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!

I am troubled, as I am sure many others are as well, about how college sports are trending. I firmly believe college athletes should be given the right to NIL. However, the nature of the transfer portal and the come hither and go away nature of the sport is troubling (with complete tampering mixed in). There is NOTHING like this in sports across the globe. Contracts are contracts. The NCAA is the wild west. While I believe the old way was way too one sided to the school (locking kids in even when it is against their best interest), the pendulum has swung WAY to far the other way.

How does the NCAA, the schools, and the kids get control over what is becoming a dysfunctional system? 2 year contracts? Collective bargaining? "Salary caps?" etc.

I do not see how this current environment is sustainable.

Thoughts?

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3 down, 1 to go!

Oregon just seems to always have Utah’s number. Here are the takeaways:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/takeaways-runnin-utes-suffer-first-pac-12-loss

Starting five: Marco Anthony, Rollie Worster, Gabe Madsen, Ben Carlson, Branden Carlson

Let’s get things rollin’… Heres the starting five:

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It’s a big meet tonight, to open the Red Rocks’ season. Let’s watch and discuss it.

Lots of great players to choose from, so this is a nice accomplishment for him.

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Hunter Clegg showed up with a sack and fumble!!!!

Utes continue their early Pac-12 dominance. Here are the takeaways:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/takeaways-runnin-utes-continue-hot-pac-12-start

Cole Becker who was at Colorado has committed to Utah and he’ll be on scholarship. He’ll start next week..

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