Johnston leaving

[UtahManPodcast]

Chayden Johnston announced via twitter he is leaving the program to pursue his career in healthcare.

[Utah5410]

This is really my only concern. Not the 0 line – not the backers, our place kicking. It could lose us a game or two.

[chinngiskhaan]

wow… I don’t blame him, but it must have been really bad if it came to this. I can’t imagine that these issues were presenting themselves in practice over the last two years, otherwise Whitt would have done something about it. The pressure must have really got to him. Just craziness.

[Calgradutedad]

6 FGs against Oregon last year including a 55 yarder and a 41 yarder. Different game with a below average kicker. Hopefully it won’t matter this year but it probably will.

[Staples]

It will probably make us more aggressive in our play calling inside the 40 since we won’t have a near guarantee of 3 points.

[AlohaUte]

Considering how dominant Utah has been in Special Teams the last decade, how brutal would it be to have our best team not reach their potential because we have mediocre special teams?

[SkinyUte]

Who is the backup – er, starting – kicker?

[Larry B]

Is it too late to receive a transfer? Maybe there’s a decent kicker sitting on the bench somewhere else that sees an opportunity.

[Central Coast Ute]

No it’s not too late. Utah does have another kicker, not on scholarship. Once spring ball wraps up everywhere, you’ll see more names in the potal.

[Utah5410]

We have one guy Jason Redding. Missed a 31 yard kick in the spring game. This is a real problem.

[PlainsUte]

“Ball did not go through the uprights.”

[Justin Coles]

Underrated comment.

[Anfernee]

Maybe this will make the offense more aggressive? Knowing they don’t have the safety net of an automatic 3 points. I’ll gladly trade more touchdowns for another all american kicker.

[cjd1]

Joshua Rowland , another Texas Longhorn, is a grad transfer available.

[Tony (admin)]

Perhaps we should move on that.

[cjd1]

After doing some more research he is not that great of a kicker. Oh well.

[Tony (admin)]

Perhaps we should not move on that.

[belli1976]

He was a backup to a guy that went 18-25. Probably still an upgrade from where are now though.

[EagleMountainUte]

Good thing for him. Bad for Utah but could have been worst possibly if Utah depended on him. Overall bad outcome that needs to be fixed and feels incredibly ironic.

[chinngiskhaan]

after thinking on this, I wouldn’t be surprised if he left knowing that there was someone else that was for sure better than him. I wouldn’t be surprised if the coaches have been looking for outside help for the last few weeks at least.

[cicampbe]

Time to check with the Ski Team.

[PlainsUte]

…and soccer team? My friend’s son is pretty good, but he has already signed with Northern Alabama.
Samuel Contorno

[Dwight89]

Sounds like Johnston was a head case and this is a way to save face before facing a crowd at RES. We were in desperate need of a kicker who could make field goals two weeks ago, so this doesn’t really change anything. 

[BD]

Crazy to think what might have been for him had he made that first kick in the first game of the season a few years ago. He may not have made that announcement had he simply made that kick.

[Tony (admin)]

Well I would think he’s a head case either way, so maybe better he missed.  But how messed up is it to wait in the wings this long, then when you get your chance to start, you bail?

[RustyShackleford]

Hopefully this was an amicable force out and Whitt has someone better coming. I’m not too worried yet whit has a way of pulling kickers out of his hat…

[Central Coast Ute]

I’m just as worried as everyone else about the kicking game. But I have to wonder (and hope) if during his exit interview after spring ball, that Whitt told him they were going to go in another direction. If that’s the case maybe it’s not as bleak as it seems right now. This is all speculation but I can hope right?