Utah Football Depth Chart Reaction | Breakout Player Predictions & Jerome Myles beats IMG

Utah fans we've been waiting a very long time to finally say it but gameweek is finally here and that means we finally get our first look at the depth chart there are a number of surprises that we have to talk about also on today's show going to be going over who I think are going to be the breakout candidates during Utah's 2024 football season and we have to talk about that special performance that Jerome miles put up against IMG Academy last week we got a lot to talk about onday locked on you you are locked on youth your daily podcast on the Utah UTS part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day hello everyone and thank you for making lock on UT your first listen every single day we are part of the locked on podcast Network and we do greatly appreciate you every dayers if you want to become an everyday you can like And subscribe to our show on YouTube we're also available wherever you get your podcast and do enjoy interacting with you guys in the YouTube comments as well as on social media where you can follow our show at locked onuse on X and also Today's Show is brought to you by our friends at ultimate college football head coach ultimate college football head coach is a brand new mobile game that is completely free has no ads and is 100% playable offline you can use the promo code locked on CFB all caps no spaces to go inside the game store to receive a free boost to your program begin your coaching Legacy today by once again downloading ultimate college football head coach and using that code locked on CFB my name is JT WIIL former intern inside the University of Utah athletic department and I am fired up for this Monday Edition to lock on you because it has been a very long time since it's been gameweek on this podcast and for pretty much everyone except for the week zero teams who had that last week right so like we finally get some action this week yes it's not going to be a great game but I'm fired up to have football back I'm sure all of you as well uh once again appreciate all of you for joining me and on today's show we'll get to who I think are going to be the breakout players this fall drop your lists of breakout players below as well as your depth chart surprises and then at the end of the show we're also got to talk about what Jerome miles did last week and there were even some Utah football players in attendance for that special performance including his uh his former teammate also Hilman kuga who Utah also has an offer out for didn't look uh didn't look too shabby either in in that game so we'll talk about that at the end but have to start with the depth chart we finally got a look at it and man to say there were some surprises on this in my opinion would be an understate I understand I was shocked by a number of things on this depth chart I think no more so than Doan Bentley being the tight end opposite Brandt keithy as a starter this is a Utah team that's gonna run a lot of two tight end sets and as this depth chart says and depth charts get thrown around all the time right I will never forget the first first year I was hosting this show Utah at Florida Caleb lomu running out or excuse me not Caleb lomu um SATA La Maya starting at right tackle we all thought he was going to be the Right Guard and then moafi was in at Right Guard so this is where dep charts can always be a little crazy and we'll see how it all takes shape but based on this depth chart and I don't think there's any reason to lie about Landon King Carson Ryan being the third and fourth tight ends it is amazing for D that he was able to beat out Landon and Carson those of you who watch the show during the off season I literally just a few weeks ago had Max Chadwick from Pro Football Focus on to argue about how good I thought this Utah tight end room was I was saying they were the best of the nation just bringing up guys like Brant keithy Caleb oh excuse me Landon King as well as Carson Ryan I didn't even need to get to D Bentley because I thought like oh he's solid but he's not gonna play he's not better than those other guys well this is why you put the pads on and let it all play out on the field because Bentley was able to earn the backup job and hats off to him so excited for this opportunity this is a guy who transferred to Utah from Snow Canyon he was really good there NJCAA All-American second team when he was there in 22 he had 114 yards on eight catches and two touchdowns That season he just he caught his first pass as he you for five yards against Northwestern in the Las Vegas Bowl and that's the only real action he saw last year so listed is a junior but awesome for him that he's in there and I will say the one thing I also think he has an opportunity to see a lot of time for I wouldn't be surprised if at off he was Utah's best blocking tight end right Brand's a smaller tight end Landon's a smaller tight end Carson Ryan's pretty solid size-wise too but I I just can't I think he's a fine blocker but I wouldn't be surprised at all if that's what set D Bentley apart from the other times he's a good pass catcher and look we've seen a couple of highlights in practice so he also is a really strong pass catching tight end but he is obviously an elite and tenacious blocker as well and we know how much this Utah team wants to run the ball so hats off to him and this tight end is fantastic I still think we're going to see a lot of Carson Ryan and Landon King and there's just I mean the coaches have said it right there's a lot of mouse that they have to feed to get the ball so definitely biggest shocker for me was D Bentley at tight end to also I thought was interesting I don't think I'd go as shocking but just for another interesting thing on the offense because we knew what the offensive line was going to be that was discussed by Josh Furlong and