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Moving into the Pac-12 was not easy on Utah. Once a Mountain West power and BCS buster, the team went 18-19 over its first three seasons in the new league.
Is Kyle Whittingham finally on the brink of a breakthrough? The 12th-year head coach guided his team to a nine-win season last fall, one that included upsets over Michigan, UCLA and USC. But the Utes also lost to lowly Washington State and finished a notch above .500 in conference play.
This should be a prove-it year for Utah’s status in the Pac-12 hierarchy.
2014 record: 9-4 (5-4 Pac-12); Las Vegas Bowl, 45-10 win over Colorado State
OFFENSE
Getting Devontae Booker back for one more season was a tremendous coup for Utah, but the big question mark lies with the man handing him the ball.
Not since an undefeated run in 2008 has a starting Ute quarterback made it through an entire season unscathed. This year, they’ll turn again to Travis Wilson, who started seven games as a true freshman before concussion worries — and a pre-existing neurological condition — threatened to end his career.
Wilson is a senior now, and Utah will need him to play better than ever to have a chance at winning the Pac-12 South. In his first three seasons, the 6-foot-7 quarterback never ranked above eighth in the conference in pass rating.
The good news is that Booker is one of the Pac-12’s best tailbacks, a future pro who turned down a spot in the 2015 NFL draft to exhaust his college eligibility.
DEFENSE
Utah isn’t officially known as “D-Line U,” but that’s not for lack of recent production.
In 2013, defensive tackle Star Lotulelei was drafted at No. 14 overall, and was followed six rounds later by defensive end Joe Kruger. This past May, defensive end Nate Orchard became a second-round selection.
These types of losses make sustained excellence difficult, and the most recent bar might be the highest yet. Last fall, Utah led the country in sacks (55), and ranked third-best in the conference in opposing rushing yards per carry (3.77).
How good the defense is this year will depend on players like Hunter Dimick — who started 11 games in 2014 — and Lowell Lotulelei, Star’s younger brother.
Moving into the Pac-12 was not easy on Utah. Once a Mountain West power and BCS buster, the team went 18-19 over its first three seasons in the new league.
Is Kyle Whittingham finally on the brink of a breakthrough? The 12th-year head coach guided his team to a nine-win season last fall, one that included upsets over Michigan, UCLA and USC. But the Utes also lost to lowly Washington State and finished a notch above .500 in conference play.
This should be a prove-it year for Utah’s status in the Pac-12 hierarchy.
2014 record: 9-4 (5-4 Pac-12); Las Vegas Bowl, 45-10 win over Colorado State
OFFENSE
Getting Devontae Booker back for one more season was a tremendous coup for Utah, but the big question mark lies with the man handing him the ball.
Not since an undefeated run in 2008 has a starting Ute quarterback made it through an entire season unscathed. This year, they’ll turn again to Travis Wilson, who started seven games as a true freshman before concussion worries — and a pre-existing neurological condition — threatened to end his career.
Wilson is a senior now, and Utah will need him to play better than ever to have a chance at winning the Pac-12 South. In his first three seasons, the 6-foot-7 quarterback never ranked above eighth in the conference in pass rating.
The good news is that Booker is one of the Pac-12’s best tailbacks, a future pro who turned down a spot in the 2015 NFL draft to exhaust his college eligibility.
DEFENSE
Utah isn’t officially known as “D-Line U,” but that’s not for lack of recent production.
In 2013, defensive tackle Star Lotulelei was drafted at No. 14 overall, and was followed six rounds later by defensive end Joe Kruger. This past May, defensive end Nate Orchard became a second-round selection.
These types of losses make sustained excellence difficult, and the most recent bar might be the highest yet. Last fall, Utah led the country in sacks (55), and ranked third-best in the conference in opposing rushing yards per carry (3.77).
How good the defense is this year will depend on players like Hunter Dimick — who started 11 games in 2014 — and Lowell Lotulelei, Star’s younger brother.
