2021 Football Camp: Back to the Gridiron
SALT LAKE CITY - The temperature wasn't the only thing heating up at the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center today as the University of Utah Football program hit the field for the first time of 2021 fall camp, immediately giving off an electric atmosphere that proved one thing - football is back.
The Utes donned red and black jerseys with the offense in red and the defense wearing the black, showing that they've been itching to get back on the field with the energy surrounding the team.
FOOTBALL IS BACK! ????#GoUtes | @Utah_Football pic.twitter.com/uTgdwtlI8M
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) August 5, 2021
The Utes will run through fall camp until Aug. 21 with school starting on Aug. 23. The Utes kickoff the fall season against Weber State on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 5:30 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Networks, debuting the new field turf and the Ken Garff Red Zone.
DAY 1?? DONE ?#UBoyz pic.twitter.com/vDWM9z0EGG
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 5, 2021
Welcome Back Open House
Utah Utes fans will have an opportunity to tour the Ken Garff Red Zone at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Welcome Back Open House. The event will run from 6-8 p.m., and include a special program in which each of the Utes' head coaches will appear and talk about the upcoming season. Admission is free. To secure a free ticket, click here.
We. Are. Back. #UBoyz pic.twitter.com/MkKaBKW5Ig
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 4, 2021
Preseason Awards
The Utes have been well-represented when it comes to earning spots on national award watch lists and landing on preseason all-conference teams. Utah landed five first-team selections on the Preseason All-Pac-12 list and 12 overall after the Utes were picked to finish second in the South Division. The South Division captured 16 of the 25 first-team picks with Utah leading all programs with five first-team selections. For a full list of preseason awards, click here.
Day One Thoughts: Head Coach Kyle Whittingham
On day one...
"There were a lot of positive things today, but we have a lot of work to do. We have 24 practices to go, so we have our work cut out for us."
On Cameron Rising's progression from his injury...
"He is 100-percent. He looked great today, looked like his old self and I detected no lack of arm strength. He took every rep that he was supposed to take and he said he felt good."
On how the running backs looked today...
"Really good. Tavion Thomas is a great addition. He looked really good today, so did Micah Bernard, TJ Pledger and Chris Curry. We feel like we have a good stable of backs this year. Tavion reminds me of that back from Tennesse, he just a big, physical runner that has speed to get to the outside. TJ is more of a scat back like we had in John White a couple of years ago. Chris is a bigger back that is a lot like Tavion, same style. Micah is just a tremendous athlete. He could play wide receiver if we need him to because he has that skill set."