Steve ble both of them had those in stories recently of ksl.com and KSL Sports respectively we knew what the back quarterback was going to be running back isn't that surprising it was if you asked me three the back after Spring ball like who the top three backs were going to be once we knew about Anthony Wood situation I would have said maai Bernard Jaylen Glover Mike Mitchell that's what end up being but wide receiver little bit of interesting shuffling there you get Dorian singer it's money parks and it's actually Micah Pitman with Allford listed as the backup to Dorian singer so I do think that is very interesting I should say Daran zipper has the or app for after Damen Alfred so maybe we'll get to see some of uh zipper this fall as well and they have the different distinctions right the extra receiver the Z receiver and the r receiver R receiver mostly the slot gu so good for Michael Pitman being having the opportunity to get in there he's a guy who missed a lot pretty much the whole season last year I think if I remember correctly got hurt during the Baylor game so fired up that he gets an opportunity that was a big addition from Utah First at Oregon then to Florida State and he has that connection with Cam Rising growing up with him playing football so I'm excited for him to get an opportunity I think he is g to be a nice mismatch opportunity in the slot for Utah congrats to money parks for winning out on the Z wide receiver spot Z is more your traditional deep threat and we know how he started last season and has also had several memorable big plays and big catches before so love that he's getting the opportunity there I also expect to see I know that what the backup says like XZ r i I think we're gonna see Damen Alford lining up as the Z receiver a lot on the outside because he is 66 210 pounds and those long strides and he averaged 19 yards per catch last year for Syracuse he's not going to be kept off the field for sure so and we knew singer be the top Receiver right but I did think it was interesting that Alford is the fourth right now even though the reason that I believe on the depth chart you see Dorian singer as the backup slot guy to Micah Pitman is I think in a lot of those third long situations you very well might see singer in on the slot Alford and then you get money parks in there so you get your three biggest targets who are also like your three biggest slash best guys at bringing in deep passes on the field so those were where the offenses offensive surprises were how about for the rest of the surprises uh the defensive ones were jarring to to say the least with the position changes that absolutely shocked me again Jonathan Hall is a guy I thought was going to be in the mix to start a safety and instead they ended up moving him over a linebacker now what I really like about this move is he is a fantastic tackler and is a physical safety so he's going to do very well at linebacker also what have I talked about I do not love the linebacker depth feel great about Lander Barton feel great about K Reed C only fotu I think he'll be better this year he had his struggles at time last last year right he was the fourth linebacker behind lean duni for for a reason was just coming back off his mission so there was still a lot to adapt to and get ready for for him so I think he'll be better this year but I know Jonathan Hall he thrived playing in the Box in the Las Vegas Bowl he did a good job at safety in that game too so I wouldn't be surprised if he still played a little bit of safety but probably not too much right um how about alakai Gilman went in the strong safety starting spot that was hats off to him for doing that I thought he was a guy who would be kind of get the or designation with Jonathan Hall but Gilman's a big get for Stanford for this team so I think he's got a chance to do some big things this fall Tao Johnson or Nate Richie you know we're still going to see Nate Richie on this field a lot even though I do think Tao Johnson the coaches said he's the he's for sure a starter back at Spring ball they said Tao would be a starter and sound based on what they were saying sounds like he's the best safety so we knew he would factor in out there also interesting to see if you're just looking at the defensive end room right Logan funo or van fillinger I like that because I think Van's gonna start a lot of the games because I think van and Conor OU are the best two run stopping defensive ends but Logan Fondo might straight up be the best pass rusher on this team so he's always going to be on the field on third downs and the last like massive I think like position depth chart thing is the fact that you get a guy in oh I just bled out John Randall the fact that John Randall all of a sudden moved to cornerback I I didn't hear anything about that that was absolutely shocking on to see as well but he's a guy where look it does seem like that's going to be a really good fit for him right 6 foot 182 pounds that's much more cornerback weight than it is running back weight too so I hats off to him for embracing the change good for him for already landing on the depth chart too you know it's interesting always to see who's absent from the depth chart right no manir mlan and no CJ blocker so are there injuries there are they just genuinely not one of like good enough to be on the depth chart right now that like like Blocker we don't know because we haven't seen enough of man mlan is one where I'm like he he did enough last year I feel like he should be on here but we don't get to see don't get to see fall Camp so you don't know how that played out but nice for Rand R to be acclimating to his new position enough that he's on the depth chart and we'd love to see him get some opportunities we know he's got the speed from being a four-star running back so excited to see him on the field if he does get that opportunity those were the biggest