Camp Kyle 2024: Coordinator Corner

Morgan Scalley and Andy Ludwig - 2024 camp

Camp is on the home stretch for the Utes, with Morgan Scalley (left, defense) and Andy Ludwig (right, offense) getting their groups ready for August 29.

8/16/2024 3:05 PM | Football

Camp winds down as Utes prepare to enter in-season schedule

SALT LAKE CITY – Fall Camp is on the home stretch for the Utah Football team, meaning its almost time for fans to get ready for gameday and fire up the grills.

The Utes, too, are counting down, with 13 days separating the team from its season opener under the lights against Southern Utah. Kickoff inside Rice-Eccles Stadium is set for 7 p.m. MT on Thursday, August 29.

But first things first: the Utes have a few more practices before taking Monday off to get settled in with the start of school. From there, Kyle Whittingham's team will move into its in-season schedule.

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Roles are taking shape throughout the position groups, and on Friday both offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig and defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley visited with the media to share what they've seen throughout camp.

Quotables
Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Andy Ludwig
On the state of the offense…
"After 14 days of work, I'm very confident in the trajectory of the offense right now. In no way, shape or form are we comfortable with where we are, but I've seen major improvements all across the board with each position group and anxious to get into this little three-day period before school starts. We've got a lot of work to do, but again, confident in what I'm seeing on the practice field right now."

On what makes him confident in the offense…
"We're getting better every day. Individually, collectively. Each guy shows improvement in an area and in football and in life, you identify one problem and get it corrected and then another problem shows up, so you just keep working through that process."

On how the offense has been doing in the red zone…
"This team has a chance to be very dynamic in the red zone. We have historically been good in the red zone, in the red area. We'll give it a lot of work tomorrow as a red zone day. Today is more of a move the ball in the middle of the field, so we'll continue to address that situation as you get into specific game week preparation, that becomes a Wednesday, Thursday practice day. That gets a lot of attention, we've got a lot playmakers and we've got to put the ball in the end zone."

On Caleb Lohner turning into a good football player and tight end…
"He is all of the above. Now, you talk about a guy who learns something new every day, something that you know very well that is new to a guy in his 15th football practice maybe ever, but with his athleticism and his range, he's got excellent ball skills. We are force feeding that young man early. Early in camp, he was drinking water through a fire hose. It's gone down to a trickle, so he's doing a good job assimilating all that information, but his growth and development is a big part of our focus in this little three-day segment as we move forward into game prep."

Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach Morgan Scalley
On rebuilding at safety, following Cole Bishop and Sione Vaki moving onto the NFL…
"It's going very well. Guys that have had some experience—Tao Johnson at nickel—have progressed quite well. The physical aspect is something he's had to get used to, but he's put on the weight and looking really good. Nate Ritchie is someone who's already started for us; Johnathan Hall had meaningful time last year for us. Rabbit Evans has made a ton of progress. Alaka'i Gilman is a high-IQ football player. We've got five guys vying for two sports and I feel really good about where we're at. Not comfortable enough to say we've named two starters yet, but I'm excited about those five."

On Kenan Johnson's impact…
"The biggest thing with Kenan is he brings that experience and accumulated reps at the corner position. Great quickness and recovery speed…for the most part, he's looking like he can be that guy opposite Zemaiah Vaughn.

"In terms of my (initial) meeting with him, he wanted a program that was going to be able to continue to develop him, but also an opportunity to play right away. We don't give out promises, so he knew coming in that he was going to have to compete for that spot. And he's still working to compete for that spot. I love what he brings to the table. But I think our culture and what we do defensively, a lot of that played into (Johnson choosing Utah) and obviously his relationship with Coach Shah."

On depth at linebacker…
"The best two will play in nickel and the best three will play in 4-3. Right now, Lander Barton and Karene Reid have the two spots solidified. Sione Fotu has been a very good player for us in 4-3. Everyone knows that when you're part of a good football team, not everyone's going to start. Colton Swan has done a nice job with that room, developing those guys and helping them understand that only two to three can play at one time."

Will anything defensively be different in the Big 12?
"Our priority has always been to stop the run first, and if we can do that, you force teams to throw a little more. There are some very good running backs in this league and some very good offensive lines. But we feel like we stack up well in that category, the physical component of what we do defensively. There are different offenses that we'll face; (each team) will bring something different each week. Just like the Pac-12, you've got to be multiple in what you do. You've seen us play 4-3, nickel, some dime, some three safety packages. And we've got good enough players to be able to do it."

What makes the defensive culture at Utah so special?
"It's something we harp on every day. Culture is what you believe, how you behave and the experiences delivered by that behavior. The experience that (the players) get is awesome…They're held accountable, but they also know we love them. So much goes into that in terms of not only teaching them how to become a better football player, but a better person."

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