BTW, there was mass hysteria in Tempe today when they closed the free clinic. Now they can’t get their STD’s they got from partying in Tucson treated. 
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To quote Bugs Bunny: “What a bunch of maroons!”
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Well, this is interesting.
Nate Johnson returns to Utah - Yahoo Sports.
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Here’s the most recent article about NJ.
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The interview references Swiss Army Knife about 6 times, therefore he shall now be known as SAK.
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The spring game is Saturday and I like the format of the offense going against the defense better than dividing the team in half.
The football portal opens Monday. I’m sure the Utes will lose 6-10 guys. I think the biggest areas of need are WR and DT.
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Just got an ESPN update that Wyatt Becker (4-star QB that just signed in December) is already in the portal.
I suspect Beck’s scheme did not work with his skill set.
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Wow, Becker, way to give it the old college try. Four months?
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5-stars expect to be P4 starters as FR
4-stars expect to be in the running or backup as FR or starters at G5
But there just aren’t that many spots and with transfers, it’s going to be pretty rare for most of these FR but when expectations aren’t met (or since they’ve likely been coddled, individually coached, etc.), they bail when they realize there is real competition and being a star in HS means you have to compete against other HS stars or somewhat proven players/transfers.
Plus, there are skill set differences to schemes (which may be the case with a change in OC). Maybe he even saw fellow FR qb recruit Byrd Ficklin (OK, 87 3-star) doing better.
But, on 247 at least, he’s a 3-star (87). Good luck to him I guess. Maybe UNM has a need.
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Seems like the qb depth chart might be:
- JR TR Devon Dampier
- SO Isaac Wilson (maybe FR Byrd Ficklin?)
- FR Byrd Ficklin
- R-JR TR Nate Johnson (only 4th because he might be used all over but could bring backup qb experience if there is a longer-term injury and IW/BF aren’t the answer)
- R-FR TR Brendan Zurbrugg
- I guess FR Drew Cowart is on the spring roster too (2-star our of AZ, 247 says he committed to BYU as walk-on, but I guess walked-on to Utah?)
I guess we do need some to run the scout team …
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I’m not surprised about this. All the talk has been that the competition for the backup position behind Dampier is between Wilson and Ficklin. Highly rated kids just don’t stick around anymore if they are going to be 4th on the depth chart. The sad thing is that we’ve needed quality QBs that deep on the depth chart in the past few years, but it’s really hard to keep that type of talent happy and patient sitting on the bench.
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Kyle said numerous times that Dampiet, Wilson and Ficklin were the only QB’s getting reps.
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He’s not a dual threat QB and originally committed to Ludwig With our new scheme he probably saw the writing on the wall and felt his best chances were elsewhere.
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This kind of sucks. Hope someone talented is coming in.
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So the guy plays in the spring game, and a day later enters the portal?
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2 thoughts here:
A) Spring game, media availability during fall camp/spring ball? gone.
B) Do NIL deals have a buyout? If not, they should!
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Coaches praising their players in the media? Gone.
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Utah’s ability to retain all of their best players? Gone.
During the P12 days, Utah enjoyed existing in the upper realms of the college football food chain. We were near peers with the likes of USC and Oregon for targeted high-school prospects and very rarely lost starters to them. Now we lose players to the likes of BYU- or anyone with cash to spend.
Our position in the food chain appears to have moved from something like 25, where we could punch above our weight and have top-10 finishes, to something more like 50 or 60. We have the resources to move players here from schools like Liberty and New Mexico and the resources to keep some of the select starters. We don’t have the resources to keep all of our proven or up and coming players, let alone poach such players from top 25 programs.
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This isn’t entirely accurate as the landscape is shifting again.
There was a good article in the Trib earlier this week talking about the changes and where Utah stands.
Revenue sharing is here. Utah will fully fund the 20.5 Million.
Kansas and Oklahoma State cannot fund theirs.
Utah has taken over the crimson collective and is already seeing much higher donations.
Utah’s been a bit behind, but it appears some of that was from being cautious and waiting for clarification of rules while others said rules be damned.
I’m very curious where this ends up in a couple years.
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