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SALT LAKE CITY — With just 12 days to go until kickoff, KSL.com highlights two senior players on the Utah team that, while they may not be close in height, are both pivotal to the Utes’ success this season in No. 12, Tim Patrick and Justin Thomas.
Tim Patrick, senior, wide receiver
Perhaps the biggest unit in question for this Utah team is the wide receivers, and fans hope that Patrick can be the answer. The former walk-on stands at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, as he certainly has the length to be a great receiver. However, due to injuries, the senior has only played in 10 games heading into his third year in the program.
The Utes haven’t done well in recent years in regards to the passing game, finishing 11th in the Pac-12 with just 180 yards per game. While there’s blame to go around to multiple groups, the receivers have been at the center of that for a while now.
But Patrick believes he can be the answer. He certainly doesn’t lack the confidence, as he’s been adamant to the media that he, along with the rest of the group, will be making some noise in the conference this season. For the passing game’s sake, head coach Kyle Whittingham hopes, and believes, that he will be able to back it up once the season begins.
“He just puts his head down and works. He’s just excited to be back out here. It’s been a long time since he was healthy, and he just feels very blessed and fortunate to be out here with his teammates,” Whittingham told KSL.com. “He’s all about getting the job done. There’s not a lot of extracurricular with Timmy.”
Though Patrick has given everyone just a small dose of his abilities the last two seasons, his impressive play in fall camp gives reason for Ute fans to have a little more optimism about the receivers this season.
Justin Thomas, senior, defensive back
Thomas, who comes to Utah from West Orange-Stark High School, may be small in stature — 5-foot-8, 180 pounds — but he made big plays last year. He kicked off last season’s big win over Michigan with an interception returned for a touchdown that essentially won the game for the Utes. Overall, Thomas finished 2015 with 48 tackles and three interceptions at the nickelback and cornerback positions.
While his aggressiveness is what led to that pick six against the Wolverines, Thomas, like his secondary mates, can sometimes be too aggressive. Additionally, his frame doesn’t do him any favors in any matchups with taller Pac-12 receivers. That said, the senior has more than held his own and has played in 37 games with 22 starts throughout his career.
Expect Thomas to be solid once again in 2016 and, if he can continue to improve as he has each year in the program, potentially earn some all-conference honors. Twitter: @GriffDoug
