I'm not sure if anyone knows this and I don't want to get too ahead of myself here. But barring Utah getting a 3 or a 4 seed in the CFP do we have any idea which bowl location that would be? Like is seed 1 the Cotton, seed 2 is Sugar, seed 3 is the Fiesta and seed 4 the Rose? Is that known? or do the bowls select when they do selection Sunday?

I’ll have more thoughts on this soon, but wanted to post it…

The sophomore from Lehi should be the starting nickel this season:

Like a couple other key pieces of the offense, Bernard is back and ready to take Utah to greater heights:

Is the 6-4 senior ready to lead the wide receiver group to the next level?

Here it is! The first Ute opponent preview of the 2024 season! The 2023 SUU squad only lost by a field goal in the season opener to Arizona State, 24-21. Is there any concern this year for Utah? Check it out! 👇👇

A senior transfer that should immediately be WR1 and leader on the outside. Sound familiar? This should be an even better fit than the last time:

-With the new rule that even analysts can coach, that’s been a big help with getting guys plenty of reps and more hands-on coaching in practice.

-Johnathan Hall’s move to linebacker was projected when the program first signed him. He’s grown more into that position now and there was also a need for more depth at the linebacker position.

-John Randle Jr. tears off the charts as an athlete and he’s one of the better ones on the team, but he was buried on the depth chart at running back. With the injuries that have gone on at cornerback, it was natural to move him to corner. It’ll take him a bit to get up to speed, but the early progress is encouraging.

-Cam Calhoun suffered an injury during summer workouts and will be returning to the practice in the next few weeks.

-Hunter Andrew’s move to running back will be permanent for the season, but he could end up back at linebacker long term. He’s a very capable big bodied back that they're excited about.

-Singer is as sure-handed as they come. The throw game goes through him. He’s a proven commodity and an elite route runner. Him and Rising have developed a great chemistry together.

-Rising will be very judicious in his running, picking his spots and also when he needs to fit for that extra yard. You won’t see a ton of QB run game. His arm strength is also back and he’s at full strength. Cam knows it’s about preservation for him to succeed and for the Utes to have a great season.

-The new implementation with the radio communication in the helmets was something he anticipated over the years. It won’t help the defense get their signals since they already don’t huddle, but it’ll be beneficial to the offense.

-All six of Utah’s tight ends could probably start at most schools in the Big 12. There will be a lot of multiple tight ends sets throughout the season.

-The new GM of the football team title is so crucial from a roster management standpoint to handling NIL.

A young transfer corner could be a nice addition for the secondary:

After being granted a medical report, Pittman could be a key player in the newly revamped receiving corps:

The former walk on is now a senior with NFL potential:

Don't give up on Rose on the quarterback depth chart:

I’ll have more soon, but he was a standout at the 2024 Addidas Next Generation Tournament.

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It’s a double-dose today with another impact player, this time on defense. Lets talk about Van Fillinger:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/utenation-countdown-to-kickoff-no-7-van-fillinger-2

We’re one week away from kickoff! Let’s talk about a Utah G.O.A.T., Cam Rising…

https://utah.rivals.com/news/utenation-countdown-to-kickoff-no-7-cam-rising-2​

I have a great idea for music that should be played on turn overs, I’ve been singing this for years. So who would I contact for my creative vision?

The Ute legacy should be primed to comeback from last season's injury:

Connor O’Toole:

•Says it feels really good to be back and healthy, noting he feels blessed to be playing at 100 percent, physically and mentally.

•Can’t believe their first game is 10 days away. He’s now focused flipping the switch from camp to game prep everyday.

•Excited for the room, noting so much depth that makes him really excited to have guys who can do different things on the field. The gap between 1-9 is very tight, guys who can come in and do different things and elevate the group by each of their strengths.

Caleb Lomu:

• Says the offense is looking really good, they’re all healthy. Fall camp has really brought them together and they’re ready for game one.

•Lost some key players to their Oline but believes they’ve picked up where they’ve left off and they feel like they’re just getting better and better each day.

•As the newer guy in the line he expressed he has confidence in them and they have the confidence in him.

• Going up against the defensive ends he said it has helped him a lot, Connor O’Toole is a guy that he mentioned in particular. Stating that in spring he started going against the ones on the defense and they kicked his butt but its also helped develop him as a player and how to grow to be better.

Money Parks:

•Feels great to have Cam running the offense again, loves seeing the offense clicking and running on all cylinders.

•Excited for the wide-out room to make big plays, mentioned Dorian being a guy that helps spread the field out, helping make more plays and looking forward to making big plays this season.

•Staying focused on the little things, making sure he’s being more vocal and more of a leader with the younger guys.

