WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:02.799 And there's a lot to talk about now. 2 00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:08.080 So joining us on the program right now is none 3 00:00:08.119 --> 00:00:11.640 other than Sammy Moore with the Ute Zone. Sammy, how 4 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:13.199 you doing today and welcome to the show. 5 00:00:14.039 --> 00:00:16.920 I'm doing great, Scott, how are you well? 6 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:18.760 You know, people ask me that I'm going to give 7 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:22.640 you the same answer. I'm living the dream and it's 8 00:00:22.679 --> 00:00:26.399 not a nightmare. So I really feel like a life 9 00:00:26.440 --> 00:00:29.239 is good, really good. 10 00:00:30.440 --> 00:00:32.359 So football camp has started. 11 00:00:33.640 --> 00:00:37.000 What's just I know it's very very early, it's right 12 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:41.240 in the beginning, but maybe just your kind of take 13 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:45.079 on things in the very very early part of this 14 00:00:45.159 --> 00:00:45.719 fall camp. 15 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:50.159 Yeah, I mean obviously, you know, media can't get in 16 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:53.119 to watch any fall camps on like you know, we 17 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:56.560 get the twenty minutes in the spring, so it's been 18 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:59.280 just you know, hearing from. 19 00:00:59.159 --> 00:01:02.560 The coaches on what there was. It was very uh 20 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:05.200 you know last year coming into the season, there was 21 00:01:05.239 --> 00:01:10.359 a lot of like hype around this team, uh because 22 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:12.959 of you know, the returners, you had Cam, you had 23 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:15.439 you know, hype for the Big twelve, all those sorts 24 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:18.120 of things. And so I think this year it's it's 25 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:21.000 taken a very different approach this year. I think, you know, 26 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:25.159 they coaches, players, everyone has realized that, like you know, 27 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:28.280 you learned the hard way last year that nothing is ever, 28 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:31.439 you know, given in college football. And so I think 29 00:01:31.879 --> 00:01:33.959 it's been a very it's been a very different camp 30 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:36.280 to cover, even going back to spring. You know, it's 31 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:37.920 been a lot of we know we have to earn it, 32 00:01:37.959 --> 00:01:40.159 we know we have to get better, we know we 33 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:43.959 have to improve from everyone from the coaching staff all 34 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:47.799 the way down to the players. So it was, it was, 35 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:50.120 it was, it was a fame thing on on on 36 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:52.480 Tuesday or on Wednesday and Thursday. But you know, I 37 00:01:52.519 --> 00:01:55.439 think you know, guys can smell it, guys can feel that, 38 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:57.959 you know, they're less than a month away now from 39 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:01.079 a football game, and so I think it's a lot 40 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:03.480 of fine tuning things. I think one of my biggest 41 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:06.560 things that I you know, thought of and that stood 42 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:09.439 out to me was Kyle Whittingham said after a practice 43 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:12.520 on Wednesday that, you know, the offense was moving with 44 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:16.080 a lot more efficiency, opening things up. I think, you know, 45 00:02:16.199 --> 00:02:18.240 not a lot of people talked about how hard it 46 00:02:18.280 --> 00:02:20.960 is to get personal packages on and off the field. 47 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:23.840 That's something that fans don't really you know, think about 48 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:27.039 when you're thinking about a football season. But you know, 49 00:02:27.159 --> 00:02:29.000 Kyle said that that was a big thing that he 50 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:31.560 brought up, was that this team was getting the personnel 51 00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:36.080 groups onto the field in a quicker motion. Like it 52 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:39.400 wasn't as you know, clanky, messy, whatever you want to 53 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:42.439 call it, that it was in spring. But obviously, you 54 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:45.719 know in spring they're implementing this whole new Jason Beck offense. 55 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:47.400 So you know there was going to be some bumps, 56 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:50.400 but it's good to hear that. You know, things are 57 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:53.080 moving better with the offense as we inched closer to 58 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:53.520 the season. 59 00:02:55.240 --> 00:03:01.240 Speaking of Jason Beck's offense, you know, everyone talks about 60 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:03.479 the defense, and like, you know defense, you know, it's 61 00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:07.879 it's kind of a standard that is upheld pretty much 62 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:12.240 every year, and it's just kind of where. 63 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:13.840 Does the offense go? What can you do with the offense? 64 00:03:13.960 --> 00:03:17.000 Can the offense hold up its end of the deal, 65 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:21.080 and what do you think needs to happen like with 66 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:24.520 this offense, with Jason Beck's offense in year one of 67 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:28.000 all of this, what kind of urgency do you think 68 00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:29.960 he feels, What kind of pressure do you think he 69 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:34.479 feels and does he have I guess the manpower to 70 00:03:34.599 --> 00:03:36.520 accomplish what he needs to have to happen. 71 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:39.400 So what needs to happen with this Utah offense? 