Charlie

USU has a number of transfers this year that may be a good team just themselves. They will be a different team this year. I wish we would return to playing them again. Back in the day we played home and home each year without being in the same conference. It was always a fun series.

Rising and Kuithe aside, I don’t think we have many key players taking advantage of the extra covid year. Without following other teams, I assume we are similar to others. Another factor may be uncertainty around the move to the Big 12 following two very good recruiting years provided by 2 rose bowls. Last years class will put pressure on guys in…[Read more]

Initially I was not concerned that recruiting in the Big 12 would be a change. I get that recruiting will take a dip from the last two years. However, my concern will grow if our recruits don’t have other offers from other power 4 conferences.

Actually it would be a good thing. Better than the other instate schools we have been playing. Since we most often only play 1 P5 level OOC game, USU is better than the usual 2 and 3. I liked our USU games because they are easy to drive to and are affordable. Not a coach’s favorite because they have often been quite physical and get players beat…[Read more]

A lot of good teams have more than one position that need to improve, getting down to one is not bad at all. USC and Colo have awesome WRs but have envy for our DL. Utah’s WRs need to improve but are not that far off. Still, being Utah’s featured receiver can get notice and can get drafted. I don’t expect the numbers to remain low as the QB…[Read more]

I am hoping that being one of the best teams in the Big 12 will be better than B1G and SEC bottom dwellers. A new playoff scheme will help.

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.