SALT LAKE CITY — Despite committing to the University of Utah last season, senior safety Tevin Carter is healthy and ready for the season to get underway.

Carter, who couldn’t get his academics sorted out before last season, was forced to wait a full season before he could play a down with Utah. But then in spring, Carter had ankle surgery and would be out until fall training camp.

“I’m just happy to be here and being around these great teammates,” Carter said. “We have great teammates, great coaches. I love the defense here. It just feels good to be in pads again and play again.”

Coming into Utah, Carter was expected to be an immediate impact player on the defensive side of the ball. His size — 6 foot 1, 210 pounds — and speed make him a threat in a Utah backfield that is in need of improvement to compete against a pass-heavy Pac-12.

“He gives us an element much like Robert Johnson gave us a few years back,” head coach Kyle Whittingham said following Wednesday’s practice. “He’s got great range, outstanding speed. He’s a little bit rusty, he hasn’t played for a couple years, so he’s shaking the rust off. But he’s got the size, the speed, the instincts. He just needs to continue to get the assignments down and get the rust off and get back in the groove of playing football.”

Carter said he still has to fight the mental game of coming off an ankle surgery, but is ready for a big season.

“I just want a Pac-12 championship,” Carter said. “I haven’t won a lot in my life, besides track. Football is something I love, it’s my first love, and I’d love to have a win. It’s more than just five games a season or two games a season, a whole 12-0 season would be lovely right now.”

When asked if Utah could make it back to a bowl game after back-to-back 5-7 seasons, Carter said: “We have a better team. We’re faster, we’re smarter, and we’re tuned in together this year. So I feel this year is the year.”

Quarterback update

With the pads now on, Whittingham said the real battle for the quarterback starting position has begun. But he added that it will still take at least a few more practices before either Travis Wilson or Kendal Thompson is named starter for the upcoming season.

“Today is really the first day of real football,” he said. “When you’re in no gear things look a little better than when you put the pads on. We need a good solid five or six more days minimum in pads to start to see separation.”

As for how each quarterback is doing? Whittingham said he’s been really impressed with the play of Wilson, but expected Wilson to have to upper hand coming into training camp.

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Utes open up fall camp with quarterback competition

The University of Utah opened up fall camp Monday at Rice-Eccles Stadium, with the coaching staff pleased with the progress and ability to start the season off well.

“Travis is looking very good,” Whittingham said. “Travis has had a very good first three days. We expected him to be ahead of Kendal for obvious reasons because he’s got the experience. Kendal is doing a nice job as well. But I’m very impressed with what Travis has done these first three days.”

Whittingham added that he wanted a quarterback that can “move the chains, get the team down the field and in the end zone. The quarterback we fill that gives us the best chance to do that is the guy you’ve got to go with.”

From the time media has been allowed to watch the team, Thompson appears to be improving and seems more comfortable under center, even with a defense that has been bringing its all the last two days with their blitz packages. He is still a little off when trying to connect with his receivers, but it’s only three days into camp. Thompson’s ability to scramble and make decisions out of the pocket is likely a major factor in his consideration for the starting job.

Wilson, too, has improved and holds his own in the reps he shares with Thompson. As the veteran quarterback, Wilson understands the makeup of the team and the overall game management. His passing has been about as accurate as anyone could expect; however, most of the work media has seen has been only short passes within the 10-yard range.

Whittingham said there are no plans to utilize both quarterbacks in game situations. He said although it is not “out of the realms of possibilities,” he does not like a two-quarterback system.

Notes

Whittingham said Dres Anderson continues to be the biggest stand out each day of practice. “We have a hard time covering him out here. Our guys struggle covering him, as do most DBs.” … Although Bubba Poole remains the starter on the depth chart, Devontae Booker and Troy McCormick are making a legitimate run for that top spot. … Although several of the newcomers have been effective in camp thus far, Whittingham pointed out the great work that’s been done in the secondary: Andre Godfrey, Marcus Williams and Travonne Hobbs.

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