72 00:03:40.199 --> 00:03:43.520 I mean, I think from last year, the standard for 73 00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:47.280 offense is kind of like it's on It's like it's 74 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:51.919 a ground level like any semblance of a passing offense. 75 00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:57.479 Any amount of points that's over probably like thirty is 76 00:03:57.479 --> 00:03:59.199 going to be a step in the right direction compared 77 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:02.159 to last season. But I do think, you know, the 78 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:05.400 biggest thing, at least for me heading into the season 79 00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:09.680 is can Devin Dampier stay healthy? I mean, all reports 80 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:13.120 indicate that the Utah offensive line is by far one 81 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:15.719 of the best they've probably ever had. And that's by 82 00:04:15.800 --> 00:04:18.040 far the only group that I will continue to hype 83 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:22.240 up this season because you know, it's there's two projected 84 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:25.120 first round draft picks and Setterfano and kayleb Blomu to 85 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:28.720 know what TOGII is one of PFF's highest graded like 86 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:31.800 guards in the in P four heading into the season, 87 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:35.000 and then Michael Milkathisi and Darren Kump have also played 88 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:39.560 a lot of very important football for Utah. So I think, 89 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:42.920 you know, if Devin Dampier can stay healthy, and you know, 90 00:04:43.399 --> 00:04:45.720 if that offensive line can stay in tact and help 91 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:49.000 keep him healthy and protected. I think, you know, you're 92 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:51.000 gonna see some more vertical threat. You're going to see 93 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:53.839 some actual passing offense. You're gonna see way Sean Parker 94 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:57.560 and Nakarie Rodgers and Bryce Duke get theirs on the ground. 95 00:04:57.600 --> 00:04:59.360 You're gonna see Devin get his on the ground. So 96 00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:02.079 I think that you know, know, if you talk, can 97 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:05.079 score this season, and I know that's like a low 98 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:10.079 bar to have if you talk and score efficiently. I 99 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:12.240 think that this offense is doing what it needs to do. 100 00:05:12.279 --> 00:05:16.319 You know, this defense last year very well kept them 101 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:18.879 in as many games as they possibly could have, but 102 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:22.560 you know, lots of quick free and outs or for 103 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:24.600 the offense, you know, put the defense back into some 104 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:27.519 really tough positions. There were games down the stretch where 105 00:05:27.560 --> 00:05:29.639 you could see that the defense was getting gassed because 106 00:05:29.639 --> 00:05:32.279 they were on the sideline for what like a minute 107 00:05:32.279 --> 00:05:34.319 and a half two minutes and then they were right 108 00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:36.399 back out there. I think the BYU game stands out 109 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:41.720 to me in that aspect, But you know, I'm interested 110 00:05:41.720 --> 00:05:45.319 in his offense. I think there's a lot to possibly 111 00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:48.360 look forward to and be excited about You know, I've 112 00:05:48.360 --> 00:05:52.639 watched a lot of New Mexico football between December and now, 113 00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:55.600 and I've also went back watching to Jason Beck's offense. 114 00:05:55.759 --> 00:06:00.199 For youracuse, there's a reason be excited about the what 115 00:06:00.360 --> 00:06:05.360 this offense can possibly entail, you know. So it's just 116 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:08.319 a matter of can they put it all together, can 117 00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:10.879 they start doing things? Who's going to step up at 118 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:13.839 wide receiver, how are the Titans going to contribute. There's 119 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:16.759 just a lot of questions. But you know, like early 120 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:19.120 reports from some of the players, it seems like the 121 00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:23.519 offense is like it's starting to click for them. 122 00:06:24.519 --> 00:06:28.399 So my concern it just seems kind of like a 123 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:31.079 dilemma with the quarterback. And you mentioned Devin dan Pierre 124 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:35.120 staying healthy. Part of his game, A big part of 125 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:38.959 his game is running. And you look at the history 126 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:45.040 of Utah winning championships. Quarterbacks ran. You know, get to 127 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:48.839 the Pac twelve championship with Tyler Huntley, he was you know, 128 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:51.079 he made some big plays running. The same thing with 129 00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:54.759 Cam Rising and actually both of them ended up getting 130 00:06:54.839 --> 00:07:00.000 hurt and it cost the team. So how do you 131 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:02.160 how do you how do you balance that? How do 132 00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:05.040 you how do you let Devon run because he needs to, 133 00:07:05.079 --> 00:07:07.439 because that's a part of his game. But how do 134 00:07:07.480 --> 00:07:09.000 you how do you keep him healthy, how do you 135 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:10.560 keep him up right? How do you keep him on 136 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:11.000 the field. 