Bryan Chouinard
A “Wynn”ing start
Eight games into the season, with seven wins and one loss, head coach Kyle Whittingham made the high-risk, high-reward move of benching starter Terrance Cain for true freshman Jordan Wynn just one week before the Utes travel to Fort Worth to take on the No. 4 Horned Frogs. The move seemed to pay off, as the Utes had their most complete offensive performance of the season Saturday with Wynn under center.
“I thought we played our best game of the year offensively Saturday night,” Whittingham said. “Good production yardage-wise, first-down-wise and point-wise, so there were a lot of positives there. I thought (Wynn) played well for his first Division-I start. He was poised, confident and made good decisions.”
Wynn, who was pulled at the start of the fourth quarter with the game in hand, finished his first career start going 18 for 28 for 297 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Wynn set an all-time record for passing yards by a freshman at Utah and led the Utes to their highest total points and yards in 2009 as well.
ynn will have the biggest test of his young career this weekend against TCU. Wynn’s first and only start came against the winless Lobos, but he will now look for the second win of his career against the unbeaten Horned Frogs. Wideout Jereme Brooks caught 135 of Wynn’s 297 passing yards against New Mexico. Despite the lack of experience, Wynn said he will be ready come Saturday for TCU.
“It will be his first road test,” Brooks said. “But he will prepare himself well, and I expect big things from him.”
Injury report
The Utes will be as healthy as they have been all season for this weekend’s matchup with TCU. Only two Utes remain on the Utah injury report8212;sophomore linebacker Matt Martinez and senior defensive tackle Kenape Eliapo. Martinez suffered strained quadriceps against New Mexico and will miss two to three weeks but might be back for the final regular-season game of the year, against BYU.
Eliapo has also been ruled out this weekend because coaches said he has an illness. Tests are still being done on Eliapo, but the senior will definitely be out Saturday and might miss the rest of the season as well.
The lone constant
Much of the Utah offense has changed since week one against Utah State, but the constant has been the offensive line. Now, looking ahead to the ninth game of the season, the Utes have lost senior running back Matt Asiata for the season, changed starting quarterbacks and moved offensive coordinator Dave Schramm from the booth down to the field. But through all the changes, one thing has remained the same8212;the performance of the offensive front.
“They’re a group of guys that never get enough credit,” Whittingham said. “Even from myself. I don’t talk about them enough or get them their props, but they have done a nice job.”
The offensive line has been instrumental to the success of junior Eddie Wide, as he has transitioned into being the starting back for the Utes during the past six weeks. The line has not only helped Wide become the first Ute to ever rush for six straight 100-yard performances, but has also helped freshman Sausan Shakerin to the first 100-yard game of his career.
“Running backs aren’t going to get 100-yard games without productive play from your offensive line,” Whittingham said.
The Utes’ offensive front also helped Wynn by protecting the freshman and not allowing a sack in his first career start.
All eyes on the MWC
The Mountain West Conference has been at the center of the college football world during the past few weeks, and this weekend will be no different. For the third time in four weeks, ESPN’s College GameDay will be on the campus of an MWC school this weekend when the weekly show will travel to Fort Worth to broadcast from the site of the Utah-TCU game. Three weeks ago, the GameDay crew was in Provo for the BYU-TCU matchup, and this past weekend, ESPN was in Colorado Springs for Air Force’s matchup with Army.
“It’s remarkable to think (College GameDay) has been at three Mountain West campuses the entire season, as opposed to the last few weeks,” Whittingham said. “It’s great for the conference, and it’s great for the schools involved.”
