April 3, 2006
SALT LAKE CITY -
UTES THIS WEEK
The Utah football team will practice three times this week--its second full week of spring ball. Saturday's practice will be a scrimmage at Rice-Eccles Stadium, starting at 9:50 a.m. The scrimmage is open to the public and media. Other practices this week are Tuesday (3-5 p.m. on the practice fields) and Thursday (3-5 p.m. on either the practice fields or in the stadium--the latter if it rains). Extreme weather conditions would move practices inside the Spence Eccles Field House.
RED-WHITE SPRING GAME
The fourth-annual Red-White game will be held in Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, April 22 starting at 1 p.m. It is free to the public and the players will sign autographs after the game. A Muss flag football game will precede the Red-White game.
UTE CAMP NOTES
Hamstring injuries struck Utah's spring two-deep in the first week of practice. Key Utes impacted by hamstring pulls: defensive back
Eric Weddle, running back
Darrell Mack and defensive tackle
Kenape Eliapo. Weddle and Eliapo could miss the rest of spring ball, while Mack anticipates returning to practice this week ... OL
Eric Pettit, the projected starting left guard, will miss all of spring ball with a back injury. Taking the snaps with the first unit has been redshirt freshman
Zane Beadles ... Initially slated as the No. 2 center, Hawaii transfer Jeremy Inferrera has moved to left tackle, where he now backs up
Tavo Tupola. Playing behind starting center
Kyle Gunther is redshirt freshman
Tyler Williams ... Injured receiver Brian Hernandez' reps are going to sophomore
John Peel. The other starting wideouts are
Derrek Richards,
Brent Casteel and
Marquis Wilson ... Eliapo's injury absence has resulted in sophomore
Bryce Scanlon playing with the second team at both tackle positions ... Junior
Ryan Smith's impressive showing last week, combined with Weddle's injury, bumped Smith onto the first team at right corner.
WEDDLE NAMED TO LOTT LIST
Senior-to-be
Eric Weddle has been named to the Lott Trophy Watch List. Weddle, the reigning MWC Defensive Player of the Year, is one of 42 players named as Lott candidates. The Lott Trophy recognizes the nation's top defensive player who also contributes to his community in a positive way. Utah's ace defensive back also expects to vie for All-America honors, as well as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (outstanding defensive player) and the Jim Thorpe Award (outstanding defensive back).
