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SALT LAKE CITY — Spring football is in full swing and the Utes are looking for more offensive production.
After the first week of football drills, the competition is heating up and Utah is still searching for its offensive weapons. The wide receivers for the Utes last season were the most underperformed position group on the team; however, adding new WR coach Guy Holliday to the mix just might be the solution to the problem.
“Coach Holliday is a very demanding coach,” head coach Kyle Whittingham told media after Saturday's practice. “They seem to be responding very well to him.”
One wide receiver who is already making an impact on the offense this season is Kyle Fulks.
Fulks, a native from Texas, arrived last year after transferring from Blinn Junior College. Last season he appeared in seven games, primarily on special teams, but failed to make a reception for the Utes. Whittingham acknowledges that Utah underutilized his speed and explosiveness last year, but the dropped balls kept him off the field.
“He’s really made a lot of progress as far as his knowledge of the scheme and not dropping the football,” Whittingham said. “Too many drops is what kept him off the field last year."
Fulks and senior Cory Butler-Byrd will battle it out for the slot position that was filled by Britian Covey last year.
After injuring his knee last spring, junior running back Troy McCormick is looking to start where he left off. McCormick is known for his burst of speed and his elusiveness in dodging tackles.
“Even with the brace on, he’s been really fast and explosive,” Whittingham said. “He may evolve into a little more of an expounded role as a slot receiver, but he’s a running back right now.”
Regardless of the position, having McCormick on the field for the Utes this fall is something that they have missed having on their offense in the past. Splitting the production between starting running back Joe Williams and McCormick should provide a great one-two punch for Utah.
According to Whittingham, running back Marcel Brooks-Brown is changing his name to Marcel Manalo. Manalo is someone to keep your eye on heading into week two of spring camp. Manalo’s stock is rising and he’s competing for the second string running back position alongside McCormick.
Week two of spring camp continues Tuesday and practices will be open to the public on Tuesday and Saturday; however, all Thursday practices will be closed to the public and media.
