Tie first, Utah

Utah

August 30, 2006

2005 record: 7-5

2005 MWC record: 4-4

2006 predicted record: 10-2

Predicted bowl: Las Vegas Bowl, Utah vs. UCLA

Head coach: Kyle Willingham

Last bowl appearance: 2005 Emerald Bowl, beat Georgia Tech 38-10

QUARTERBACK: At times Utah quarterback Brian Johnson was the replacement for 2004 Heisman Trophy finalist Alex Smith that the Utes hoped he would be. He was named second-team all-conference and Utah led the MWC in total offense. But at other times Utah’s coaches saw the inconsistency that should be expected from a sophomore first-year starter. Johnson completed nearly 64 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,892 yards and rushing for 478. Johnson was injured in the second to last regular season game with a knee injury. After Johnson’s injury, he was replaced by Brett Ratliff and he came on and to lead the Utes to a win over BYU to clinch a bowl bid and a 38-10 win over Georgia Tech in the Emerald Bowl. Johnson missed spring ball and Ratliff was named the starter in fall camp. Tommy Grady, an Oklahoma transfer, is eligible this year to provide the Utes with exceptional depth after serving in a scout team role last year.

RUNNING BACK: Utah’s biggest questions marks on offense are at running back after losing 1,000-yard rusher Quinton Ganther. He was the workhorse last year. Sophomore Darrell Mack, a power back, gained 147 yards as a true freshman in a backup role. He also has competition for the starting job from Daryl Poston and Mike Liti. Poston is the speed back. Liti started three games in the 2003 season but he missed 2004 with injuries and was limited by injuries in 2005. Two freshman recruits who could be in the mix are R.J. Stanford and Kenton Thomas.

RECEIVER: Although Utah lost two starters, the Utes feel like they have three returning starting wide receivers in their four widout set with senior Brian Hernandez, sophomore Brent Casteel and junior Derrek Richards. The reason is, Casteel and Richards both started five games last year. Marquis Wilson might have worked into a starting role last year, but he was redshirted because of injuries. Freddie Brown enters his sophomore year and running back Sean Smith is being converted to wide receiver. The Utes still need to find a tight end for the times they line up with a bigger receiver.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Utah has an anchor at left tackle among its three returning starting offensive lineman with senior Tavo Tupola, a second-team all-conference pick last year. Also returning to the starting lineup in the trenches are junior right tackle Jason Boone and sophomore right guard Robert Conley. Kyle Gunther, a junior, will take over as the starting center and senior Eric Pettit is the left guard. But the depth behind the starters is inexperienced with three sophomores, a freshman and a junior.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Utah’s defensive line matches the offensive starters in the trenches with three returning starters in junior defensive end Martail Burnett, senior defensive end Soli Lefiti and senior defensive tackle Kelly Talavou. Although the Utes lost all-conference pick Steve Fifita, the coaches believe Talavou can turn in a similar year in his senior season. The nose tackle position should be filled by Paul Soliai, who came to the school as an offensive lineman before he was converted last year. Lefiti missed spring ball with an injury. Also similar to the offense line, the Utes lack experience in the backup roles.

LINEBACKERS: Joe Jiannoi was fourth on the team in tackles last year with 75 as a middle linebacker, but in the Utah defense his numbers should increase as he shifts to the rover linebacker role with the graduation of Spencer Toone. Kyle Brady joins Jiannoi as a returning starter, but his backup, Malakai Mokoffisi, also has experience and could end up pushing Brady for starts. The competition for the starting job at middle linebacker is between two juniors, Loma Olevao and Chet Blasucci.

SECONDARY: Defensive back Eric Weddle was the MWC Defensive Player of the Year for both his talent and versatility. He is an All-American candidate and can play safety or cornerback after he started at both positions last year. He also plays a rover position when Utah shifts from a base 4-3 defense to a nickel-back alignment. All three returning starters are safeties. Alongside Weddle is strong safety Casey Evans, a second-team all-conference pick a year ago, and at free safety Steve Tate. When Weddle starts at cornerback, the competition for the other starting cornerback position is between senior Shaun Harper and sophomore Brice McCain.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Louie Sakoda returns for his sophomore season as the Utes’ punter, but a new place-kicker and punt and kickoff return men must be identified in fall camp. Sakoda handled the kickoff duties last year in addition to punting and will begin fall camp handling all three roles.