Upcoming Event: Track & Field versus NCAA First Round on May 28, 2026
Track & Field
vs NCAA First Round
The University of Utah Athletics
QUOTES FROM KYLE WHITTINGHAM’S WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE
On the availability of Marcus Williams, Sam Tevi, Harrison Handley and Cory Butler-Byrd
We’re just hoping they are available. It could go right down to the wire on all of them. I’m pretty confident that Marcus will play and Cory as well. Still, we are three days out and can’t say anything definitively
On who will start at center
Still up in the air. Lo is practicing and we will go with who has the best week of practice in total. We still have a couple more days to go but both are in the mix
On what their plan of attack is against ASU
The first thing we have to do is handle their blitz packages. That’s their modus operandi. If you can’t handle it you will struggle. So the main thing is blocking the run game or protecting the quarterback. Handling their pressure, that’s key for them
On how the bye week was used
I think we got a lot accomplished in a couple respects. We got some guys rested and some players some down time. Injury wise, hopefully we get a few guys back. We got some recruiting done with the assistant coaches so we got a lot done on the bye week
On being prepared for signal stealing
The onus is on us to have a system in place that doesn’t allow for that. If you’re tipping your hand with signals, formations, personnel groups you have to be wary of all that. It’s not their job to not get an edge we have to keep them from getting an edge. That’s how it is
On making sure the players maintain their focus
It’s not hard at all because it boils down to a three-game season and you have to take them one at a time. All the focus is on ASU. It’s great to be in the hunt come November and our guys understand that. We have their full attention for certain
On what Joe Williams’ return means
It means so much to us, the team, the running game and he has been a great story for what he’s done for us the last couple games. I’m proud of him and it’s great to have him back. He’s done a great job
On what ASU’s defense does well
It goes back to the blitz packages. It’s a lot of feast or famine run. When you’re stacking the box and bringing five or six defenders a lot of the time, it lends itself to knocking out the run game. There are so many guys to block up front and in recent years they’ve been at the top when it comes to run defense
On whether playing time for younger players factors into game decisions
Not really. We do everything we can to win right now. If we can get guys opportunities in the complexion of the game, then you do that. We are not concerned with anything but this year. There’s turnover every year. That’s the nature of college football. You lose a senior class and as they’re walking out the door you’re looking at how you’re going to replace them but you always find a way
On working to correct pre-snap penalties
We simulate stemming every practice and that’s something that has been problematic this year, more so in certain week than others. Something that happens every week is moving the defensive line and trying to replicate what we’ll see in games. We’ve done a better job handling it but we have a ways to go.
On maintaining a balance against a team that’s slanted to stop the run
You have to adjust and can’t beat your head into the wall running into eight and nine-man fronts. The offense has to take what the defense is giving you and you try to strike a balance. If they’re so skewed one way or the other you have to make adjustments. This week it will be tough to run the football because they load the box. We have to be able to throw the ball effectively
On the difference between Evan Moeai and Handley
Evan has done some really great things for us this year. He was on the shelf for some time. He’s banged up a little bit. He is a very reliable receiver and does a nice job in the run game. Harrison is more physical in the run game. He can block things up. They’ve both been big parts of our offense. We haven’t had Harrison the last couple week. They complement one another and they’re different types of players. Harrison has more size, 6-5, 250, and Evan is a little undersized, more of an H-back. They both bring different things to the table and have made big contributions
On Troy Williams dealing with blitzes
He’s done a nice job of standing in there making the right reads. Our offensive line has done a nice job picking up blitzes. This will be our biggest test of the season this week in that regard.
On Zack Moss
Zack is about 100 percent, if not, he’s very close. Joe is the primary ball carrier and if Zack can supplement and take some of the workload, great, but Joe is our guy.
We’re just hoping they are available. It could go right down to the wire on all of them. I’m pretty confident that Marcus will play and Cory as well. Still, we are three days out and can’t say anything definitively
On who will start at center
Still up in the air. Lo is practicing and we will go with who has the best week of practice in total. We still have a couple more days to go but both are in the mix
On what their plan of attack is against ASU
The first thing we have to do is handle their blitz packages. That’s their modus operandi. If you can’t handle it you will struggle. So the main thing is blocking the run game or protecting the quarterback. Handling their pressure, that’s key for them
On how the bye week was used
I think we got a lot accomplished in a couple respects. We got some guys rested and some players some down time. Injury wise, hopefully we get a few guys back. We got some recruiting done with the assistant coaches so we got a lot done on the bye week
On being prepared for signal stealing
The onus is on us to have a system in place that doesn’t allow for that. If you’re tipping your hand with signals, formations, personnel groups you have to be wary of all that. It’s not their job to not get an edge we have to keep them from getting an edge. That’s how it is
On making sure the players maintain their focus
It’s not hard at all because it boils down to a three-game season and you have to take them one at a time. All the focus is on ASU. It’s great to be in the hunt come November and our guys understand that. We have their full attention for certain
On what Joe Williams’ return means
It means so much to us, the team, the running game and he has been a great story for what he’s done for us the last couple games. I’m proud of him and it’s great to have him back. He’s done a great job
On what ASU’s defense does well
It goes back to the blitz packages. It’s a lot of feast or famine run. When you’re stacking the box and bringing five or six defenders a lot of the time, it lends itself to knocking out the run game. There are so many guys to block up front and in recent years they’ve been at the top when it comes to run defense
On whether playing time for younger players factors into game decisions
Not really. We do everything we can to win right now. If we can get guys opportunities in the complexion of the game, then you do that. We are not concerned with anything but this year. There’s turnover every year. That’s the nature of college football. You lose a senior class and as they’re walking out the door you’re looking at how you’re going to replace them but you always find a way
On working to correct pre-snap penalties
We simulate stemming every practice and that’s something that has been problematic this year, more so in certain week than others. Something that happens every week is moving the defensive line and trying to replicate what we’ll see in games. We’ve done a better job handling it but we have a ways to go.
On maintaining a balance against a team that’s slanted to stop the run
You have to adjust and can’t beat your head into the wall running into eight and nine-man fronts. The offense has to take what the defense is giving you and you try to strike a balance. If they’re so skewed one way or the other you have to make adjustments. This week it will be tough to run the football because they load the box. We have to be able to throw the ball effectively
On the difference between Evan Moeai and Handley
Evan has done some really great things for us this year. He was on the shelf for some time. He’s banged up a little bit. He is a very reliable receiver and does a nice job in the run game. Harrison is more physical in the run game. He can block things up. They’ve both been big parts of our offense. We haven’t had Harrison the last couple week. They complement one another and they’re different types of players. Harrison has more size, 6-5, 250, and Evan is a little undersized, more of an H-back. They both bring different things to the table and have made big contributions
On Troy Williams dealing with blitzes
He’s done a nice job of standing in there making the right reads. Our offensive line has done a nice job picking up blitzes. This will be our biggest test of the season this week in that regard.
On Zack Moss
Zack is about 100 percent, if not, he’s very close. Joe is the primary ball carrier and if Zack can supplement and take some of the workload, great, but Joe is our guy.