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The Utah football team will begin five weeks of spring training starting on Saturday, Mar. 25. There will be 15 total practice days--including the annual Red-White spring game on Saturday, Apr. 22. Practices, scrimmages and the Red-White game are open to the public.
START TIMES The first practice on Saturday, Mar. 25 will run from 10:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m. if it is held outdoors. If it must be moved indoors, the time will be 8-10 a.m. Weekday practices will conclude anywhere from 5:00-5:30 p.m. Saturday practices/scrimmages (other than the opener) are scheduled for 10 a.m.-noon outdoors. If they must move indoors, again the time will change to 8-10 a.m. The Red-White spring game will begin at 1 p.m. on April 22.
SPRING SCRIMMAGES The Utes will scrimmage on Saturday, April 8 and 15 from 9:50-11:50 a.m. The first scrimmage will be held in Rice-Eccles Stadium and the second at the McCarthey Practice Fields.
RED-WHITE SPRING GAME The fourth-annual Red-White game will be held in Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, April 22 starting at 1 p.m. It is free to the public and the players will sign autographs after the game. A Muss flag football game will precede the Red-White game.
UTE NOTES
The first three days of practice are designated as no-tackle sessions and the focus will be placed on installing the offensive and defensive packages. Tackling begins on Mar. 30 ... 15 starters return, including six on offense, eight on defense and one kicker. Also back from last year's team are 36 lettermen. Utah lost 11 starters and 29 lettermen ... Four starters are recovering from surgery and will be unable to participate much, if at all, in spring ball. They are: quarterback Brian Johnson (knee surgery, Dec. 1), receiver Brian Hernandez (ankle surgery, Jan. 5), defensive back Steve Tate (shoulder surgery, Jan. 12) and defensive lineman Soli Lefiti (shoulder surgery, Feb. 9) ... In Johnson's absence, senior Brett Ratliff (6-4, 224) will try and retain the QB job he assumed when Johnson suffered a season-ending knee injury on Nov. 12. As the starter, Ratliff led Utah to its two biggest wins of the season--against Brigham Young and Georgia Tech (in the Emerald Bowl) ... Oklahoma transfer Tommy Grady (6-7, 233, Jr.) is yet another talented quarterback candidate with NCAA game experience. Grady played for the scout teams last season while sitting out of games per NCAA transfer rules ... Redshirt freshman Sean Smith (6-3, 207) will move from running back to wide receiver this spring.
