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The University of Utah Athletics
Back in Camp: Utah Football
8/3/2026 2:07 PM | Football
The Utes are back on the field preparing for the 2026 season
SALT LAKE CITY — Morgan Scalley's Utah football program was back on the field Monday morning at the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center, opening fall camp in preparation for the 2026 campaign.
With the season-opener vs. Idaho at Rice-Eccles Stadium just 31 days away, the Utes took the field in shells for the first of six acclimatization workouts before the full pads go on next week.
"Excited to be back, a ton of progress since the spring," Scalley said. "I love what I'm seeing in terms of the energy, the body compositions from the summer lifting and conditioning. Good first day. 12 periods, really not grueling, just trying to knock off the cobwebs a little bit, but excited to have these guys back."
The Utes return several veterans on both sides of the ball, including quarterbacks Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin, running back Wayshawn Parker, linebacker Johnathan Hall, safety Jackson Bennee and others, while Utah also welcomes several new faces who will look to help out when the team takes the field in September.
Scalley is set to enter his first season as head coach after 18 years on the coaching staff, including 10 as the Utes' defensive coordinator. Scalley lettered for the Utes from 2001-04 and was the 2004 Mountain West co-Defensive Player of the Year, a Second Team All-American by the Associated Press and SI.com and a unanimous First Team All-Conference safety.
Heard 'em Say
Quarterback Devon Dampier
On getting work with the receivers during the summer
"A lot of this offseason was me getting together with the receivers. We brought in so many new guys and they all have their own little spin to their routes and how they see things on the field. To get on the same page, that was something that was brought to my attention that I needed to do during the offseason. I thought we came out here and were able to showcase that."
Offensive lineman Alex Harrison
On the offensive line coming together
"We did a lot of hanging out together, being around each other, whether it is playing games in the players' lounge, watching film together or eating together. I think our summer training really brought us all together. It was a tough summer. It was really good work and it was hard and it brought us all together. I think that was one of the biggest things. We learned to struggle together and how to do hard things together."
On working with the strength and conditioning staff
"I think this was probably one of the biggest changes I've seen, at least for me. I know a couple guys in our room who put on 20 pounds of lean mass in two months. This has been probably one of the hardest summers when it comes to conditioning and weight lifting, but I think its one of the biggest jumps I've had since I got to college and I don't think I've ever felt better than I do right now."
Wide Receiver Braden Pegan
On who's improved the most in the wide receiver room
"Honestly, I think everybody has. It's been insane watching how deep the room is and how explosive everybody is. As a group, we're just trying to elevate every day, so its been fun."
FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
With the season-opener vs. Idaho at Rice-Eccles Stadium just 31 days away, the Utes took the field in shells for the first of six acclimatization workouts before the full pads go on next week.
Scenes from Day 1??#GoUtes | #RSNB pic.twitter.com/hdoEfigTbm
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 3, 2026
"Excited to be back, a ton of progress since the spring," Scalley said. "I love what I'm seeing in terms of the energy, the body compositions from the summer lifting and conditioning. Good first day. 12 periods, really not grueling, just trying to knock off the cobwebs a little bit, but excited to have these guys back."
Back like we never left#GoUtes | #RSNB pic.twitter.com/QvWJsR3CDp
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 3, 2026
The Utes return several veterans on both sides of the ball, including quarterbacks Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin, running back Wayshawn Parker, linebacker Johnathan Hall, safety Jackson Bennee and others, while Utah also welcomes several new faces who will look to help out when the team takes the field in September.
Fall camp starts ?????? ??#GoUtes | #RSNB pic.twitter.com/4lryMgvoen
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 3, 2026
Scalley is set to enter his first season as head coach after 18 years on the coaching staff, including 10 as the Utes' defensive coordinator. Scalley lettered for the Utes from 2001-04 and was the 2004 Mountain West co-Defensive Player of the Year, a Second Team All-American by the Associated Press and SI.com and a unanimous First Team All-Conference safety.
DAY 1?? FOOTBALL IS BACK??#GoUtes | #RSNB pic.twitter.com/8Fq40wFCVx
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 3, 2026
Heard 'em Say
Quarterback Devon Dampier
On getting work with the receivers during the summer
"A lot of this offseason was me getting together with the receivers. We brought in so many new guys and they all have their own little spin to their routes and how they see things on the field. To get on the same page, that was something that was brought to my attention that I needed to do during the offseason. I thought we came out here and were able to showcase that."
Offensive lineman Alex Harrison
On the offensive line coming together
"We did a lot of hanging out together, being around each other, whether it is playing games in the players' lounge, watching film together or eating together. I think our summer training really brought us all together. It was a tough summer. It was really good work and it was hard and it brought us all together. I think that was one of the biggest things. We learned to struggle together and how to do hard things together."
On working with the strength and conditioning staff
"I think this was probably one of the biggest changes I've seen, at least for me. I know a couple guys in our room who put on 20 pounds of lean mass in two months. This has been probably one of the hardest summers when it comes to conditioning and weight lifting, but I think its one of the biggest jumps I've had since I got to college and I don't think I've ever felt better than I do right now."
Wide Receiver Braden Pegan
On who's improved the most in the wide receiver room
"Honestly, I think everybody has. It's been insane watching how deep the room is and how explosive everybody is. As a group, we're just trying to elevate every day, so its been fun."
FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
Players Mentioned
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