Keanu Tanuvasa:

•Feels confident in the sense of across-the-board not only in the front seven but in the backfield with their DBs, they know they can rely on each other due to building a lot of unity over time.

•Extremely confident of where they’re at right now, individually he’s improved his intelligence as well as his game. Says he’s always had a lot of physical abilities that he’s been blessed with from heavenly father, and tributes a lot to him.

•Game smarts is something he’s prided himself on over the summer and tried to develop, expressing he’s feels confident in those abilities as well.

A late post-spring transfer could make a rare impact on the offense this season:

The G.O.A.T. Alex Smith will be the first inductee.

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Davis might not start this season at cornerback, but he should play a role in the rotation and depth chart:

A look right here:

10 days left until kickoff and it’s a double dose, today. First off, let’s talk about Johnathan Hall.

https://utah.rivals.com/news/utenation-countdown-to-kickoff-no-10-johnathan-hall-1

The senior from Texas could have his best season yet:

OC Andy Ludwig:

•Really really confident in the way Micah Bernard is playing right now, the thing he really credits right now is the running back group overall is doing a great job in the way they're carrying the ball, protecting the ball, big ball security.

•Noted the running backs room is doing an outstanding job with that Mike Mitchell, really made some noise, talked about him being bigger back and being what they were looking for in physicality in the run with him being a 215 pound back. Says it's a little bit different element, really confident with his trajectory; really shaping up well along with what they have in Micah.

•Jalen Glover solid camp, Dijon Stanley what a dynamic explosive guy he is, Ludwig is feeling confident in the group. Ultimately he wants the best players on the field to do what they do really well and protect the football and run hard.

•Dorian Singer: loves him, exactly what he expected him to be. Players love him, quarterbacks love him. Defensive backs love him because it’s making them all better. Says he's playing a couple different spots for them right now, so his football IQ is high, he gives them great flexibility and he can go get it.

•Tight ends: talked about the offensive staff room, every play they put together is a personal meeting, there's no two players like, tight ends there's a variety of skill set and strengths there. Brant Kuithe is gonna be a hard guy to take off the field, says maybe there's something that they would rather have at the Y like Brant and Caleb Lohner at the second tight end is just mix and match those skill sets.

•The installation is basically over, Saturday they’ll start getting just a couple Southern Utah looks and really dive into that Tuesday since players have Monday off for school; that gives them two full weeks of run up to the first game.

Freddie Whittingham:

• Caleb Lohner: done a great job of embracing the physicality, he’s a guy that doesn't have the background, and football is a learning curve to develop football intellect; there's a lot of different places to lineup in formation with different shifts and motions and then there's the actual assignment he's got execute. Continued with all those three things are all new to him, he's gotta be able to do it at a speed and with technique fundamentals to be able to execute correctly.

• His growth curve is above where they expected it would to be at this point about running routes, but he’s definitely like a rebounder who can go get the ball.

• He's embracing blocking very well with the desire to be physical, he will stick his nose up in there, he doesn't show any fear of contact.

•Dallen Bentley: He continues to progress, he unfortunately kept on re-injuring his hamstring last season, so he didn't get to see much time until toward the end of the season or even travel with a team because he was sideline with the injury. He had a really good spring ball he followed up with a very good fall camp and so his opportunities have grown because he's earned it on the field and he's he's got that prototypical tight and size he's in good athlete he catch the ball well he he's got good speed and so his focus is just trying to get to that level where he's got a high ceiling he just got gotta keep getting better and better and better.

Morgan Scalley:

• Guys have had some experience with Tao at the nickel spot, has progressed quite well the physical aspect of it you know him coming down the box that he had to get used to but he's put on the weight looking really good.

•Feels really good with Alaska’s Gilman, says he has high IQ football player. They’ve got five guys buying for two spots and he feels really good about where they’re at, not comfortable enough to say they’ve named two starters yet but excited.

•Kenan Johnson: Great add with experience and the accumulated reps at the corner position, great quickness and the his recovery speeds that are huge in their defense. Says they gotta keep him healthy, his ankles has been an issues here and there, but for the most part he's looking like he can be that guy.

• Right now Lander and Karene have the two spots solidified in the linebacker position and Sione Fotu is another guy who’s been in the
4-3 defense that has been very good for them.

• Defensive ends: loves leadership coming from that room, Keanu Tanuvasa and Junior Tafuna. They’ve got vets in that in that room that they feel pretty good. Favorite about the group is the opportunity to be able to rush and not necessarily have to have to bring pressure.

Colton Swan

•Focused on fine tuning the guys over the next couple of weeks. Noticed a couple errors in their scrimmage the other day. Focused on locking it in and fine tune some of the techniques.

•Very knowledgeable game experience between all the guys, confident in the ability to rotate them through if needed.