137 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:14.040 I mean, I think I think a lot of the 138 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:17.319 like the things with you know, both Cam and with 139 00:07:17.480 --> 00:07:21.079 Tyler was the sliding was not a big forte for them. 140 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:23.600 They were not the biggest fans of it. So I think, 141 00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:26.439 you know, Devin's a smart kid. I think Devin knows 142 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:29.199 when to get down, when to get out of balance, 143 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:32.079 and you know he does he it was like I 144 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:34.240 think it was in during spring ball he said, I 145 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:38.240 know how to take a hit to protect myself, and 146 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:41.319 so I think, you know, he knows what he's doing. 147 00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:44.560 I think he's prepared to do. He's prepared that way. 148 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:46.920 You know, he's been a mobile quarterback his entire career, 149 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:49.439 So I think it's that. But I think, you know, 150 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:53.720 the hope is that he's not rushing for eleven hundred 151 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:56.680 yards like he did last season, because you know, a 152 00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:58.560 lot of the time last season when he was running, 153 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:01.439 he was running for his life. In Mexico did not 154 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:06.000 have the greatest offensive line, and so with the better 155 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:09.240 offensive line, that Utah has the hope and the expectation 156 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:12.399 is is that Devin isn't forced to flush out of 157 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:15.160 the pocket as quickly. He isn't running for his life. 158 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:19.480 He's able to you know, be smart with when he 159 00:08:19.560 --> 00:08:22.199 runs and when he doesn't. I mean, I think, like 160 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:24.240 I said, he's a smarketed. He knows how to get 161 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:25.720 out of bounce, he knows how to get down. Like 162 00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:29.480 I think that he's very aware of what he needs 163 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:32.399 to do to keep himself healthy so that he can 164 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:35.840 still you know, rush for however many yards in the season, 165 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:37.840 but also pass for as many yards in the season 166 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:38.440 that he needs to. 167 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:40.080 Uh. 168 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:43.960 I'm fascinated with your comment about watching a lot of 169 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:47.240 New Mexico film in your study. 170 00:08:47.320 --> 00:08:49.080 What really stood out to you? What? 171 00:08:49.080 --> 00:08:52.759 What did you what did you glean from from that research? 172 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:55.960 And uh time he spent with that. 173 00:08:56.919 --> 00:08:58.720 I mean, I think the first thing that is so 174 00:08:58.840 --> 00:09:00.759 that was Devin put this team and a lot of 175 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:05.200 opportunities to win. But inversely the Utah's team, where the 176 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:07.480 defense put Utah and a lot of opportunities to win, 177 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:10.879 Devin in New Mexico put their offense. The offense put 178 00:09:10.919 --> 00:09:12.200 the team in a lot of ways to win, but 179 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:14.639 the defense couldn't get it done. And so I think, 180 00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:17.440 you know, there's there's a lot like Jason even said 181 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:20.039 during his press conference this week that you know, this 182 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:23.399 is an ever evolving offense. Like he said that when 183 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:25.440 they first started last year in New Mexico, he thought 184 00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:27.559 he was gonna have five or six receivers to rely 185 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:30.080 upon and they weren't going to be running as much. 186 00:09:30.440 --> 00:09:33.320 But then you know, those receivers started struggling and they 187 00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:35.360 ended up with like Ian he said, two or three 188 00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:38.360 receivers and one tight end that were producing. And then 189 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:40.600 the running backs were producing a lot more, and so 190 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:43.519 you know, the offense evolved and shifted into more of 191 00:09:43.559 --> 00:09:46.120 a a run first offense. You know, it's a lot 192 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:50.639 of there's RPO, there's a lot of QB reads. The 193 00:09:50.679 --> 00:09:52.679 screen game was big for them. They had a couple 194 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:55.159 of like really fast guys that could get off like 195 00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:57.279 get out of the edge and just go and just 196 00:09:57.279 --> 00:10:00.799 take it. So you know, it was there were some 197 00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:03.080 good moments watching New Mexico football, but then there was 198 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:06.840 also some like not great moments watching New Mexico football. Because, 199 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:11.039 like I said, Devin had like his interception tools. I know, 200 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:13.600 it's something that people are not happy about as we 201 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:17.440 head into the season. But there were like three or 202 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:20.360 four of those interceptions if I can remember them correctly 203 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:22.240 off the top of my head. That the ball hit 204 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:24.360 the wide receiver straight in the hand, it bounced off, 205 00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:27.399 you know, things that were not in his control. You know, 206 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:30.120 he put the ball in a good place. It's just 207 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:32.399 his wide receivers, his tight ends, his running backs just 208 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:33.840 didn't come down with the ball and it led to 209 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:34.799 those interceptions. 