Charlie

When the OL has difficulty run blocking and pass protection there are several possible causes and only one is poor OL play. However, OL play is the first cited by fans. Many serviceable OLs can have zero drafted players, a mediocre OL likely fewer. Looking into other causes may provide some insight.

At some point I would think we would learn to wait and see what happens rather than be told what to expect. The one consistent thing I have seen from Whitt is he will play the best available player letting practice reps determine spots. And that assessment is later more than earlier. Barnes will accept a chance to be the bowl QB and likely may…[Read more]

For what it is worth… I recall Whitt saying they had 10 OL ready to play at the beginning of the year. I don’t know how far along ready to play is but I would think we should next have more than 5 ready plus development that can be done before fall. Coaches must have seen it coming with Fano and Lomu being top recruits last year. This year’s top…[Read more]

As we look for another QB, realize that every single place worth going to will have QB competition. If there is a walk right in situation it will be at the bottom of the barrel and right behind you will be another QB. I also think good QBs don’t mind competition. Exceptions would be incoming HCs that bring along their QB like is the case at MSU or…[Read more]

I think one or two Big 12 teams will do fine. It will become critical to contend for the championship often, go to the playoffs often and be ranked often. Even more critical, send players to the NFL and have NIL to contend with the B1G and SEC. Not everyone in the Big 12 will suffer but most will. The key question is who is going to be the cream…[Read more]

As it relates to recruiting, two PG options are here but not on the floor yet. Exacte is more of a combo guard but would improve ball handling. He is very close to returning from injury. Smith is an awesome PG. I think he would outplay most guards we play this year. I have no idea why the NCAA has such a problem with some second transfer athletes…[Read more]

I can’t recall, do PWOs commit along with scholarship athletes? I seems I remember some commits in the past that did end up PWOs. But I am not sure.

JC recruiting generally takes place in the fall along with HS. They are limited in ability to visit during the season however. By together with HS I mean they are on the board of targets throughout the fall, unlike portal folks that are generally not known until the portal opens unless they are one of the few that quit midseason. I could be wrong…[Read more]

JC is part of HS recruiting, the portal is much more likely to produce ’24 rotational players. The incoming part of the portal has not started except for those that started in a back channel fashion. You can expect to see a safety. Than and relax, no one here lies to you…

For 35 years I had a season football tickets at the Y to go to 1 game every other year and sold the others to family. I also had BB tickets on the 3rd row there for what use to be 1 game a year in the same fashion. Of course, we have had UofU football and BB tickets forever. I feel I have a masters degree in the rivalry. Clearly, I feel Utah fans…[Read more]

Oddly, I remind my family that the Y has yet to produce a prophet, it would seem they look to the U to develop their leadership. With the institute the U can offer everything offered at the Y with one additional item, free agency.

I have family that follows the Y. They tell me the current BB team is mostly the same team that had little success last year but for some reason is shooting much better this year. They have not played teams they feel have challenged them this year. They are not tall with 1 or more bigs slowed a bit by injury. Utah is much bigger but when we play 2…[Read more]

So hard to evaluate at this point. Most Juco guys take a year to transition to D1. Lots of offers but only 1 other P5 offer from WSU, clearly Utah’s offer is head and shoulders above any other. Ranks 85 and under are most often considered projects at this level. But he does come from a good JC program and has height. Scalley is very good at…[Read more]

Whitt is very aware of the funding need for football and will mention it from time to time. However, in the bowl conversations I don’t think I have ever heard him hint that the money is matters. What he always talks about is the value of extra practice. It is equal to spring ball and you already know how much they value spring ball.

Correct. There were spots from the usual HS recruiting saved for the portal. Each departure creates another spot. Likely a couple of spots will be still available for walk ons to rewarded with due to performance or RMs around the scholarship cutoff line. On balance, Utah has been at a sweet spot with the portal where more is gained than is lost. I…[Read more]

Maybe. Watch and see how guys from this year will suddenly improve greatly when we get Rising back with a better run game. What will Oregon or Washington’s OL look like if replacement QBs and RBs disappoint? Fascinating question of chicken or egg puzzle.

The problem is the consuming public. Everyone wants to follow the single best in the world rather than the local talent. That is why Taylor Swift makes so much more than local talent. I spent a month in Ireland and there was local Irish music in the smallest of towns that was simply amazing. I wonder if they even know who is the world’s best. The…[Read more]

I do like the idea of alignment of the ACC and Big 12 in an East / West fashion with the same number of teams as the SEC/B1G. If they committed long term to each other they could block further expansion by the SEC/B1G. Given their strength in especially BB but also FB this alignment could insist on equal inclusion in any playoffs that…[Read more]

This game was an object lesson in how lucky we are Carlson came back for a year. Had Smith became eligible we would spend the rest of the year improving our post season seed.

Oddly, the last two years I think Harding has recruited very good. The top recruit in ’23 and so far in ’24 is OL as well as the 3rd best in ’23. The depth is also very good. As has been discussed, I find it impossible to evaluate the OL in ’23 given the issues with QB and RB. They were much the same OL as ’22 but with improvements.

OSU had 4…[Read more]