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SALT LAKE CITY — Indictive of a well-stocked program with significant returning talent, Utah's spring practice is expected to have little mystery over the next four weeks.
Kyle Whittingham's team this week begins the first of 15 allotted practices looking to continue the foundation that has led to the last two Pac-12 championships. Experience is littered throughout both sides of the football, making the practices more about the future than it is competition for starting positions.
Unlike several programs in the Pac-12, each of whom have experienced fleeting success before falling back into mediocrity, Utah has been a model of consistency the last several seasons. Before beating perennial Pac-12 powers Oregon and USC the last two years in the championship games, the Utes won the South Division in 2018-19.
Even with a stacked conference in which several teams returned outstanding quarterbacks, the Utes are expected to contend for another championship. Virtually all preseason rankings will have Utah in the top 10.
The biggest losses are at cornerback and tight end, where the Utes must replace future NFL locks in Clark Phillips and Dalton Kincaid, respectively. Starting center Paul Maile, who transferred to BYU, also is gone.
No need to worry, though, as Utah continues to reload with several players ready to move from reserves to starters. As all the recent success has proved, the Utes have mastered the art of tapping into the depth chart to replace outgoing NFL talent.
Look no further than three years ago, when incoming freshman Phillips stepped in for the departed Jaylon Johnson. From one professional player to another, Utah's defense didn't miss a beat when Johnson left for the Chicago Bears after spending three years as a lockdown cornerback.
After losing first-round pick Devin Lloyd and Nephi Sewell, linebacker was a major concern going to spring practice last season. Again, Utah reloaded with freshman Lander Barton and senior Mahamoud Diabate and next season's group is expected to be even better.
"It's going to be competitive, but the cupboards are not bare," Whittingham said during an interview with The Zone. "We know who the possibilities are as far as who's going to start. We just got to let them go out and compete and see who comes away with it."
None of the losses can offset the great news the Utes got when several players decided to stay after contemplating taking a shot at the NFL. Quarterback Cam Rising highlights the group, which includes tight end Brant Kuithe, running back Micah Bernard and wide receiver Devaughn Vele.
Rising, who suffered a torn ACL in the Rose Bowl loss to Penn State, obviously will not participate in spring practice but hopes to be ready for the season-opener on Aug. 31 against Florida. Considering Rising has suffered major injuries in two of the last three seasons, the quarterback competition in spring among Bryson Barnes, Nate Johnson, Brandon Rose, and Mack Howard will be the most interesting subplot to watch.
Rising's injury is "going to open up an opportunity for the other quarterbacks in the program," Whittingham said. "Really, job one as far as it pertains to the quarterback positions is who's number 2, 3 and 4."
After taking a hardline stance when the transfer portal became an important part of recruiting, Whittingham has altered his philosophy. Instead of cutting ties with players who enter the portal, he now allows players to return.
Micah Bernard, last season's second-leading rusher, entered the portal after but changed his mind. He is one of several contending for the starting job.
"With all the movement that goes on through the portal and all the transition you have on your roster if an athlete does change his mind and decide to try to come back to his original team, at least for us, as long as it's mutual decision and we both feel it's in the best interest of each other then we go ahead and make that happen," Whittingham said.