210 00:10:36.679 --> 00:10:39.720 Yeah, that's a that's a cruol game. They play those quarterbacks. 211 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:43.360 I used to be a quarterback, and darn receivers dropping 212 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:45.639 the passes and then they get intercepted and that goes 213 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:48.480 on you. It's just not right, Sammy, It is not right. 214 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:52.200 I mean, PFF does a lovely way to break it 215 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:55.240 down into turnover worthy plays, and if it's deemed like 216 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:58.080 the quarterback's fault or the wide receiver's fault, it's actually 217 00:10:58.080 --> 00:10:59.200 pretty interesting and stuff. 218 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:02.919 So turnover worthy plays. I like that, all right, I'm 219 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:05.039 gonna have to check that out. Where was that when 220 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:07.879 I was playing? It's like, you know, the worst one 221 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:11.159 was when you throw the hell mary at halftime because 222 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:14.039 because most of the time, it just gets intercepted. And 223 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:16.039 now they teach the players to bat the ball down 224 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:19.000 to the ground. But the likelihood of getting an interception 225 00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:22.720 in that play was pretty pretty high. But anyways, I 226 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:29.240 digress thirty new players that joined the team since spring football. 227 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:34.440 Who of those thirty can really help this team? And 228 00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:38.279 you know what, what's the likelihood? Because I think it's 229 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:40.000 you know, it's a little challenging to get up to 230 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.759 speed and expect some of these guys to really contribute. 231 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:45.080 But who do you think can contribute? Of these new 232 00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:46.559 guys that are joining. 233 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:50.639 The team, there are four that were like spring slash 234 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:55.240 summer editions that quickly pop into mind for me. The 235 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:59.279 two obvious ones are Tobias Merriweather and Larry Simmons, the 236 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:03.759 wide receiver and them that they pulled out of the portal. Tobias, 237 00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:06.559 you know, haven't Devin said at practice it Tobias is 238 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:10.240 one of the guys like he has made some big 239 00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:12.919 plays with Devin over the last you know, just two 240 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:14.799 days of practice from what Devin has said and stuff, 241 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:17.559 And so I think Tobias is going to be, you know, 242 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:21.639 vuying for that wide receiver one spot, big guy six 243 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:26.960 five around two hundred pounds, fast, good hands. It was 244 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:30.399 a former uh FO high four star recruit, verging on 245 00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:32.879 a five star according to twenty four to seven. He 246 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:34.799 ended up at Notre Dame, spent a couple of seasons 247 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:36.679 at Notre Dame, and then transferred to cal last year. 248 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:41.159 He's probably gonna be one of those top wide receivers 249 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:43.320 for this team this year. Larry Simmons is a transfer 250 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:47.039 from Southern Miss. Utahually recruited amount of high school and 251 00:12:47.080 --> 00:12:50.159 he ended up at Ole Miss for a year or two, 252 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:52.759 then he transferred to Southern Myths, and then he finally 253 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:56.039 found his way to Utah this summer. He's another guy 254 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:59.559 like Southern Myss football also was also hard to watch 255 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:02.000 last year, and I watched some of that begin to 256 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:03.799 feel on how well he could do to this team. 257 00:13:04.679 --> 00:13:07.600 But it sounds like you've been parturing yourself watching these 258 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:08.879 terrible football teams. 259 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:09.759 Don't do it. 260 00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:11.679 I do it, Hey, I do it because I need 261 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:13.840 to see what Utah's getting in these guys. And Larry's 262 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:16.960 one of those players that you know, like if if 263 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:20.080 the Southern missoffensive line could hold up for longer than 264 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:23.120 two seconds and the quarterback could deliver a somewhat decent ball. 265 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:25.720 Larry was this type of guy that could turn something 266 00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:27.320 that looked like it was a two yard catch into 267 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:30.799 like a fifteen yard game. And so I think that 268 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:32.799 he's another one that could get in there. It's just 269 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:36.200 again for him and for Tobias, it's building that chemistry 270 00:13:36.200 --> 00:13:40.519 with Devon getting everything under control. Learning the offense. Bryce 271 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:43.960 Duke is a running back turner from old dominion. I 272 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:47.360 could see him somehow working his way into that like 273 