If you haven’t heard, the Utes are only 156 days away from taking the field in an August 31st revenge match against the Florida Gators on a Thursday night season opener at Rice-Eccles Stadium. But who’s counting?
156 days feel like a long time to wait, but at least there are spring practices and even a spring scrimmage to help ease the itch to watch Utah begin its pursuit of a third straight Pac-12 title, and hopefully more.
Even as snow continues to accumulate along the Wasatch Front, the Utes are now a week into winter…er…spring practices, preparing for the season ahead of them.
While the first week is typically more about working off the offseason rust and helping new players get a chance to get their feet wet, there have already been a few surprises that Ute fans will want to know about before seeing the crimson and white take the field in August.
Here are five things that have transpired early on in spring practices that might come as a surprise to die-hard fans:
#1 Position Changes
The Ute coaching staff has had great historical success finding players that are already in the fold to fill positions of need. Just last year, they turned a wide receiver into a key defensive end (Connor O’ Toole), a quarterback into a top running back (Ja’Quinden Jackson), and a former Big Sky unanimous first-team fullback into a tight end (Logan Kendall).
In spring practices, we’re already starting to get a glimpse of some players that might be the next set to successfully make position changes.
One to keep a close eye on is Tao Johnson. The speedy redshirt freshman from Idaho spent his first season as a wide receiver, but ever since the weeks leading up to the Rose Bowl, Johnson has been working out in the secondary. The word is he’s already making an impact, and may even have a chance for significant playing time when the season starts.
With the addition of Logan Fano (more on him later), along with the quick development of O’Toole, Jonah Ellis, and Van Fillinger at defensive end, Utah had sufficient depth to move Miki Suguturaga from the defensive line and plug him into a position of need left behind by Kendall – fullback/tight end. He should be a perfect fit to continue bulldozing defenders while clearing paths for the running game and getting a few catches along the way.
#2 Quick Impact From Newcomers
The Utes have the good fortune of returning the bulk of its starters to this year’s squad, but there are a few new players that are already turning heads in spring practices.
One of those players is Logan Fano. The BYU transfer saw his first season cut short last spring due to a heartbreaking knee injury, causing him to never play a down for the Cougars. Now fully healthy, Fano is reminding people why he was a former four-star recruit and had over 20 sacks in his final season of high school. He’s already vying for playing time in a crowded defensive end room.
His brother, Spencer Fano, is following suit, but on the offensive side of the ball. The Utes #1 recruit in the 2023 class was able to enroll early, making him eligible for spring practices, and his impact is already being felt. Utah returns four starters on the offensive line, and has several other players with multiple starts backing them up, yet Fano is already in the mix to get time on the field this fall.
Here’s a name you may have never heard before – Noah Bennee. However, this is likely a name you will hear a lot more of in the fall. Bennee has been taking reps at tight end during spring practices while other tight ends continue to heal, and he has been making a big impression.
#3 There Is a Quarterback Competition
While Utah fans got tremendous news earlier in the year that Cam Rising would be returning for his fourth season in a Ute uniform, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a competition at quarterback during spring ball.
That contest, however, does not include Rising. He’s locked in as the starter as soon as he heals from the leg injury he suffered in the Rose Bowl. No, this contest is between Nate Johnson and Brandon Rose, and while you’ve probably heard about and witnessed Johnson’s speed, Rose might just end up being the next man up if Rising is unable to start the regular season as predicted.
Of course, Bryson Barnes is still in the fold, but with plenty of game and practice under his belt, the coaches are focused on determining what they have with Johnson and Rose during these spring practices.
Johnson saw time on the field last fall, throwing for a touchdown against Stanford and running for two scores against Arizona, but Rose had the opportunity of running the scout offense all of last season. It will be interesting to see if either young quarterback can separate from the other.
#4 The Receiver Room Is Better Than You Think
While Utah didn’t lose too many players from last year’s squad, they did have two seasoned receivers (Solomon Enis and Jaylen Dixon) and a future NFL first-round tight end (Dalton Kincaid) move on from the team.
This made receiver a position of need early in the offseason, but the Utes are already finding answers. One of those answers is DeVaughn Vele, who, like Rising, decided to return for another season. That was huge news for the Utes.
But the Utes are also seeing the emergence of another early enrollee, Mikey Matthews. Shortly after officially committing to Utah, Matthews started to make a name for himself at the next level during Under Armour AA practices, where he was praised for his “elite route running”, speed, and ability to “get open against just about anyone”. Those traits are continuing in spring ball, and he has a good chance of being the opening-day starter at slot receiver.
And don’t forget, the Utes have also added Emery Simmons from the transfer portal, who had 408 yards receiving and a touchdown last season for Indiana.
#5 The Spring Game Will Be a Little Different
As Utah has continued to improve over the past five seasons, the spring game has as well. This year, the game will have a new, official title: the 22 Forever Game.
Fittingly, the game will be played on April 22nd, and proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe scholarship.
While this scrimmage used to be free in the past, the $5.50 ticket price (or 4 for $22) is quite low to get lower bowl tickets to see both veterans and new players showcase what they’ve worked on for the month.
You’ll want to buy your tickets soon, however, as seats are going fast. You can use this link to buy tickets.
As a bonus, here’s something that won’t surprise you: it’s great to have football to talk about again, even if it’s only for a few weeks.
Straight Up Utes 