I’ve been talking to people on this and a few other things before jumping on to post this.

In the surface, it stings to lose a starter. I’ve heard it for NIL. However, I’ve also been told it’s because because Maea and Faaiu are projecting better than him right now. I’m sure the answer is somewhere in between.

Here’s the press release:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/utah-football-announces-2023-schedule

Wonder what happens that turns a 4 star into FcS material.

He said on Twitter "Transfer portal here I come." I wouldn't tell if there was any backstory besides a loaded linebacker room, getting thinner now though.

LE - Jonah Ellis/Sugutaraga
DT - Tafuna
DT - Pepa
RE - Filinger/O'Toole
LB - Reid
LB - Barton
CB - Broughton
CB - Vaughn
NB - Vaki
FS - Isbel
SS - Bishop

So many quality returners it's almost silly.

Pretty impressive. Watched a bunch of
Game today as was sick at home and was very impressed at their brand of ball and hustle!

I spoke with local 4-star TE Roger Saleapaga last night. He was one of the key group that participated in Utah’s priority recruit junior day.

He said he loves everything about Utah from the coaches to the atmosphere. His favorite part about the trip this weekend was his time spent with Freddie Whittingham. He said Freddie is a genuine good person who he can tell really wants him at Utah.

He mentioned he’s spoken with Kuithe and Kincaid who have said to have fun and enjoy everything and that the TE numbers speak for itself.

He’s not LDS, although his brother recently graduated from BYU. The family lived in California until his brother attended BYU.

More to come.

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What I'd like to see

1. BC lead the team in FGA. He's far and away our best option on offense.
2. Gabe jump and land in roughly the same spot on his shots. No more degree of difficulty crap.
3. Wilguens Exacte with 15 mpg.
4. Win the rebounding battle.
5. 10 TOs or less per game.

Let’s get this thing rollin’… Utah had a tough challenge in order to snap their two game skid…

It’s a big weekend of 2024 unofficial visits for the Utes:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/utah-ready-for-big-unofficial-visit-weekend

Whether Rising has a torn ACL or MCL, he’s expected to miss the very early part of the schedule. Hopefully, that will give Nate Johnson some time to play with the first string and let’s see what he has.

One of the big questions going into the 2023 season has Cam Rising reached his ceiling?


A two-year comparision of the 2022-2023 seasons shows a QB that has played at a very good level with minimal improvement this past year,

Going into the 2024 season once he is healthy enough to play, will we see an improved quarterback? One thing working against him is it Dalton Kincaid has left for the
NFL so he has one less top receiver at his disposal.

There does not appear to be a new and highly effective receiver coming into the system for next year. So what Rising will have are prior targets that likely aren’t going to change. Will PAC 12 defenses be able to take ad
vantage of a offense that has become predictable? Will another typical season by Rising allow the offense to be even more effective? Important questions but I don’t see anything on the horizon that would give us hope that the offense will be more effective than it is now.

One year after almost losing his life and then defying all odds, Ephraim Asiata was participating in junior day festivities yesterday.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnbGrcmhINy/?igshid=Zjc2ZTc4Nzk=

After a solid first half, Utah couldn't keep up with the Trojans:

Hubert — who technically still has a year of eligibility he could get because of all of his injuries — will try for the NFL Draft, instead. Good luck to him.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnX2BjRqk6N/?igshid=Zjc2ZTc4Nzk=

Here are Alex's takeaways from the loss at UCLA:

Let’s get this thing rollin’! Will the Utes get another Top 10 win tonight?

Anyone else see this yet.. the story behind the amazing helmets by Armando
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A Top 10 finish is never a bad thing. Great season by the guys…

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WR - Vele
WR - Money Parks
TE - Kuithe
TE - Yassmin
RB - JQJ
QB - Nate Johnson/Bryson Barnes until Cam is healthy
LT - tbd
LG - Bills
C -tbd
RG - Mokofisi
RT - Laumea

That is a very potent offense.

What has been anticipated, was finally made official today, as Rising, Kuithe, Vele and Yassmin all announced they were coming back. The chase for the trilogy is happening…

https://utah.rivals.com/news/utah-s-rising-vele-kuithe-and-yassmin-aim-for-pac-12-3-peat

I’m told preliminary conversations have begun. This will ultimately be Ludwig’s decision, so you could see a different hire than the typical Whittingham hire.

They’ve done a good job keeping a lid on things so far, but I’ll fill you in when I hear names.

I fully expect Kenneth Scott to have a shot at this. If he had taken the offensive analyst role they offered him two years ago, the job would be his. Unfortunately that role wasn’t a lot of money.

With Rising coming back, will he choose to hang around? If he does will he get all the first team reps?

I’ve sat back and tried to figure this WR coaching opening out and so far the one name that makes sense, Billy Gonzales, might not make as much sense as initially thought. It’s something I’ll get into later, but at the same time, it doesn’t shut the door on him.

Additionally, when Kenneth Scott wanted to publish and post this article, he also called up Whitt and Whitt had no clue K Scott wanted to get into coaching. By then, the hiring of Bumphis was just getting finalized.

Some will say no because he doesn’t have college coaching experience, but K Scott is someone I view as a worthwhile gamble. Could Whittingham view this the same?

Read the old article that he wrote two years ago:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/opinion-kenneth-scott-on-taking-utah-wrs-to-the-next-level

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Now just waiting on Vele and Rising!