00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:51.080 top three running back. I don't think he's gonna He's 274 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:53.799 not gonna take over Waishan at number one way Shawn Parker, 275 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:56.919 but he he very well could be that number two guy. 276 00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:59.639 By far, the biggest back in this room. I think 277 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:03.440 he's like six foot six one around two ten, so 278 00:14:03.480 --> 00:14:06.919 he's the biggest guy by far. And you know, Beck 279 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:10.399 described him on Wednesday as like he's like he has 280 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:14.200 an added receiving element, which you know, that's something that 281 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:16.919 you can bring into the game. He watching his film, 282 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:21.600 it's a lot of power back, short yardage situations, bowling 283 00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:24.879 ball down a hill type things with him. And then 284 00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:28.039 I think the last one, all of them are on offense. 285 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:31.080 I think the last one is JJ Buchanan. He's a 286 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:37.600 true freshman tight end from Nevada, insanely high IQ player. 287 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:40.600 He was one of the highest highest rated recruits in 288 00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:44.399 Utahs class for twenty twenty five, but he just, you know, 289 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:47.279 Freddie Whittingham said, he's up to two twenty five with 290 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:49.559 a vertical that you know, he can jump out of 291 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:52.879 a gym level height. And you know, JJ was someone 292 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:54.519 that he could have played either way. He could have 293 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:56.159 played tight end, he could have played safety, he could 294 00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:58.840 have played wide receiver like he played all three of 295 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:02.279 them in high school. And he's the versatility that they 296 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:06.440 have with him, and also just pure athleticism I think 297 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:10.440 is going to be massive for this Utah team. You know, 298 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:13.120 he's a guy that I think put him in line, 299 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:14.440 you can put him out in the flex, you can 300 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:17.639 move him in different ways, and I think I think 301 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:20.080 JJ is probably going to see the field a good 302 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:20.879 amount this season. 303 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:23.159 Oh wow, yeah, because I was going to ask you 304 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:25.240 about the tight end position. It's the one a lot 305 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:27.480 of people haven't been talking about, but Utah has talked 306 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:31.159 in the sense that they needed depth there and so 307 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:33.399 you think that you think the true freshmen actually can 308 00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:37.480 contribute and add to this offense early on. 309 00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:40.559 Yeah, I think of the tight ends, I think it's 310 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:44.240 it's going to be some sort of combination of you know, 311 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:46.919 all the four guys that are like vying for spots 312 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:51.120 or auto Tia, Dallen, Bentley, Hunter, Andrews and JJ Buchanan 313 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:53.799 and I think, you know, I think when everything shakes out, 314 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:56.799 I think, you know, the three leading receivers in that room, 315 00:15:57.080 --> 00:16:00.559 or the three actually I'll say the three most conductive 316 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:03.720 because I know Hunter has the ability to be you know, 317 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:07.360 all over the field. I'll say that three are going 318 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:09.240 to be It's going to be Dollon, Hunter and JJ. 319 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:12.639 I think are the three biggest contributors from the tight 320 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:14.399 end room at the end of the season. I'm not 321 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:17.039 saying they're going to put up you know, Kinkaid and 322 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:19.600 Keithy numbers, but you know they're going to get there. 323 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:21.080 They're going to do what they need to do, and 324 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.919 they're going to have some big plays. I think. 325 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:30.000 Everyone's talked about Lander, Barton and Smith Stowte and going 326 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:33.480 over and participating on the offense. Is that is that 327 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:38.080 concerned by the team that maybe there's not enough weapons, 328 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:42.120 there's not enough production there or is it something that 329 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:44.120 really make the team more dynamic? 330 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:45.919 Where do you land on that one? 331 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:50.720 Interesting you actually asked this. We actually talked about this 332 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:53.840 on our ut Zone podcast that comes out on Monday. 333 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:56.039 But I think, you know, I don't think it has 334 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:58.639 anything to do with the lack of production, or the 335 00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:02.519 lack of you know, experienced playmakers, all those sorts of things. 