The Utes kick things off Monday afternoon up on the hill.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said there are a number of things the defending Pac-12 South champions want to accomplish this spring. Many of the objectives center around moving forward without a small but talented senior class that led the Utes to their first appearance in the conference championship game.
Whittingham noted that they made quite an impact. Graduation losses include special teams stars Matt Gay and Mitch Wishnowsky; starting offensive linemen Jordan Agasiva, Jackson Barton and Lo Falemaka; linebackers Chase Hansen and Cody Barton; as well as safeties Corrion Ballard and Marquise Blair.
When spring ball kicks off Monday, the search for replacements gains traction. Although answers may not come until fall camp when everyone arrives, the process gets underway. In the meantime, Whittingham has an overriding point of emphasis for spring ball. It’s been a constant throughout his lengthy tenure as head coach. Whittingham and his staff are determined to make “every player in the program better fundamentally and technique-wise.”
All outdoor practices and scrimmages are open to the public, beginning Monday from 3-5 p.m. at the fields behind the Eccles Football Center. The Utes are also scheduled practice Tuesday and Thursday before shutting things down for nearly two weeks because of spring break. The remainder of spring ball resumes March 19 and concludes with the annual Red-White Game April 13 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Several returnees will not participate in spring ball while recovering from injuries. The players include defensive back Stone Azarcon, linebacker Francis Bernard, wide receiver Britain Covey, linebacker Quinn Fabrizio, tight end Bapa Falemaka, tight end Connor Haller, defensive end Blake Kuithe, running back Zack Moss, wide receiver Samson Nacua, wide receiver Dominique Thompson and defensive tackle Pita Tonga.
