Kyle Whittingham’s Availability In Week Three Of Utah Football Spring Ball

SALT LAKE CITY – On Tuesday, Kyle Whittingham and Utah football welcomed the media back to spring ball for practice.

With so much change from the previous season, there is much to learn about the Utes this year.

Coach Whittingham addressed members of the media and hit on several different topics. Here are the big takeaways from Whittingham’s commentary.

Most of the questions revolved around the offense, but Whittingham addressed more than what’s included here.

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Utah football’s progress being made during spring ball

“I would say we’re on schedule, we’re in the middle third of spring ball, and so far we’ve made a lot of progress,” coach Whittingham shared.

With running back, Wayshawn Parker continues to lead the way for the group but Whittingham likes what he’s seeing from the guys behind him.

“NaQari Rogers is doing a good job, Daniel Bray is a different type of back but he’s doing some good things,” Whittingham said. “Hunter Andrews is doing a nice job there, and Nate Johnson is also getting some reps there.”

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At receiver, the tone is a bit different but Whittingham is still seeing encouraging signs.

“Still got to sort things out at wide receiver; we’re still trying to figure out who the go-to guys are going to be, and that’s going to be a process,” Whittingham said. “We feel comfortable with a bunch of them, it’s just who’s going to step up consistently and make plays.”

On the defensive side, cornerback is the most open competition and Whittingham feels good about what the guys are showing there.

“We’re looking for that outside corner, opposite of Scooby, and right now I’d say Blake Cotton is doing a really nice job, as is Donovan Saunders,” Whittingham shared. “Jackson Bennee is doing a nice job (at nickel), the nickel spot is kind of a speciality spot.”

Landen King’s development, tight ends still matter in this offense

After two seasons with the program, the talented tight end seems primed for a breakout year. King has always possessed the talent, but Whittingham sees the work he’s put in and the development of his game.

“Landen’s done a nice job, he’s put some weight on, he’s about 10 pounds heavier than last year, so that’s helped him,” Whittingham said. “He’s kind of a hybrid, he’s not really a true hand-in-dirt tight end, he’s not really a true H-back, he’s a tweener but I think we’re using him in a lot of good ways.”

This is King’s final season of eligibility, and the talented tight end hopes to make the most of it. This offense seems better suited for him, and Whittingham that for him and the tight end group in general.

“We feel like the tight end spot, though not as much 12-personnel, they’re still going to be a big factor for us,” Whittingham said.

Byrd Ficklin showing good progress

At quarterback, Devon Dampier continues to lead the way for the quarterbacks but Whittingham acknowledged that a true freshman is standing out.

“Byrd Ficklin is doing a lot of good things; he’s shown a lot of promise,” Whittingham said. “He’s gaining good command of the offense and he’s got a really good arm. He’s starting to feel comfortable in the offense, and showing more of the things we saw on film.”

During Tuesday’s practice viewing, Byrd orchestrated a good drive against a mixture of second and third-team defenders. He made good throws and used his legs effectively.

The lefty from Muskogee, OK, was a late recruiting flip in December. The Utes flipped him from Texas State and beat out other interested programs like Ole Miss and Oklahoma to land him. So far, it seems Utah found a good one.

Hunter Andrews emergence

After moving between offense and defense, Hunter Andrews seems to be settling in as a versatile offensive player.

“He’s a hybrid, he’s more of a running back/tight end guy,” Whittingham said. “We’ve seen good things; when he’s in the backfield, he does a great job of blitz pickup. He’s got great speed, a 4.4 kid, so he’s got the ability to go the distance.”

Andrews’s exciting blend of athleticism and size makes him an intriguing piece, and that’s exactly how Utah views him.

“He’s doing a lot of things at the tight end spot, he’s one of those guys like Nate Johnson playing several positions,” Whitt said.

Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.

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