After thousands of passes thrown and more than a year’s worth of rehab, Utah quarterback Brian Johnson is back where the U coaching staff wants him — under center and in the starting lineup.
Johnson was the Utes’ starting quarterback for the first 10 games of the 2005 campaign before suffering a season-ending knee injury. The junior considered coming back for the 2006 season, but opted to use his medical redshirt — saving his third year of eligibility for the 2007 season.
While recovering from his injury last season, Johnson headed up the Utes’ offensive scout team, giving him plenty of opportunities to improve against Utah’s first-team defense.
“I think seeing everything from a different perspective for a year is a huge positive,” Johnson said. “I got to face a great defense every day, and that’s really going to help in my maturation as a quarterback.”
Before the injury, Johnson was one of the most productive quarterbacks in the nation, amassing an average of 337 total yards per game to rank fourth in the country. In total, the then-sophomore passed for 2,892 yards and 18 touchdowns with a 63.6 percent completion rate.
His leadership earned him second-team All-Mountain West Conference in 2005. That, combined with his athleticism, is the reason he was recently selected to the Maxwell Award Watch List — an award given to the nation’s most outstanding athlete.
“Getting Brian back is absolutely huge for this team,” said Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham. “He just adds a new dimension to our offense with his ability to run the option. He’s a great leader and we’ve got high expectations for him.”
Despite the return of Johnson, the Utes still have their work cut out for them. Coming off an 8-5 season that included three blowout losses and more than one last-minute blunder, the Utes are still trying to find all the pieces to the puzzle — particularly at running back.
Senior Darryl Poston and junior Mike Liti shared the starting running back role in 2006, but both struggled through injuries last year, and Liti has since retired from football.
Poston returns to the lineup this year after being granted a rarely seen seventh year of eligibility. He will attempt to retain his starting position this fall, despite breaking his foot in spring ball. Also vying for the starting slot will be juniors Ray Stowers and Darrell Mack. Incoming Snow College transfer Matt Asiata is also expected to compete for the top slot.
“I don’t think it’s a big secret that we still haven’t found a running back,” Whittingham said. “We went out and picked up Asiata and we’re expecting big things from him. Everybody has a chance. Ray Stowers had a great spring, Darrell Mack is always in the hunt and Poston is the incumbent, so it will be interesting.”
The question is, with Brian Johnson back under center and nearly every wide receiver returning from last season, just how much are the Utes going to rely on the passing game this year?
Wide receivers Derrek Richards and Brian Hernandez are returning alongside all-purpose wideout Brent Casteel.
With Utah’s running game in platoon mode once again, Casteel is likely going to shoulder some of that burden again, as the junior rushed for more than 250 yards last year.
“We’re looking forward to an exciting year on offense,” Casteel said. “We’ve got more exciting plays and great skill position players. We want to light that scoreboard up a lot more than we did last year.”
Junior wide receiver and return man Marquis Wilson, who was suspended but not disciplined by the team shortly after the end of last season, could be relegated to the role of spectator to start the 2007 schedule.
The Utes also return with 80 percent of the starting offensive line from last year.
Robert Conley, Kyle Gunther, Jason Boone and Zane Beadles all return on the Utes’ vaunted offensive line, which didn’t allow a sack through the first six games of last season.
Defensively, the Utes will have to cope with the huge loss of cornerback Eric Weddle who was, chosen by the San Diego Chargers with the 37th overall pick in the NFL draft.
Weddle was a consensus All-American and MWC Defensive Player of the Year last season, as he forced 10 turnovers and scored nine touchdowns from both sides of the ball.
“You can’t replace a guy like Eric Weddle,” Whittingham said. “Besides making the big plays, he also did all of the little things you take for granted, like holding kicks. It’ll take three or four guys to pick up the slack for him.”
Sophomore Sean Smith has the unenviable task of filling Weddle’s shoes at cornerback. Junior Brice McCain will return to his starting position at the other corner.
Leading the Ute defense from his free safety position will be senior Steve Tate, who led the Utes in total tackles last year with 102.
“We’ve got some big holes to fill, but there is plenty of experience at every position,” Tate said. “Everybody just has to step up and fill the gaps and we’ll be in great position to make some noise.”
On special teams, the Utes will return junior Louie Sakoda, who was named Co-MWC Special Teams Player of the Year last season. The place kicker/punter was a big part of the Utes’ success in the Armed Forces Bowl against Tulsa last season, when he hit all four of his field goal tries.
The Utes found themselves in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl despite getting blown out against UCLA, Boise State and Wyoming and dropping two last-second heartbreakers to BYU and New Mexico. The Utes won the bowl game to extend their bowl roll to six games.
This year’s schedule looks to be even tougher as it puts the Utes on the road against the likes of Oregon State, Louisville, TCU and BYU. They also have a chance for redemption at home Sept. 15 when they face UCLA.
“I’m looking forward to every game, but I have Oregon State, Louisville, UCLA and BYU circled on my calendar,” Casteel said. “Nobody is going to give us a chance in any of those games, but if we play the way we know how, they won’t be able to stop us.”
c.brunner@
chronicle.utah.edu
Lennie MahlerQuarterback Brian Johnson is at the helm of the Ute offense once again.