The 20th season of Camp Kyle officially kicked off Monday at the University of Utah. With a veteran and battle tested group, Kyle Whittingham and his coaching staff are focused on setting a strong foundation for the team leading up to their first season in the Big 12 Conference. Expectations are justifiably high for the 2024 season, as the Utes were picked by the media as the Big 12 favorite to win the conference.
"We had a great summer, first of all," Whittingham said. "The players had the opportunity to do a lot of player-run practices—PRPs, as we call them. That showed up today. It was pretty smooth for the first day out. Execution was pretty good. No pads yet, and that will be the same tomorrow. It's mainly assignment football, but about what we expected for the first day. It was good. Solid day."
After a disappointing 2023 season riddled with injuries, the Utes return a large number of veterans and talent, with a few position groups to beef up.
Two-time Pac-12 champion quarterback Cam Rising is back healthy and the clear starter. Yet, a hot topic leading up to the season will be who’s Rising’s backup. Right now it’s a three-way battle between Brandon Rose, highly-regarded freshman Isaac Wilson and former 5-star Washington quarterback Sam Huard. It was a good first day for the quarterbacks according to Whittingham. For offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig, the final decision will come once they’re able to identify obvious separation.
“We need to see separation from one of those three young men — between Brandon [Rose], Isaac [Wilson] and Sam [Huard],” Ludwig said. “As soon as there’s some separation, that young man will start getting more reps, the other two guys a little fewer.”
One year after uncertainty at the backup quarterback position cost the Utes a real shot at a Pac-12 three-peat, they need to get the decision right. The sooner someone stands out, the better. However, it’s also a stronger group than the Utes had in 2023. As for Rising, who is now fully healthy, he is focused on improving his cuts at high speed now that he’s 100 percent. The battle-tested and highly-decorated senior is also helping the guys behind him at quarterback.
"I always try to help the guys. I was talking to Sam Huard today about some looks and helping him understand what we want to get done. It fired me up how fast he was able to learn and apply it to today's practice,” Rising said. “Any way I can help [the other guys], any questions they have, I'm going to try to answer. If I don't know the answer, I'll try and figure out the answer through the coaches."
Of course, the Utes will look to shore up other position battles over these next few weeks before game prep kicks in, but QB2 will be a priority so that there is no uncertainty behind Rising like last year. Most of the starting spots are locked up, outside of strong safety. Now it’s about focusing on how the depth chart shakes out through the roster. If someone surprises and overtakes one of the proven starters, it’s a good issue to have.
Finding players who will be on the two-deep behind clear favorites at corner with Zemaiah Vaughn and Kenan Johnson is also something to watch. Cornerbacks coach Sharrieff Shah is wanting to see who else can show consistency and show up to fill the depth.
The safeties room has Tao Johnson leading the pack to lock down the starting free safety position, while the battle between Nate Ritchie, Johnathan Hall and Alaka’i Gilman will continue throughout fall camp to fill the strong safety position.
