Camp Kyle 2024: What Whittingham Sees

Utah Utes Football 2024-25 Fall Camp in Salt Lake City, UT on Wednesday, August 07, 2024.
Liv Medivitz/Utah Athletics

Cornerbacks coach Sharrieff Shah, left, working with sophomore Smith Snowden, right.

Photo by: Liv Medivitz/Utah Athletics

8/12/2024 2:24 PM | Football

Several position battles beginning to see separation in Week 3

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Football team is just over two weeks away from its season opener against Southern Utah, and as the Utes continue to bring the physicality and energy to the field each day as camp progresses.

The Utes had their first scrimmage of camp last Thursday and head coach Kyle Whittingham liked what he saw in his team. While position battles are beginning to see some separation and roles become defined, growth and improvement are a constant throughout the roster from day one of camp through today.

"The scrimmage was really good," said Whittingham. "The best part of it was that nobody went down with an injury. So that was a positive. We found out a lot about where the new guys are going to fit, where we are as a team, and what our deficiencies are. Everything that you hope to find out in a scrimmage, we found out.

"Now it's a matter of working on the things we need to work on and getting the right people in the lineup. We're almost to the two-week mark (from the SUU game), so it's getting close. We have to start honing in on the travel squad, knowing who's in what roles for the Fall."

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On Monday after practice, Whittingham shared with the local media that freshman Isaac Wilson has been named to the No. 2 quarterback spot, behind Cameron Rising. The Draper, Utah, native arrived on campus as a four-star recruit according to 247Sports.

Whittingham added, "Isaac is continuing to get better each day. He is seeing the field better and making better decisions. He has a live arm; the ball comes out of his hand like it's supposed to. He's very mobile, and that's another facet that is another strength of his—having escapability in the pocket. He senses the rush very well, and is able to get himself out of jams and still make a play on the move."

The Utah-SUU game on Thursday, August 29, is set for a 7 p.m. MT kickoff inside Rice-Eccles Stadium.

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More on What Whittingham Sees…
Who else is standing out on offense?
"Dorian Singer is doing a great job at wide receiver. We've got six tight ends that are in the mix right now; Brant Kuithe, Dallen Bentley, Carsen Ryan, Landen King, Caleb Lohner—(Lohner) is doing a great job and is really ahead of the curve of where we expected. And Miki Suguturaga might be our most consistent tight end. He's been night and day, never misses. He's a complete tight end; he can block, he can catch, he can do it all. We're very pleased with his progress."

On the running back room…
"We're seeing pretty much what we saw at the beginning (of camp). Not a lot of separation. I would say if there has been separation, Micah Bernard, Mike Mitchell and Jaylon Glover are the first three, and not necessarily in that order. But all three of those guys are doing a nice job. Then you've got Hunter Andrews, Charlie Vincent and Dijon Stanley in that next group of three."

How much install is still happening versus opponent-specific prep?
"The install is starting to slow down; there's still some left. Then when you hone in on opponents, you have a special set of plays for that team, some of which will be brand new. But for right now, I would say 80% of the install is done and it's just a few odds and ends left."

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