Utah Utes 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: The Utes may have the best sitting coach in the PAC-12, as Kyle Whittingham continues to get more out of less, and has the longest bowl game winning streak in the nation, including the only bowl win in a miserable 1-8 effort by the conference last season. He returns 8 starters on offense, but the Utes have to figure some things out on defense, as just 4 starters return on that side of the football. With the PAC-12 South being a wide open race heading into the 2018 season, is this the year that the Utes finally claim their first division outright title?
Breakdown Offense: With Tyler Huntley coming back at QB, the Utes may have one of the 2 most experienced starters in the PAC-12 South. What the Utes need from him is consistency, and a reduction in game killing turnovers. He tossed 15 TD passes last fall, but also managed to toss 10 INTs as well, and that will have to change. He did manage to pass for 2411 yards in 10 games last season, and completed 63.8% of his passes. He added 537 yards rushing and 6 scores, which will keep defenses honest. RS freshman Jason Shelley is in a battle for the backup spot with highly touted Jack Tuttle for the backup job, and either one of those players could very realistically eventually steal the job from Huntley at some point.
Zack Moss had a strong sophomore campaign in 2017, as he rushed for 1173 yards and 10 TDs, while averaging 5.48 yards per carry on 16.46 carries per game. It would be a good thing to see those carries up around 20 per game this fall, but he may split carries with Huntley once again as he did last fall. Armand Shyne could be the primary backup this fall, but Devonta'e Henry-Cole will be pushing for carries as well. Depth, overall, is not fantastic at this spot.
Siaosi Mariner is back to start at WR, as is Samson Nacua, but Darren Carrington and Raelon Singleton are gone, taking 106 receptions with them. Mariner caught 20 passes last fall, while Nacua caught 29. Demari Simpkins and Bryan Thompson should fill the other two spots. Simpkins caught 29 passes, while Thompson caught just 5 last fall. Bronson Boyd, Jameson Field, Jaylen Dixon, and Tyquez Hampton will all try to provide some depth here.
The line is loaded with 4 starters returning in Jackson Barton (LT), Lo Falemaka (C), Jordan Aguasiva (RG), and Darrin Paulo (RT). Kevin Dixon, Nick ford, and Mo Unutoa should provide solid depth at Tackle, while Orlando Umana and Alani Havili-Katoa will provide backup depth at Guard. Kyle Lanterman backs up at Center.
Breakdown Defense: The Utes have some work to do in replacing 3 starters on the defensive line. Only DE Bradley Anae returns to start after tying for the team lead with 10 TFLs. He led the team with 7 sacks, and forced 3 fumbles. He should be joined by Caleb Repp on the other side. He played in 13 games as a sophomore last fall as a rotational DE. Davir Hamilton will back up Anae, while the other spot could be backed up by Maxs Tupai and Nick Heninger, both sophomores.
Both DTs will need replacing. Leki Fotu and Pita Tonga are penciled in there. They combined for 4 TFLs off the bench last season. Hauati Pututau and John Pensini project as the key backups there.
Chase Hanson is the lone returning starter at LB this season. He played in just 8 games last fall, but collected 51 tackles in that time, and added 3.5 TFLs. He should be paired with Cody Barton, who totaled 45 tackles on the season, with 4.5 TFLs. Donovan Thompson and Chris Hart will provide immediate backup depth, and are solid option.
Just two starters return in the secondary for the Utes in Julian Blackmon (CB) and Corrion Ballard (FS). Blackmon totaled 6 PBUs last fall, and led the team with 4 INTs. Ballard added 2 picks and 45 tackles. Jaylon Johnson is penciled in to the open CB spot for now, but Tyrone Smith and Nigel King should be in the mix as well. Javelin Guidry is the NB in the 4-2-5 set, and he totaled 4 PBUs as a freshman. Tareke Lewis is the backup there. Terrell Burgess is the expected starter at SS this fall, but Marquise Blair will battle him in camp for the job. josh Nurse backs up Blackmon, while Malone Mataele backs up Ballard.
Breakdown Special Teams: The Utah kicking game is loaded across the board. Matt Guy returns after nailing 30/34 FG attempts last fall, and he added a perfect 40/40 on PATs.
Mitch Wishnowski is back at Punter, and averaged 43.88 yards per punt last fall. You cannot ask for more from this unit.
Simpkins likely returns kicks again after averaging 23 yards per return last season, but the Utes need to find a new PR man in camp.
Final Analysis: Utah has all the tools they need to make a move in the PAC-12 South, as not one team can be called a clear favorite in the division. Whittingham continues to win football games with talent that he has to work harder than anyone in the conference for, and wins bowl games at an astonishing rate. The Utes have the best kicking game in the West, and maybe even the nation, and that helps matters. If they can get more consistency out of their QB, that makes them even tougher to beat. This is going to be a team to watch in 2018.
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