How will we use Cooper Bateman?

[UteFanatic]

Sounds like Bateman isn’t going to be playing QB this year.  Does he get playing time at any other position?

Whitt said Cooper Bateman is no longer receiving equal reps in camp. Battle for No. 1 continues with Williams and Huntley.

— Josh Furlong (@JFurKSL) August 7, 2017

[ironman1315]

I think he’ll turn into a WR by the end of the year.

[Onlyu]

He might try, but if we moved a guy like Kenric Young, who played WR for 3 years over to Defense in his Senior year because he’s got a better chance to see the field at DB…Cooper’s got no shot to play there either.  Carrington, Singleton, Wilson, Simpkins, Hampton, Thompson, Nacua, Dana, Fulks, McCormick Jr., King Vickers if he makes it this week…Won’t happen.    

[Milton Vanderslice]

If only there was another position that we have a history of converting QBs to.  Hmmm, let me think….

[UteFanatic]

Nah, Whitt would never do that to a QB.

[Puget Ute]

We have a decent track record of putting former QBs into the NFL on Defense.

[FtheY]

Wasn’t he the holder for Alabama? 

Is he fast enough for special teams? I’m thinking like a Jason Thompson type role. 

[FtheY]

This honestly surprises me though. He looked decent in the spring game. 

Why would we he want to come here if he thought he might not play? He could at least have the chance at a national championship in Alabama by sitting on that bench. 

Do we really think Williams and Huntley are that much better? Politics to prevent a Huntley transfer? Investment in Huntleys future instead of a one year rental? Disinformation so Kyle can use him for special packages? Bad fit in Taylor’s system? Position change, like others mentioned? 

[UteFanatic]

Wasn’t he a walk on?  Surely he could have gotten a scholarship to play elsewhere if he wanted to.  Maybe he just wanted to be in Utah and thought he could get some playing time here regardless of position?

[Onlyu]

Bateman comes from a pro style Alabama offense.  He rolled the dice after he lost the job to a freshman last year but isn’t really suited for Taylor’s offense.  He’s been gone for 4 years and felt that he got screwed by the Bama staff after he got benched in game 2.  He wouldn’t have played there this year so came home to give it a shot here…doesn’t look like it will work out.  Already has a ring so sitting on the bench for a chance at another one wasn’t very enticing to him.  

The GOOD NEWS IS that this offense really fits Williams…he was recruited to run a similar offense at Washington as a high level dual threat guy.  Williams has been head and shoulders above both so far in camp…he’s going to have a very good year and put up some nice numbers with talented receivers around him as long as the O-line stays healthy.