Utah football: So a long way, so precise as the Utes open spring ball

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah opened its 15th spring camp underneath head teach Kyle Whittingham on Monday, and the boss said matters went all right.

“We’ve were given our paintings cut out for us in a few spots. The offensive line has a few holes to fill and linebacker and multiple different regions,” Whittingham said. “But an excellent start today, a variety of energy and exuberance that is usually the case on day one.” Whittingham brought that they’ll get lots better evaluation while the pads are on later in camp.

“But thus far, so true,” he stated.

Quarterback Tyler Huntley agreed with Whittingham’s viewpoint.

“We’ve were given a whole lot of stuff to paintings on,” Huntley said. “It’s a brand new offense, and we’re nevertheless looking to get it down pat.”

New terminology and new schemes are part of the workload this spring. Huntley, though, said he’s comfy with new offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig’s plans and thinks the team can simply adapt to the modifications.

Whittingham is also hopeful the transition might be pretty seamless.

“There is a learning curve but I idea, based totally on what we noticed nowadays, it becomes an excellent begin,” he said. “There are numerous extra installs to come as spring wears on.”

The most significant issue, Whittingham mentioned, is getting the terminology down and assembly Ludwig’s expectancies. A lot of the direction structures and the run plays are similar.

“I assume it’s going to head wonderful and that’s my task to make it terrific, and the gamers have truly taken to it,” Ludwig said. “We’re jogging quite a few the same performs. They might also have a unique touch terminology to it, but we’re looking to combine some matters that we’ve carried out offensively inside the final couple years at different locations with what the Utes have accomplished inside a closing couple of years.”

Ludwig explained that the plan is to maximize the skills and talent units of the gamers — ensuring that the gadget fits them.

“It’s not about us,” Ludwig stated. “It’s approximately the players.”

QUICK LOOK: Linebacker Manny Bowen’s first exercise with Utah turned into cut short with the aid of a class. The graduate transfer from Penn State had to cut out early on the only Monday session of camp.

“So he turned into simplest here for a limited time,” Whittingham said. “But based totally on what we’ve visible inside the iciness conditioning and simply his bodily profile together with his potential to jump and lift and agility-wise, it’s all superb.”

DONA-GONE: Senior linebacker Donavan Thompson, who began three video games and completed with 29 tackles an ultimate season, is not with the crew at this factor. Whittingham stated it’s doubtful that he’ll be again, despite the fact that he wouldn’t say the door is closed for the previous Miami prep star.

“We’ll miss Donavan. We want he would have stayed and he still can also, I don’t want to matter him out completely,” Whittingham said. “But it wasn’t ideal while he chose to step away. We’ll see what happens.”

SWITCHING SPOTS: A function exchange of note is protective lower back Julian Blackmon making the pass from cornerback to protection.

“It wasn’t a tough desire for me at all,” stated Blackmon, who approached cornerbacks to teach Sharrieff Shah approximately making the switch following the commencement of beginning safeties Corrion Ballard and Marquise Blair.

It worked out the way I desired it to,” Blackmon brought.

The senior is confident he’ll be without a doubt excellent at safety because he’s a playmaker.

Defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley, who coaches the safeties, also likes the pass.

“Julian’s simply got outstanding variety, exquisite ball competencies,” Scalley stated. “So it’s the form of one of these Chase Hansen offers where it changed into good for Chase, it was good for the protection. The same element with Julian. It’s correct for Julian, precise for the protection.”

EXTRA POINTS: Two extra practices are scheduled before spring smash. The public is invited to wait outside classes on Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 4:45 p.M. At the Eccles Practice Fields . . . Five Utes have had shoulder surgical procedures since the season ended. The top information, Whittingham explained, is all of these players could be healed up and ready for summer time conditioning . . . Whittingham stated that quarterback Cameron Rising, a transfer from Texas, can certainly throw it . . . The Red-White Game at Rice-Eccles Stadium is set for Saturday, April thirteen at 11 a.M.