try to help the guys. I was talking to Sam Huard today about some looks, and helping him understand what we want to get done. It fired me up how fast he was able to learn and apply it to today's practice. Any way I can help (the other guys), any questions they have, I'm going to try to answer. If I don't know the answer, I'll try and figure out the answer through the coaches."
On film of new opponents throughout the Big 12…
"(I've watched) a good amount. I always love to just check in…We've got some game film that we'll be able to watch. We like to watch that. New teams and some new players to watch."
FOLLOW UTAH FOOTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Follow along with behind the scenes content and coverage throughout the season on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
The Utah Football team took to the field on Monday outside the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center, for the first practice of Fall camp. The Utes were in shells for today's drills—full gear practices will come soon—but nevertheless, the vibes were high as players brought the energy, physicality and grit.
"We had a great Summer, first of all," said head coach Kyle Whittingham. "The players had a lot of player-run practices, and that showed up today. It was pretty smooth, given that it was the first day out. The execution was pretty good. Today was mainly assignment football, but about what we expected for the first day. It was good. Solid day."
Welcome back, fellas ?? pic.twitter.com/RFSd2S0Tvk
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) July 29, 2024
A solid core of veterans return throughout all three phases—including five All-Conference performers from the 2023 season. Whittingham estimated about a third of the team to be new this season, with that group now settling in to life as a Ute and continuing to learn the Utah Way. The latter will pan out thanks largely to the player-led leadership that has been a hallmark of the program for years now.
"(The leadership) cannot be overstated; it's absolutely critical," Whittingham said. "If you've got no leadership, you're going to be a bad team. If you have coach leadership, you're going to be OK. If you have player leadership, you're going to have a chance to be great. That's what we talk about constantly here is having the players own the program and having a player-run program, in a positive way. We've got plenty of good leaders here and we expect that to be the case this year."
Today's practice was another step in beginning a new era of Utah Football with the Utes set to begin their first season in the Big 12 Conference. Voted by the media as the league's preseason favorite, the Utes kick off the season on Thursday night, August 29, when the team hosts Southern Utah inside Rice-Eccles Stadium.
It'll mark Whittingham's 20th season at the helm, where he has become the winningest leader in program history with 162 victories.
Watch List Season Underway
A pair of Utes were named to preseason watch lists on Monday as Cameron Rising was placed on the Maxwell Award Watch List, while snapper JT Greep was one of 30 players nationally at his position tabbed to the Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List.
For a running tally of Utah's preseason, in-season and postseason award recipients, click here.
.@crising7 has been named to the 2024 Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List. The @MaxwellFootball Award is presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football.
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) July 29, 2024
??: https://t.co/7gBDHWnsRQ #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/m8JRILxvWc
.@jtgreep has been named to the Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List. The award is given annually to the best long snapper in FBS football.
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) July 29, 2024
??: https://t.co/UqgE7ZS1xn#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/8HKYezzc65
Quotables
Senior Tight End Brant Kuithe
What did you do to make the most of a year without games?
"I learned a lot mentally and got back physically. The best part was regaining the love of football again and gaining a new appreciation of being out here and playing football."
On the eagerness to get back out there on the field…
"I was doing that during spring ball, but today, I got hit a little bit and it felt nice. We're not even in pads yet. I'm just excited and can't wait for the first game. Today was a good day and we just have to keep stacking them."
On being back around familiar faces…
"It's great and its basically a whole new team, which is crazy. It's a fun new experience and I'm excited for the challenge that's ahead."
Senior Quarterback Cameron Rising
On day one…
"It was fun. It was good to be back with the team. Everybody looks good and is flying around. Still some stuff to clean up, but it's just the first day."
On the game coming back to him…
"Still kind of getting it back. I definitely feel 100%; just trying to make sure I get some more cuts and stuff at high speeds."
On helping the guys behind him in the QB room…
"I always try to help the guys. I was talking to Sam Huard today about some looks, and helping him understand what we want to get done. It fired me up how fast he was able to learn and apply it to today's practice. Any way I can help (the other guys), any questions they have, I'm going to try to answer. If I don't know the answer, I'll try and figure out the answer through the coaches."
On film of new opponents throughout the Big 12…
"(I've watched) a good amount. I always love to just check in…We've got some game film that we'll be able to watch. We like to watch that. New teams and some new players to watch."
FOLLOW UTAH FOOTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Follow along with behind the scenes content and coverage throughout the season on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
All gas, no brakes. ??#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/8eBu9zckgf
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) July 28, 2024
Players Mentioned
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