Shockers for the depth chart um also I did not yeah have obviously ran Glover as the guy who would end up being this team's punt returner but Glover is a guy who did it very well recently when you look at what he did where he played play his football at Trinity Valley Community College from 22 to 23 playing in 18 games during that span thank you Utah Athletics website he had eight kick returns for 115 yards and averaged 14.4 yards per return so he does Excel as a return man and I'm excited to see him get an opportunity it's been too long since we had a punt or kickoff returned for a touchdown we miss you Briton cvy but I'm excited to see Glover step in and try to fill that role too and should I have to specify that's right rayan Glover because of course we have J Jaden Glover on this roster too so lots of uh lots of Glovers now to to handle out so great to see the depth chart definitely some surprises always curious to see how this changes and evolves over the season because this will definitely not stay the same even probably by next week so I'm looking forward to seeing it all get underway Thursday and speaking of it getting underway Thursday we're gonna get our first look at this Utah football team so what does that mean got to talk about who I believe are going to be some of the breakout candidates for this Utah Squad that's what we are going to be discussing on locked on Utes in one moment but first want to talk with you all a little bit more about our friends at ultimate college football head coach hey lockon Utes fans I want to take a moment to give you a heads up on a brand new mobile game that I think you're going to love as much as I do ultimate college football head coach in this amazing game in simulation you get to step in the shoes of a head coach and lead your college football program to Glory can you imagine actually being the head coach of Utah football from recruiting players and hiring coaching staff to overseeing training camps and handling school scholarships you control every critical detail of your program it's all in your hands will you be able to handle the pressure and here's what I really love about the game 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discussions on the ACC Big 10 Big 12 sec and teams have a shot of making the college football expanded playoffs so we have that covered for the Big 12 I wasn't able to make it on it just based on some scheduling timing but they do a great job laying it out or if you want to learn about the other conferences make sure you check it out it's streaming on locked on College 247's YouTube channel or on the Amazon Fire TV part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day alrighty we got to talk about breakout candidates is that time of the year this is something I love doing each year is looking at this Utah roster and going okay who are going to be guys that surprise us and make a name for themselves become some of the best players on this team cough cough last year Jonah Ellis he was the second best defensive end in the country from a sack perspective really till his injury only behind Le latu who UCLA had so Ellis was fantastic and it's a huge loss for this Utah team as well C vaky was another one obviously he broke out for reasons we didn't exactly expect as a running back but based on how he looked at the Pack 12 championship game you knew that and I think in the Rose Bowl if I remember correctly got a good running there as well you knew that he was going to be a major part of Utah's plans and he crushed it last year too so who are the breakout candidates this year I think my number one breakout candidate has to be Connor otoul if we go back to last off season or last fall Camp Kyle Whittingham was talking about a pass rusher that he said was going to be the best on this team and he did not say Jon Alice he said Conor otou when you look at otou this a guy who started his career as a tight end he caught the big two-point conversion cam Rising had to force overtime against San Diego State Utah lost that game but that's where he was at he was at a tight end but now switched over to defensive end back in 22 grew so much over the course of that season he had one and a half sacks and also four tackles for loss overall That season then you look at last year he played the final eight games but was had an injury to start the year so that slowed him down six tackles for loss four and a half sacks and he missed four games like I said too so I think with a full season sample size another offseason working as a pass rusher I think he's going to explode this season I don't I'm not saying he will be Jonah Ellis but I am willing to say I think he will have double digit sacks I think he will get to 10 sacks and there are look it's gonna be sack Lake City again this year Logan fono is an honorable mention I have I could absolutely see him leading this team in sacks and he really started to come on right as he got hurt last year against Oregon State so he's a guy that I could also see leading the stamen Sachs van fillinger openly I saw one of the coaches recently as well as I think van talk about how he was playing through injuries last year because he knew this team needed him to be out there and healthy if van can stay healthy we've seen how dangerous he can be going back to the 2021 Pack 12 championship team so there are a number of guys and that's not even factoring the defensive tackles the keano tanov Vasa who was the definition of a surprise breakout player because we all knew Joan Ellis would play and be good but I wasn't talking about tanov Vasa last season I was talking about aliki viahi simote pppa all guys who of course contributed but not to the level tanasa ended up contributing but to me otou he has the arm length he has the pass rush moves in his repertoire spent another offseason training and getting more acclimated to the defensive end position it's