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The University of Utah Athletics
Q&A with Utah Football's Jaren Kump
9/10/2024 2:00 PM | Football
Plus, some number crunching before the Utes pay a visit to the Aggies
SALT LAKE CITY – Through two games, the University of Utah football program has gotten its 2024 season off to a rousing start, trouncing the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, 49-0, and topping the Baylor Bears, 23-12, thanks in large part to an offense that's averaging better than 400 yards per game.
One of the players who's helped key Utah's offensive success has been senior center Jaren Kump, whose work in the trenches against the Bears assisted in paving the way for a 118-yard rushing performance by running back Micah Bernard.
UtahUtes.com spent a few minutes with Kump this week to talk about the offensive line's start to the season, what its been like handling the responsibilities of the center position and the LDS church mission he served in Brazil.
On the overall performance of the offensive line through two games…
I think we've done a lot of good things so far. I'm proud of the things we've done as an offensive line. I also think there are some things we need to improve on. There are some things we need to get comfortable in a little bit more. We have a great opportunity this week to be able to prepare for our next challenge this Saturday, but as of right now I do feel good and I do feel proud of the rest of the guys for what we've done.
On the keys the offensive line uses to measure progress each week…
A big part of what we measure is our production on the offense. Our bread and butter as an offensive line is we love running the ball. I think this last week we improved on rushing yards per play, on rushing yards in general, so I think that was an improvement from week one to week two. I also think we can improve a little on picking up different stunts and blitzes in our passing game and that's one thing where we're going to have to hit the film room, we're going to have to continue to build our chemistry and be able to pick those things up and recognize those things as they come.
On how meaningful it is to have the staff and teammates trust him to handle the responsibilities at the center position…
It builds my confidence. It builds my confidence to know that the coaches and the guys, they trust me to be able to take that lead and recognize defensive schemes and different defensive alignments and be able to make calls. It gives me confidence to know that and gives me the ability to play a little bit more freely because of that.
On the benefit of having continuity on the line…
It allows us to continue building that chemistry. I also think if we needed any other guy to step in, I feel very confident in any other guy who would have to step in. I think we've built chemistry not just with those other four guys, but I think we have good chemistry with all six guys in our offensive line travel squad. I feel confident with any of those guys and the other four guys as well.
On the lessons he learned while serving a mission in Brazil…
So Brazil, as many people can understand, is a very hot and humid place. The sun is always out. The place I was at, the nickname for it is "where the sun rises up first." Something I developed there is [the mentality] it's going to be hot, so what, it's going to be uncomfortable, so what. Learn to love, learn to embrace the uncomfortable and I definitely think that applies to football as well.
On if he ever uses the Portuguese he's learned to psych out an opponent…
I haven't yet, but I guess I could do that. In times past, in my tackle days, Cole Fotheringham served a mission in Nicaragua and sometimes he and I would speak Spanish to each other if we're making calls, but I haven't done that recently.
Crunchin' The Numbers
Stats to pass around with the pigskin during Saturday's tailgate...
162 – number of times Utah and Utah State have met prior to Saturday's showdown. The Utes own an overall edge of 79-29-4 in the series, including a 25-12 mark in Logan.
54 – receiving yards needed for tight end Brant Kuithe to reach 2,000 in his collegiate career. Kuithe would become just the second Utah tight end to reach that milestone, joining Dennis Smith, who was with the program from 1986 – 89, and the seventh Ute overall.
26 – consecutive games with a catch for wide receiver Money Parks. Parks totaled 80 receiving yards in Utah's win over Baylor, including a 28-yard touchdown grab that represented his first score of the year.
6 – average number of points per game surrendered by Utah so far in 2024. That average puts them at the top of the Big 12 Conference and seventh nationally.
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.
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock a refreshed game-day experience that offers access to news and information, schedules, rosters, stats and behind-the-scenes videos, and allows fans to buy and manage game tickets and order concessions straight from their mobile device. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready!
One of the players who's helped key Utah's offensive success has been senior center Jaren Kump, whose work in the trenches against the Bears assisted in paving the way for a 118-yard rushing performance by running back Micah Bernard.
UtahUtes.com spent a few minutes with Kump this week to talk about the offensive line's start to the season, what its been like handling the responsibilities of the center position and the LDS church mission he served in Brazil.
On the overall performance of the offensive line through two games…
I think we've done a lot of good things so far. I'm proud of the things we've done as an offensive line. I also think there are some things we need to improve on. There are some things we need to get comfortable in a little bit more. We have a great opportunity this week to be able to prepare for our next challenge this Saturday, but as of right now I do feel good and I do feel proud of the rest of the guys for what we've done.
On the keys the offensive line uses to measure progress each week…
A big part of what we measure is our production on the offense. Our bread and butter as an offensive line is we love running the ball. I think this last week we improved on rushing yards per play, on rushing yards in general, so I think that was an improvement from week one to week two. I also think we can improve a little on picking up different stunts and blitzes in our passing game and that's one thing where we're going to have to hit the film room, we're going to have to continue to build our chemistry and be able to pick those things up and recognize those things as they come.
On how meaningful it is to have the staff and teammates trust him to handle the responsibilities at the center position…
It builds my confidence. It builds my confidence to know that the coaches and the guys, they trust me to be able to take that lead and recognize defensive schemes and different defensive alignments and be able to make calls. It gives me confidence to know that and gives me the ability to play a little bit more freely because of that.
On the benefit of having continuity on the line…
It allows us to continue building that chemistry. I also think if we needed any other guy to step in, I feel very confident in any other guy who would have to step in. I think we've built chemistry not just with those other four guys, but I think we have good chemistry with all six guys in our offensive line travel squad. I feel confident with any of those guys and the other four guys as well.
On the lessons he learned while serving a mission in Brazil…
So Brazil, as many people can understand, is a very hot and humid place. The sun is always out. The place I was at, the nickname for it is "where the sun rises up first." Something I developed there is [the mentality] it's going to be hot, so what, it's going to be uncomfortable, so what. Learn to love, learn to embrace the uncomfortable and I definitely think that applies to football as well.
On if he ever uses the Portuguese he's learned to psych out an opponent…
I haven't yet, but I guess I could do that. In times past, in my tackle days, Cole Fotheringham served a mission in Nicaragua and sometimes he and I would speak Spanish to each other if we're making calls, but I haven't done that recently.
Crunchin' The Numbers
Stats to pass around with the pigskin during Saturday's tailgate...
162 – number of times Utah and Utah State have met prior to Saturday's showdown. The Utes own an overall edge of 79-29-4 in the series, including a 25-12 mark in Logan.
54 – receiving yards needed for tight end Brant Kuithe to reach 2,000 in his collegiate career. Kuithe would become just the second Utah tight end to reach that milestone, joining Dennis Smith, who was with the program from 1986 – 89, and the seventh Ute overall.
26 – consecutive games with a catch for wide receiver Money Parks. Parks totaled 80 receiving yards in Utah's win over Baylor, including a 28-yard touchdown grab that represented his first score of the year.
6 – average number of points per game surrendered by Utah so far in 2024. That average puts them at the top of the Big 12 Conference and seventh nationally.
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.
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock a refreshed game-day experience that offers access to news and information, schedules, rosters, stats and behind-the-scenes videos, and allows fans to buy and manage game tickets and order concessions straight from their mobile device. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready!
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