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2022 Spring Football: Coach Whittingham Talks Day 1

by Utah Athletics
Mar 22, 2022

SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah Football program hit the gridiron today for the first practice of spring camp at the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center, officially starting the prep for the 2022 season.

Head coach Kyle Whittingham, who is entering his 18th year at the helm, met with media after the first day of practice.  

On his impressions of the first day…
"It's what you'd expect with a lot of returning players that are experienced and have played a lot of football for us. It was clean, there were very few mistakes and again, it's just what we should've done today and we did."

On how much of an advantage it is to know who your starting quarterback is…
"It's a big advantage, especially when it's one who was first-team All-Pac-12, has been voted one of our captains and is a team leader obviously. Cam is our guy and it's great to have that situation."

On if there is a different vibe from the players when they know who the QB is going to be…
"I don't know about a different vibe but there is a lot of confidence. They believe in Cam, he's a winner and he rallies the troops which is what you want your quarterback to do."

On what the main focus is going into camp with many returners…
"Always fundamentals and technique in spring ball. Very little scheme and we just do the base stuff. Core defense, core offensive plays and we aren't trying to out scheme each other. We are trying to get better fundamentally and technique wise because that always trumps scheme."

On if spring is where guys grow the most in their individual game…
"I'd say they grow a lot in spring football. We only have 15 opportunities, but there is a lot of growth that takes place and you hope that continues into fall camp where you have 29 more opportunities before that game and you need to be ready to go."

On Utah being the favorite in the Pac-12…
"Yeah, you know we are the champions and we aren't going to sneak up on anybody. There is a lot of good football teams in the south, so we just need to go about our business like we usually do."

On the offensive line…
"We have a lot of good young offensive lineman in the program. We did lose our left tackle, Bamidele Olaseni, and Nick Ford has played such good football for us for the last four years, but we do have a lot of talent and depth on the line. That's what we're coached to do is develop that talent and coach Jim Harding does a great job at that."

On Braeden Daniels and what has stood out on his progression…
"He's a lot like Nick Ford in the fact that he can play all five spots. That really gives us some versatility with combinations out there. He can snap it, he can play inside or outside at a high level and that's what you're looking for is your best five guys and with that versatility that allows us a lot of different options and he's a guy that's really smart. He's one of the team leaders and we are grateful he's back this year."

On the impression of freshman Jaylon Glover…
"He put one ball on the ground but made some good cuts. He's a north, south guy and he has a great feel for running the ball instinctively. He's just got the ability to find those creases."

On new running backs coach Quinton Ganther and his handle on the room…
"Yeah he connects with the players very well and he's got their attention and respect. He's a guy that fits right into what we are doing offensively as far as what our expectations are of coaches and he's a guy we don't expect to miss a beat at that position."
 

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