Projected Depth Chart?

[UteButters]

Now that the portal cycle is officially closed and the roster is 98% complete … how do we see the depth chart playing out? This is my personal opinion without any “or’s” on the chart:

OFFENSE:

QB:
1. Devon Dampier
2. Isaac Wilson
3. Byrd Ficklin

RB:
1. Wayshawn Parker
2. NaQuari Rogers
3. Bryce Duke

TE:
1. Dallen Bentley
2. Hunter Andrews
3. Otto Tia

WR-X:
1. Tobias Merriweather
2. Luca Calderella
3. JJ Buchanan

WR-S:
1. Ryan Davis
2. Creed Whittemore
3. Nate Johnson

WR-Z
1. Larry Simmons
2. Daidren Zipperer

LT:
1. Caleb Lomu
2. Keith Olson

LG:
1. Tanoa Togiai
2. Alex Harrison

C:
1. Jaren Kump
2. Isaiah Garcia

RG:
1. Michael Mokofisi
2. Roger Alderman

RT:
1. Spencer Fano
2. Zereoue Williams

DEFENSE:

DE:
1. Logan Fano
2. Lance Holtzclaw

DT:
1. Dallas Vakalahi
2. Karson Kaufusi
3. Dilan Battle

DT:
1. Aliki Vimahi
2. Jonah Lea’ea
3. Semi Taulanga

DE:
1. Kash Dillon
2. Paul Fitzgerald

LB:
1. Lander Barton
2. Kanai Lopes

LB:
1. Levani Damuni
2. Jonno Hall

NICKEL:
1. Smith Snowden
2. Jackson Bennee

CB:
1. Elijah Davis
2. JC Hart

CB:
1. Blake Cotton
2. Don Saunders

S:
1. Tao Johnson
2. Nate Tilmon

S:
1. Rabbit Evans
2. Nate Ritchie

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Thanks for the list. Starting offensive line looks really solid. Tight ends could be good if Andrew’s is as good as advertised. The rest are unfamiliar names and have had success with previous teams so 🤞. WR and depth look suspect.

Defense looks pretty solid at most positions. Linebackers, nickel and safety’s look really good. Good speed on the edges. Starting D line looks good. Corners are a question mark but Shah is amazing coach. Depth and second pass rusher could be a question.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

One factor that doesn’t show up on the depth chart is leadership and work ethic. This team will be much different than the past two years. Hard to be a leader when you’re hurt (Rising). Dampier by all accounts is a proven leader and has accepted his leader role on this team. Snowden Barton Fano Johnson all good leaders on defense. Add on the disappointment of last year and a highly motivated coaching staff. I’m excited to see what we have.

[BleedsRedUte]

Most of it looks pretty solid, with the defensive backfield experienced and should be a strong point of the D.

I would put Ficklin as the backup and Wilson 3rd. They can still compete in practices, but Ficklin showed out in the Spring game to be the likely best QB of roster. Start developing him now.

Why start Dillon ahead of Fitzgerald? Dillon is completely new to D-1 play, and I would rather use Fitzgerald, with some rotation, if Dillon is looking that good.

I used to like analyzing the possible lineups for Ute football in past years, but the changes with NIL and transfers has made it a crap shoot to guess who will be the best contributors, much less who will jell into a competive team.

I know we need something to do during the “Sports” lull of the Summer, but I am only going to be excited to see what kind of product takes the field for the first game, and then we can seriously start making educated guesses about the team.

[UteButters]

Lot’s of good things about Kash. If he’s not starting immediately at the beginning of the season he will be starting at some point in the season.

[Charlie]

I think your list is pretty much what goes into fall camp. RB, TE, and WR will solidify more in the fall. Johnson and Hunter will have more of a roll that is hard to reflect in the depth chart because I have noted Beck has an interest in a hybrid back. Bray has a chance to move up as the quick back option. Lud had a lot of interest in a back that could pick up a blitz, I don’t know Beck’s priority for this yet. I am hoping Beck makes more game to game changes on offense due to the plan to attack each defense. It may take a couple of games for the chart to settle in.

Utah likes to rotate DTs so without a clear leader it may feel like 4 or 5 in rotation. The DE opposite Fano is a spot that is open. LBer and Safety will have Hall and Ritchie rotate in a lot keeping these spots fresh. I think the CBs are still in a process of getting into a line.

We often have a surprise that jumps into the depth chart. This year is high on that possibility.

[AZUTE]

Ficklin will be number QB2.
He’s more accurate than Wilson and a more dynamic runner.

RB3 will be Devin Green. Duke will be a special teams guy and emergency RB.

TE in name only. Tia and Andrews will line up all over the field.

[Yngve]

It will be interesting to see how Davis and Whittemore are interchanged…Creed’s got some impressive speed, Ryan’s got a better grasp on the offense. Wonder if we’ll start to see some more empty sets to get both on the field.

Totally agree with Charlie – it will be fun to see where Nate and Hunter pop up during a given game. As long as we don’t get super predictable with their use, they could add some intrigue to the offense without being relegated to gadgets.

[Ute Dub]

You have the starting tackles opposite. Fano is at RT not LT.

[Charlie]

This is interesting to watch. I did not note what Fano did in the spring game. Fano’s interest would be in learning the LT spot for the NFL. Possibly learning both spots which may be ideal. A left handed QB would want him at RT. If or when other QBs play does he switch spots? Is he equally good at both spots? Does he have a preference? A tackle that can play either side at a high level is awesome.

[Ute Dub]

I think he’s better at RT. He’s played it forever. My son trained with him a bit in HS at Tuni Kanuch’s training center. His skills are elite and he’s been doing the one on ones a long time.

[UteButters]

Haha you’re right! Didn’t even think about it … got it changed

[chinngiskhaan]

Excited to see new names almost across the board. Not surprised Richie got passed up. He just hasn’t been the same since his mission. That being said it’s also nice to see guys like him stick around adding quality depth.

[ProudUte]

Well done. Thanks for posting!

[matthutes]

Do you think Christian Thatcher will get in the rotation at all?

[D T]

I absolutely believe he will at some point….CT’s a future superstar.

[Rick]

Butters,
A couple of questions for you. Garcia at center is new information to me – not that I had any insider knowledge. I’ve assumed he’d be our next great tackle. Is he a tackle-in-waiting who gets playing time backing up Kump at center or is he going to be our center of the future? Do you know?

Dillon over Fitzgerald is another projection I’m wondering about. What do you know about his progress that suggests he starts? Fitzgerald is a solid defensive end who proved to be strong against the run last season but didn’t do much as a pass rusher. Not that anyone did much in that space. I do hope Dillon becomes at least a two-year starter for the U. He certainly has the physical makeup.

Lastly, is Kanai Lopes projected as a backup because you hope he will be or because his play demands it? He’s another one, like Dillon, whose positional size and athleticism would suggest he climb the depth chart but he’s also on the young end still. I know Scalley thinks highly of Trey Reynolds.

Anyway, just wondering whether or not you can share a little more information on those players/positions.

[Tednab]

.. where did OnlyU go ? He’s been absent since Ludwig’s departure

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