Five Questions That Need Answers For Utah Football Entering 2021 Fall Camp

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The questions that have come up during the offseason for Utah football will now need to be answered during fall camp.

From the quarterback position, to the WR depth to the defensive secondary, Utah will need to get these questions ironed out during fall camp and before jumping into Pac-12 play.

Here is the Crimson Corner’s five questions that need to be answered during fall camp.

1. The Quarterback Situation

Let’s get the obvious out of the way. We all know how heated this quarterback battle will be entering fall camp and will be the most talked about topic during that span. We all thought the same thing last year with Jake Bentley and Cam Rising when Rising beat out Bentley before getting injured in the season opener. Plus, Bentley didn’t turn out to be the QB that Ute fans had hoped for.

Bringing in Charlie Brewer was a big deal for Utah. His experience at a high level is not something you find very often in a transfer and at such a key position. Brewer is an upgrade at quarterback from last year if we are all being honest. He showed that in the spring game. The last time Kyle Whittingham raved about a quarterback on his roster before was Tyler Huntley and he turned out to be pretty good.

If Rising can beat out Brewer in fall camp, this will show just how special Rising is.

That’s two for @CBrewerII! He’s been named to the Davey O’Brien Award Watchlist 🙌

Track all the preseason watchlist info here: https://t.co/2bqzqcp2M8#UBoyz pic.twitter.com/KjaYHx1Col

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) July 20, 2021

2. How Deep Is The WR Position?

After Samson Nacua and Bryan Thompson left the program during the offseason, that left the Utes very thin at WR. Devaughn Vele showed promise after a great spring game performance. We all know what Britain Covey and Solomon Enis bring to the table.

Now picking up Theo Howard from Oklahoma and Munir McClain from USC, along with 2021 signee Makai Cope, Utah should be able to figure out their WR rotation during fall camp. They have lots of options.

Act like you’re not excited… pic.twitter.com/o2fv8n6cOJ

— Chad Bumphis (@_CoachBump) July 28, 2021

3. Running Back Battle

This is another intriguing position battle that will take place during fall camp. Micah Bernard has progressed mightily since the end of the 2020 season and is considered the favorite to start. But don’t count out T.J. Pledger, Chris Curry and 2021 signee Ricky Parks.

Whoever gets the ball is expected to rack up yards and the Utes have the right players to accomplish that.

💪💪💪#UBoyz pic.twitter.com/mIdbesNFPv

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) July 15, 2021

4. Replacing Nate Ritchie

The Lone Peak star was a standout for the Utes as a freshman in 2020. Now that he will be gone for two years to serve a church mission, Morgan Scalley will need to find that other starter at safety alongside Vonte Davis. Kyle Whittingham mentioned Kamo’i Latu and Cole Bishop are among those that they expect to have battle it out.

They also brought in Brandon McKinney from Washington and signed Darrien “Bleu” Stewart and Zemaiah Vaughn is another option after moving from cornerback to safety. The likely starter would’ve been R.J. Hubert but Whittingham said that he suffered an injury during the spring game and is likely out for the season.

5. Special Teams

This is always a key phase in football for Utah under head coach Kyle Whittingham, who takes a lot of pride in special teams, including the kicking and return game.

Britain Covey has the return game handled especially on punt return. But who will be the kick return specialists?

Jadon Redding had a tremendous 2020 season and was an All-Pac-12 selection. But the punt game is the big question heading into camp. Ben Lennon decided to leave the program. His backup Jared March left the program as well.

Kyle Whittingham brought in another Australian punter that has come from ProKick Australia, the same place that produced Tom Hackett, Mitch Wishnowsky and Ben Lennon. How good will Peasley be? Whittingham focuses on the punt game and wants to use it as a weapon.

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.

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