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Utah Utes vs Montana State Bobcats Football Preview
It’s a whole new world for the University of Utah. What was until recently considered a pipe dream for all non-AQ powers has actually come true for the Utes. The rise of the program could not have come at a better time. A number-four finish in the 2004 national rankings and a number-two finish in 2008 pulled Utah to the top of the heap in the realm of non-BCS conference teams. Fortuitously, this happened just as visionary Larry Scott was taking over the Pacific 10 Conference. Utah capitalized on its run of success and has been welcomed to the big show.
Utah ’s maiden Pac-12 voyage begins by hosting the Montana State Bobcats, who went 9-3 last season out of the Big Sky. Utah is led by junior signal-caller Jordan Wynn, who returns from off-season shoulder surgery after a 2,334-yard campaign a year ago. That season was somewhat discouraging for Wynn, who didn’t quite have the breakout year many expected after he led the Utes in a bowl shellacking of Cal as a freshman. This season, he is charged with the task of leading a new offense, as coordinator Norm Chow returns to his alma mater to install his patented pro-style offense.
Wynn’s task won’t be easy – Utah returns fewer than 100 rushing yards in 2011. Junior-college transfer John White and Tauni Vakapuna have been given first team reps in camp. The Utes will look to use this game as a way to get highly-recruited freshman Harvey Langi and rugby-to-football convert Tretton Palamo some experience as well. The Utes do welcome the return of leading receiver DeVonte Christopher, a big-play threat who hauled in 660 yards and 6 touchdowns last season. Also promising for Wynn’s task is the surety that Chow’s offense will give tight end Kendrick Moeai much more than the 11 receptions he had last season.
Utah will look to its defense to hold the fort while the offense gets its bearings. While the defense does lose some players, head coach Kyle Whittingham is quickly gaining a reputation of developing NFL-caliber defenders. Linebacker Brian Blechen and linemen Derrick Shelby and Dave Kruger lead a defense that is stacked with talent, with reports from fall camp that Whittingham expects to go 18 or 19 players deep on defense. This is good for Utah, because Montana State’s offense won’t be letting Utah ease into the season> Browse a great selection of Utah Utes apparel & merchandise online as well as Pac 10 tickets through Pac 10 Fans and partner sites.
Denarius McGhee returns to quarterback the Bobcats. Just a freshman in 2010, McGhee passed for 3,163 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only six interceptions to lead MSU into the FCS playoffs. The Bobcats also return all three leading rushers in Orenzo Davis (1,204 yards), C.J. Palmer (478 yards), and McGhee (352 yards). Add to that two of the top three receivers returning in Elvis Akpla and Everett Gilbert, and Montana State’s offense should be ready to keep Utah honest for all four quarters.
By Brett Hein
DFN Sports Staff Writer