now the third year he's been playing defensive end I think he's going to lead this team in sacks the mayor of sack Lake City will be Conor otou and he is my number one pick for a breakout player this fall and Connor otou just barely edged out this next guy he had an opportunity last year and he was really good but this year feels like it's going to be different for Teo Johnson you look at what he did last year played at safety and a little bit of Nickelback right loged 33 tackles one and a half tackles for loss was second on the team five pass breakups that's important also had seven third down stops which are very impressive and he's a guy that was just he switched from receiver to quarterback last year and now he's going to be a safety and I think he's going to have a monster season I think he is going to be the next Utah defensive back who goes on and I do think he's going to be a top three round pick in the NFL draft I think when you look at his speed length the intangibles that he possesses the quick footwork there's a and there's a he's gonna be special and there's a reason I'm also really high on him is because Morgan scall and Sharie Shaw were bragging about him and because of the players that those guys have coached I don't take their words lightly when they say this guy special the fact that he was the first one of this safety group that included Nate Richie Jonathan Hall alaki Gilman all guys who had been playing safety for a while right the fact that he was the first one to be like no no no he's for sure a starter that spoke volumes to be so I do think that Johnson's in for a monster season too I think he's gonna be the leader of this Utah safety room I think he'll emerge as zayon might be the defensive back leaders overall but I think Johnson for a big season I he's gonna get a couple interceptions this year I think we'll be making big plays several times on third down that third down stop number was seven last year I think that number will rise to 10 this year like I had a couple interceptions I could very he probably won't lead this team in pass breakups I think zayah vonell but I wouldn't be surprised at all if he was second on the team and there was a couple years ago where Clark Phillips didn't lead the team pass breakups his last year I think zamay Von actually did with nine back in 22 so just because you're the best quarterback doesn't mean you always lead him in pass breakups but think Johnson can do it all can cover a little bit too of course if Utah needs him to so he's another guy that I would absolutely have as a breakout candidate and for my last breakout candidate pick there are a number of guys let's do the honorable mentions first I think both Cale lomu and Spencer Foo some of you might say Spencer Fondo started last year I think he's going to become an elite offensive tackle in college football this year he was a freshman all americ he was solid as a f he was good for he was really good for a freshman I do not think he was one of the best offensive linemen in college football last fall but I absolutely think that he is going to be considered exactly that after the conclusion of this season so I'm excited for him Caleb Lomo getting his first start at left tackle that's a big spot the coaches trust him in right so I think that definitely means something I'm expecting big things at out of him how about Damen Alford with Landon King both guys we discussed earlier Logan fono another guy that we mentioned earlier right then you get the Smith Snows of the world who were so he was so good in that Las Vegas Bowl I know he's gonna have a number of big pass breakups and he will be the guy next year that we're that we're most excited about in this defensive back room I think this is the year he breaks out though becomes he's obviously gonna be a starter as as a depth chart says but I think he's just going to be a guy that week in and week out is just shutting guys down in that nickel spot and lastly I'm going to call a Nate Richie rur surgence obviously he was really good in 2020 that's when he first broke out right but it wasn't until 202 he didn't come back until last fall took some time to get his legs under him I think we're gonna see the old Nate Nate Richie back this year so those are the honorable mentions and my final breakout candidate is Mike Mitchell I think by the end of the season he's gonna be Utah's best running back and I know maai Bernard's really good and that's a bold statement but this is a guy who was a four-star Talent we've heard about his buyin his work ethic the physical transformation he's gotten bigger we've seen that 6 foot 21 pounds right this is the guy who's the number 16th ranked running back in the country when he committed to Utah when he finished his high school career he had over 2,000 yards 22 touchdown it's a 900 yard games he's explosive he's tough he's physical and I think by the end of the season he's very welcome to be this Utah team's best back or if maai Bernard's still the one that's trusted the most I I think he's going to be the guy who is their best option running the ball on first and second down and then in Money Money play and a big Drive you're going to want to have maai in because of experience totally get that so those are all my breakout candidates let me know your guys in the comments below and in the very near future well would Jerome miles even be considered a breakout candidate because I think he's going to be pretty spectacular right away if and when hopefully he comes to the University of Utah and man he put the nation on notice just like Corner Canyon did biggest win in the history of probably Utah high school football you guys can check me in the comments if not easily since I I've been following Utah high school football so we have to discuss what Jerome miles did against IMG Academy some of the best defensive backs in the nation we'll be diving into that in