BACK ON THE TURF The Utes hit the field in their preparation for a new season

It’s good to be back
It has been a long time since the Utes have been able to get onto the practice field. After ending the 2012 season at 5-7 and missing a bowl appearance for the first time in 10 years, the Utes couldn’t hit the turf soon enough.
“It seems like forever since we have been out here,” said head coach Kyle Whittingham. “It was good to be back out.”
All players and coaches literally ran up and down as well as in and out of the Spence Eccles practice facility. The offense was running plays at a rapid pace and the defense was able to keep up and showed a lot of intensity throughout the session.
“Players were very eager,” Whittingham said. “Great tempo throughout the whole practice.”
Defensive end Trevor Reilly was one of a few Utes who will miss spring practice because of a knee injury. Running back Kelvin York, who saw the most action Tuesday, is battling a turf toe suffered in the offseason.
“[York] is a little bit slowed down, but he did some good things today,” Whittingham said. “He is the guy you got to beat out for that running back spot.”
The number one position that is being focused on as spring camp begins is the cornerback position. Junior college transfer Davion Orphey along with senior Keith McGill had good showings. They will be fighting for the starter spot with senior Michael Walker, juniors Wykie Freeman and Joseph Smith and freshmen Reginald Porter and Justin Thomas.

Two minds, one offense

Today was the first time co-offensive coordinators Brian Johnson and Dennis Erickson were able to work with the offense and the players. The two were only separated when Johnson worked with the quarterbacks and wide receivers, while Erickson worked with the running backs. When the groups came together, the two coaches huddled to discuss their various insights.
“We were talking about the different things we were doing,” Erickson said. “There are certain things you have to do correctly when you are going offensively. Lining up square on the line, quarterback depth. Stuff like that.”
Erickson has said he wants to run 70 to 80 plays in a game with the offense, and the team is hoping to reach that mark by the end of spring camp.

Young quarterbacks

Fresh from being thrown into the middle of a rough season, Travis Wilson said his experience has helped him as the 6-foot-6, 230-pound returning starter did well running the new spread offense.
“I definitely feel a lot more comfortable because of the experience that I had last year,” Wilson said. “We have a great group of wide receivers out here, and I have been working with them a lot in the offseason. It’s going to be a good season.”
Wilson’s confidence has started to grow, and it showed throughout the practice. He led in reps among the rest of the quarterbacks by running the quick, no huddle offense. He scrambled along with York with the read-option plays and was able to fit the ball in some tight windows for big gains in the scrimmage with the defense.
“I want to be a great leader on this team,” Wilson said. “I want to be that starting quarterback. Make sure that [my team] knows I am pushing them and let them know that I’m working hard too.”
The other quarterbacks with a lot of action from the first practice were sophomore Adam Schulz and freshman Brandon Cox. Cox showed a lot of speed in read-option plays, but there could still be some room for improvement for the left-handed quarterback.
“He throws a good ball,” Whittingham said about Cox. “He seems a little bit nervous initially when trying to guide the ball. But toward the end of practice he threw a little more zip on it.”