Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utes gave fans a sneak peek of their 2022 squad Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Here are some of the takeaways and early storylines coming out of spring ball.
Battle of the backup quarterbacks
Walk-on Bryson Barnes, who played briefly in the 2021 Rose Bowl, and Texas transfer Ja'Quinden Jackson battled for most of the day at the quarterback position, with Barnes replacing starter Cameron Rising on the White team after the first series and Jackson leading the Red team for all four quarters.
Jackson struggled to open the game, with his first three series resulting in turnovers, but had a breakout drive just before halftime in which he found tight end Hayden Erickson on a 35-yard pass and Money Parks for a goal-line fade touchdown to tie the game 7-7 heading into the break.
Barnes opened the second-half with a 55-yard touchdown run, but had it called back due to unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Refusing to be denied a score, Barnes found Makai Cope on the 3-yard line, and the redshirt freshman waltzed into the end zone to put the White team up 14-7 early in the third quarter.
Bryson Barnes' 55-yard touchdown run to open the second half called back due to unsportsmanlike conduct. pic.twitter.com/vZR2Dqr8kp
— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) April 23, 2022
Jackson and the Red team found a way to respond, with Parks once again in the end zone for a game-tying touchdown, making the score 14-14.
The final score of the game was another dime from Barnes, this time finding sophomore tight end Munir McClain over the middle for a 50-yard house call to put White up 21-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
Barnes could be considered the winner of the first backup QB battle, getting the spring game win and two touchdown passes on 157 yards. He also led all players with 47 rushing yards. Jackson put up two touchdowns, as well, on 138 yards, while also throwing one interception.
Jaylon Glover emerges as potential backup running back
The 2021 All-Conference selection and presumed starting running back Tavion Thomas started the game for the White team, while freshman and early-enrollee Jaylon Glover from Lakeland, Florida, got his chance to shine for the Red team. He put up 36 yards on five carries, including a 20-yard jaunt early in the game.
Glover spoke with the media after the game and said it was "a great time," getting to put together everything they've worked on during spring ball and play in front of the fans, of which there were more than 10,000.
With spring ball done, Glover says his plan is to hit the books and continue to learn about the game. "You can never master the game. I know I have learning to do."
Wide receivers making plays
Several members of the Utes receiving corps made plays in the spring game, with all five touchdowns on the day coming through the air. Sophomore Money Parks had a pair of touchdowns for the Red team, while the White team spread theirs evenly between redshirt freshman Makai Cope and tight ends Munir McClain and Taniela Pututau.
Cope had probably the highlight of the day with a one-handed grab inside the 10-yard line to set the White team up for its first touchdown of the day. Cope finished with 42 yards on three catches for White, while Parks led Red with 43 yards on four grabs.
Devaughn Vele led the game in receiving yards with 72 yards but wasn't able to find the end zone. The fourth-year sophomore has built up chemistry with Rising and the other QBs and head coach Kyle Whittingham had some praise for the 6-foot-5 receiver. "If Devaughn can stay healthy and if he can continue to make the plays that he made all spring long and carry that over into fall camp and then in the season he could have a big year for us."
Young linebackers stepping up
With Devin Lloyd and Nephi Sewell heading to the NFL, the Utes looked to a trio of early-enrolled freshmen at linebacker. Lander Barton, Justin Medlock and Carson Tabaracci should all still be in high school right now, but instead spent the last month practicing with the Utes and all made an impact in the spring game.
Tabaracci and Barton led the Red team with six and five tackles, respectively, and Tabaracci assisted on a tackle for loss. Medlock put up three tackles as part of the White team, which featured several returning players.
Barton spoke with the media after the game and shared Glover's satisfaction of getting to play in his first game in Rice-Eccles Stadium and in front of several-thousand fans.
"Today was fun. It is a lot of fun," Barton said. "We've been waiting for this all of spring. I was excited to get out there, end off (spring ball) right and just take advantage of all my reps. It was a good day."