one moment but first we have to talk with you about Five Hour Energy after lunch are you tired you're not alone in fact research shows that more than 70% of us hit the wall after lunch you can let Five Hour Energy be that shot that helps you lead lead you over the wall instead of crashing into it 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closing out this episode of Locked on Utes we got to talk about Jerome miles yes we got Southern Utah coming up this week there will be time to discuss that but have to close the show with talking about Utah's hope hopefully a future Utah youth in Jerome miles who was just spectacular as was Corner Canyon and Hilman cuga I mentioned him earlier he was he was incredible too miles best receiver in the state of Utah Five Star maybe the best recruit to hopefully one day come to Utah and Corner Canyon took on IMG Academy one of the best teams in the country and they got the win 35 to3 it was incredible game IMG Academy looked like early that they were just going to be too much they were blowing Corner Cannon off the ball but mistakes all that it takes to open the door and Corner Canyon capitalized on it and Miles showed up you know he's he's the 30th best player in the country so you thought he would but I didn't expect five catches for 125 yards and three of those touchdowns ended with him crossing the goal line or just in the end zone already like he did on his spectacular one-handed catch on his helmet he was spectacular and I love that Isaac Wilson and Dorian singer were right by to see him take that in too so oh it was special miles was just so Dynamic the size the speed the route running he can win at every level of the field he can make Defenders Miss after the catch and IMG Academy has some of the best players in the country once again so it's not like he was doing it against absolute no names so loved watching Jerome miles go to work and actually did was able to watch the game it was broadcast on Flow sport so it was fun to go through it watch and I'll say it again too like he and cuga looks so good I would love it if if Jerome miles came to Utah and played with Isaac Wilson for two years let's say in this hypothetical Isaac Wilson's awesome and just goes off to the draft really way right away and then Heil and kuga followed him up and if Wyatt Becker comes in and crushes it too that's awesome but I'm just saying it'd be crazy if it was Wilson to cuga with miles there because what is that that's all that corner Canyon connection and the big thing too just yes miles was spectacular miles was awesome that was the biggest takeaway from a Utah football perspective right but from a Utah football as in the state of Utah this is a massive win when you say best high school football programs in the country right IMG Academy is top five at the at I would go top five if nothing else they're top 10 year in and year out with the Bishop Gorman and Allan Tech Texas and all those other ones that they have out there for the state of Utah to be able to get this win is massive it's another reminder of how good the instate Talent is in Utah part of the reason that Utah is winning these Pack 12 champ won Pack 12 championships and their favor to win the Big 12 is because they've recruited the best players in the state of Utah brought them in and helped them maximize their talents Utah high school football has been a sleeping giant for a while and maybe not even sleeping theyve been really good just overlooked so often and this is the game that really put the nation on notice right corner got beat pretty handedly by Bishop Gorman last year and this is the year where Corner Canyon was able to get IMG Academy in the state and send them out with an L loved watching the Chargers go to work Hats Off to Eric care and his staff and every time I watch Dr Miles play I'm just hoping that man's a you one day because he is Elite LED watching miles go to work and excited to continue to see what he does too loved watching Utah high school football get elevated and love watching J miles go to work too so positive sign for Utah recruiting all though you could argue it's not because more schools may take notice but he already named his top five so there's nothing that's going to change too much with that right so love seeing that from Miles love getting the depth chart and love talking about who the best breakout star is going to be on this Utah football roster with you all once again drop in the comments below who what dep chart surprises the breakout players how about your own miles some of you were already commenting about that last week I know I didn't get a chance to talk about it until right now so I had to gush and join in on the conversation myself and speaking of joining in on the conversation we got season predictions coming up I haven't given sat down and given my final record prediction those of you listen at various points throughout the podcast can probably guess what this is over the summer but gotta talk about that some stats for cam Rising is he gonna end up in New York City Yogi rth said so he's pretty smart I might end up siding with him so we'll have lots of fun guests on this week it's G to be so much fun we got Utah football back can't wait for this season to get underway just have three more days till it is officially back Utah football we are so close hang in there everyone please keep check out the show each and every day locked on college football as you covered for a second listen that's going to do it for our show today let me know what you guys want me to talk about throughout this week as well too or just see me cover going forward love interacting with you all in the comments once again that's going to do it for our first game week edition of lock on UT in 2024 that feels good to say and can't wait to come back and talk more with you about this Utah football team tomorrow have a great Monday everyone