Former College of Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd, proper, watches Utah’s professional day on the Spence & Cleone Eccles Soccer Middle in Salt Lake Metropolis on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Lloyd is a probable first-round choose for the 2022 NFL draft. Laura Seitz, Deseret Information
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Soccer season remains to be about six months away however there’s loads of soccer taking place on campus.
Utah’s spring practices are coming into their second week, and the Utes additionally held professional day final week.
At professional day, linebacker Devin Lloyd, projected as a first-round NFL draft choose, didn’t take part as a result of he was on the NFL scouting mix in February. However he was there to assist his former teammates.
“I didn’t need to exit and danger something. So I simply made the smart move and determined to not do something,” Lloyd mentioned. “For what I did in-season and on the mix too, that was sufficient to do what I need to do within the draft.”
For the primary time in a few years, there isn’t a battle for the beginning quarterback job due to Cam Rising, an All-Pac-12 First Crew choice from final season. However there's a battle for the backup QB job between Ja’Quinden Jackson and walk-on Bryson Barnes.
In the meantime, the Utes are getting ready to defend their Pac-12 championship.
“We’re the champions coming again. We’re not going to sneak up on anyone,” mentioned coach Kyle Whittingham. “There’s a number of good groups within the (Pac-12) South. We’ve simply acquired to go about our enterprise like we normally do. We don’t have that under-the-radar really feel to us this yr.”
The Utes are additionally breaking in a few new assistant coaches, together with defensive tackles coach Luther Elliss.
In the meantime, Utah is strengthening expertise and depth, evidenced by a dedication from former Illinois State security Clayton Isbell.
Numbers recreation
3: Variety of interceptions final season at Illinois State by new security commit Clayton Isbell.
4.43: Britain Covey’s time within the 40-yard sprint at professional day.
9: Projected first-round draft choose spot for Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd in response to Cam Mellor of Professional Soccer Community.
From the archives
Further factors
- From pig farming to pigskins to Pasadena — Bryson Barnes appears again on his Rose Bowl second (Deseret Information)
- Which former Utes helped their draft inventory at professional day? (Deseret Information)
- Britain Covey’s professional day cleats pay tribute to ‘undersized heroes’ (Deseret Information)
- ‘It’s time to improve’: Utah’s Kyle Whittingham enthusiastic about approval of a brand new indoor facility (Deseret Information)
- Which NCAA gymnastics groups are nationwide title contenders? (Deseret Information)
- ‘It’s an enormous blessing’: New Utah D-line coach Luther Elliss glad to be again at his alma mater (Deseret Information)
Fanalyst
Feedback from Deseret Information readers
Needs to be a really enjoyable Spring, essential items must be changed and the group wants to seek out the identical sort of motivation that that they had final yr (which received’t be simple) nonetheless any discuss of a CFP run ought to simply be put down (I do know us followers will discuss it and that is solely my opinion) nonetheless the one aim ought to be to win the first recreation after which go (from) there, good luck to all of the younger guys combating for taking part in time and Go Utes.
— packers
I feel the Utes shall be powerful in the event that they get the secondary sorted out, discover an okay punter and repair the particular groups debacle. Utah has acquired to remain wholesome alongside the CB and O-line teams, together with Unhealthy Moon working the present. The sport at Florida to open the season looms giant and just about is a MUST WIN for Utah’s nationwide road cred if a CFP look is within the playing cards throughout convention play. The Utes have some powerful video games, however I see 10-2 as fully potential this yr with a NY6 recreation. Gooooooo Utes!
— Utah-Hawaii Alum
Up subsequent
March 31 | 8 p.m. | Gymnastics | NCAA Regional 2nd Spherical | @Seattle | Pac-12 Community
April 1 | 4 p.m. | Baseball | vs. Washington State | @Pullman, Washington
April 1 | 7 p.m. | Softball | vs. Stanford | @Stanford | Pac-12 Community
April 2 | 3 p.m. | Baseball | vs. Washington State | @Pullman, Washington
April 2 | 3 p.m. | Softball | vs. Stanford | @Stanford, California | Pac-12 Community
April 3 | 2 p.m. | Baseball | vs. Washington State | @Pullman, Washington
April 3 | 3 p.m. | Softball | vs. Stanford | @Stanford | Pac-12 Community