336 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:06.119 I think it just has to do with Beck has 337 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:08.359 said we need to put the best eleven players on 338 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:11.599 the field at any given time, and if Lander and 339 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:16.000 Smith for a certain package, a certain situation, a certain whatever, 340 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:18.839 are part of that best eleven, you gotta put them 341 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:22.119 on the field. I think, you know, Travis Hunter has 342 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:27.240 I think started a shift in college football where you're 343 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:30.960 gonna see more two way players. I'm not saying every 344 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:33.400 team is gonna have like seventy of them or like 345 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:35.039 six of them. I don't know why I said seventy, 346 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:37.400 but you're not gonna have a lot of them, But 347 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:39.319 you know every team might have one or two that 348 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:43.720 you know, is those special situational two way players. I 349 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:46.000 don't see this becoming a thing kind of like you 350 00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:48.519 know the Dejon Stanley wheel route we had last year 351 00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:51.680 where it was like they worked twice against SUU and 352 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:54.559 they just decided to like run it into the ground 353 00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:57.119 and every team could like sniff it from a mile away. 354 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:59.680 I just think it's gonna be situational things. I don't 355 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:03.839 think it has anything to do with, you know, who's 356 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:06.160 available at tight end or who's available at wide receiver. 357 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:08.880 I think it's just like doing everything that this team 358 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:10.839 can to win this year. 359 00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:17.000 There's a lot of talent, there's maybe not some experience 360 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:21.559 at certain positions of defensive tackle position, cornerback. 361 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:25.920 They're looking for a cornerback. What what's what? What? 362 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:29.200 What's your sense on who's going to emerge in those 363 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:32.519 those battles there and who. 364 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:32.720 Do you like. 365 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:38.920 At the outside corner spot opposite Scooby Davis. I've been 366 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:43.839 really bullish on Blake Cotton the UC Davis transfer. Blake 367 00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:46.200 has been described as a sponge, you know, and like 368 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:48.680 as a corner. That's something that you really need, especially 369 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:51.720 with how you know Utah runs zone, Utah runs a man, 370 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:54.640 the different things that u Thaugh's asking for you or 371 00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:56.359 of you when you play that, and then you add 372 00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:58.880 in the added element that you know Morgan Scaley loves, 373 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:03.319 loves and exotic blitz and sometimes that includes the corner 374 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:05.599 blitz and stuff. And so I think Blake is the 375 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:09.599 best option I think, but you know, Donovan Fonders and 376 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:13.319 Rock Calbell both are gonna do everything they can to 377 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:16.680 push for it. J C. Hart, the Auburn transfer to 378 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:19.400 join the team this summer. I could see him somehow, 379 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:23.559 you know, pushing everybody ahead of him. Jac is an 380 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:27.920 insanely fast and insanely smart kid, like track level speed, 381 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:30.599 but also high school valedictorian and has like a four 382 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:33.960 point zero out of high school. So he's someone that 383 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:36.960 I think can just bring the rest of the group 384 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:39.440 along and you know, push everyone else to get better. 385 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:44.519 As for the final d tackle spot, so DT four, basically, 386 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:48.440 I honestly think it's gonna be Carson KAFUSI. You know, 387 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:50.240 he was here for spring. He had a grasp of 388 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:53.440 the offense or the defense, I should say. You know, 389 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:57.680 he's big, six', five good weight. ALREADY i think he'll 390 00:19:57.720 --> 00:20:01.119 lock up that deed tackle flour. Spot but by the 391 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:03.720 time the end of the season comes, AROUND i wouldn't 392 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:07.759 be shocked If Poop sapalona has made some sort of 393 00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:11.000 impact on the. Team you, know Kid he's a fourth 394 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:14.720 star kid From, hawaii very very very new in his football. 395 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:17.839 Career he's a two time is The hawaii basketball, Player, 396 00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:24.480 like very new to. Football but the sheer talent and 397 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:28.039 raw athleticism that that kid has is so fun to. 398 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:30.920 Watch SO i wouldn't be shocked if by you, know 399 00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:34.160 at some point this, season you, Know Poo poo does 400 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:37.279 something that just sets everyone on fire and they're so 401 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:38.839