Pick 6 leads white team to 12-0 victory in Utah spring game


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SALT LAKE CITY — Sophomore Marcus Williams picked off quarterback Conner Manning a yard short of the end zone and returned it for a 99-yard touchdown to lift Utah’s white team over the red team 12-0.

The interception concluded Utah’s spring game and was the end to Utah’s spring practices for the season before the summer break.

“It was a heck of a play,” head coach Kyle Whittingham said. “He’s really got a bright future.”

Overall, there was little offense to be had in the spring game, with several of the starters on both sides of the ball held out of the final game as a precaution. Whittingham said it was the goal to keep his starters healthy heading into fall camp that was the overarching reason for holding out so many starters.

“Hopefully the fans got a taste of what our team is all about,” he said. “We want to make sure the starters are there September 3, so we kept most of those guys out today, and for good reason.”

Whittingham said he kept more offensive starters out this year than in years past, but that it was balanced on offense and defense, with approximately eight out on each side of the ball.

Noticeably absent from the game were quarterbacks Travis Wilson and Chase Hansen. Neither would have been “live” had they played, but Hansen hurt one of his finger’s prior to the game so the coaching staff held him out so he didn’t get injured more. Whittingham said since Hansen would not be playing, it was pointless to play Wilson, too.

“It’s Travis, it’s Kendal (Thompson), and it’s Chase; those are the guys that are going to be getting all the reps in the fall,” Whittingham said.


It's Travis, it's Kendal (Thompson), and it's Chase; those are the guys that are going to be getting all the reps in the fall.

–Kyle Whittingham


Whittingham added that there are no plans to move any of the quarterbacks to another position, but that he expects to have four or five on the depth chart in fall, despite having six on roster heading into summer.

“I think there will be some natural attrition,” he said. “But I think it will work itself out and I think we’re in good shape right now. None of them are earmarked for a position change, not at this point in time.”

Manning and redshirt freshman Donovan Isom have slid down the depth chart since the beginning of spring practices, but were the two quarterbacks in play Saturday. Manning was able to move the ball better than Isom, but finished the game with three interceptions. Manning finished throwing 16-of-33 for 96, while Isom finished throwing 7-of-15 for 15 yards and one interception, and had 56 rushing yards on 11 attempts.

“Both sides of the ball, we didn’t really do too much today. It was very simple, but we didn’t execute as well as we wanted to,” Manning said. “Obviously it’s not the way you want to end spring because you’re a competitor and you want to win, but we’re out here to have fun for the fans.”

“There was not a lot of playmaking out there,” Whittingham said. “It was mostly our twos and threes and fours in some instances. But there were some guys that stepped up.”

Whittingham said spring practices, though, were a complete success, with several new players looking to make an impact heading into fall. He pointed to defensive back Brian Allen, defensive end Kylie Fitts, linebacker Sunia Tauteoli, and receiver Raelon Singleton as a few guys that had a good spring.

One of the biggest positives coming out of spring camp was how good Utah’s defense can be this year. Whittingham praised the defensive effort this spring and believes they’re in a great position heading into fall.

“Time will tell where this defense ends up,” he said. “But right now, just from what we saw in spring, it’s pretty darn good. We’ve got some of the questions mostly answered.”

“I feel like (the defense) could definitely be better than last year’s,” defensive lineman Hunter Dimick said. We’ve got a long ways to go, but we’ve got (coach) Pease back there; he’s been changing up a few things from last year. So far it feels pretty good.”

Andy Phillips finshed the game with two made field goals for the white team, with his longest a 53-yard attempt in the first half.

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