UTAH vs. SOUTHERN UTAH, Thursday, 6 p.m. (PAC-12)
Expectations are still high for the Utes who are coming off the program’s most successful season last year in the Pac-12. Utah looks to top last year’s 10-win season when the team steps out onto the field Thursday night against Southern Utah.
This will be the first meeting between both schools, with Utah holding a perfect 37-0 record against current members of the Big Sky Conference.
Troy Williams, a dual-threat quarterback, will start under center for the Utes and is no stranger to the Pac-12. Williams player a year at Washington before a setback landed him at Santa Monica College. While there, Williams passed for 2,750 yards and 31 touchdowns with a completion rate of 67.9 percent.
The highly touted junior college transfer earned the starting spot after beating out freshman Tyler Huntley and junior Brandon Cox for the job. After it was announced that Williams was the guy, Cox decided to transfer leaving the Utes thin with just two scholarship quarterbacks. He’s the fourth quarterback to transfer out of the program over the past year.
Fans will get an up-close look at Williams with a new video board that was installed this past offseason. The new state of the art board measures 89 feet tall and 118 feet wide, making it the second largest college football video board in the country.
The Utes, picked to finish third in the Pac-12 South, return a number of starters, but must replace several key positions, most notably at the quarterback and running back positions.
Williams will get some help with what appears to be a very strong offensive line. Five players return that started at least seven games last year. Not to mention top recruits Jackson Barton and Garrett Bolles.
On defense, the Utes look stout with junior defensive tackle Lowell Lotulelei and junior free safety Marcus Williams leading the way.
The biggest questions heading into Thursday’s game is if the Utes can develop a passing game, of which has sorely lacked in recent years. With running back Devontae Booker now with the Denver Broncos, the Utes — who have been a primarily a run-heavy offense — will need some production as the team gears up for some big showdowns later this month against BYU and USC.
While the Utes should take care of business, Thursday’s game shouldn’t be as big of a cakewalk as fans seem to expect.
In the 2016 NFL Draft, SUU has more guys drafted (Miles Killebre, LeShaun Sims ) than both BYU and UTAH. Defensive end James Cowser – the all-time FCS leader in sacks and tackles for loss – signed a free agent deal with the Oakland Raiders.
Big Sky teams have knocked off several Pac-12 teams over the years and Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is well aware of it.
“It happens every year and our goal is to not be one of those teams,” he told media members.
Utah Season Openers: Utah has won its last eight season openers in a streak dating back to a 2008 victory at Michigan. In seasons where the first game was played in Salt Lake City, the Utes have won 11 straight starting with a 2001 win over Utah State.
