Utah football 2019 spring preview: Pac-12 title within reach?

Utah had one of the best seasons in program history in a while for 2018. Can the Utes build off their success in 2019?

Kyle Whittingham is entering his 15th season as head coach of the Utah Utes. The program has been through ups and downs during his tenure, but the team made significant strides last year. For the first time since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, Utah played in the conference championship game. Unfortunately, their season ended in disappointing fashion with a loss to Washington in that game and a Holiday Bowl loss to Northwestern. Whittingham has the Utes on the right path, but can they again be successful next season?

• 2018 record: 9-5
• Spring game date: April 13

Biggest spring storyline?

Utah might have won their last two games had starting quarterback Tyler Huntley been healthy. He missed the last five games of the season due to a broken collarbone. Huntley was well on his way to becoming a 2,500-yard passer and was the main catalyst for an offense that finished 74th in the country.

Whittingham, fortunately, said Huntley is now healthy to practice in spring ball which is good news moving forward. The biggest concern is when live action truly begins in the fall. A broken collarbone is no injury to take lightly. Huntley is the incumbent starter and he should not feel he has to practice to keep his job. Spring may also be a good time for Whittingham to see what he has behind Huntley in Jason Shelley, who started down the stretch as a true freshman.

The biggest reason for optimism?

Utah’s defense finished No. 14 in the country. The only Pac-12 team to finish better was Washington at No. 12. The best news? The Utes have a good number of their starters returning. While losing Cody Barton and Chase Hansen hurts the linebacking unit, the defensive line remain intact. Defensive end Bradlee Anae returns for his senior season after leading the team in sacks with 7.5 and racking up 14 tackles for loss. Defensive tackles Leki Fotu and John Penisini also give senior leadership.

Barton and Hansen might be gone, but Utah has two redshirt seniors to replace them in Francis Bernard and Manny Bowen. Julian Blackmon and Philip Afia are the favorites to take Marquise Blair and Corrion Ballard at safety. Despite a few significant losses, this defense is once again fueled by seniors looking to build off the success this unit had last year.

Biggest question mark/concern?

While Huntley has been able to get back on the field this spring, his backfield partner Zack Moss has not. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in November, which hurt the Utah offense even more than when Huntley went down. Moss cracked the 1,000-yard rushing mark with eight touchdowns.

Despite swirling rumors, Moss decided shortly after the team’s bowl game to return for his senior season. He did not want to end his college career on an injury. Moss’ return is a big boost for the Utes going into 2019, but the back has continued to be held out of spring practices as he continues to recover. Whittingham and the rest of the team hope for the best, but a lot of questions remain about if Moss will be the same player he was before he went down.

Biggest offseason addition/newcomer?

Jackson Barton departs from the offensive line, leaving the left tackle spot in need of a new face. Braeden Daniels is the favorite going into spring, but do not be surprised if freshman Bamidele Olaseni challenges for the job. The four-star offensive tackle is the biggest gem of the class. Olaseni is rated the ninth-best player in the country and third-best tackle according to 247 Sports. Coming from Garden City C.C., Olaseni is looking to make an impact right away on the offensive line.

Biggest game to look forward to?

One game that has to be circled on the Utes’ calendar is against Washington on Nov. 2. In a low-scoring game, the Huskies outlasted them 10-3 to win the Pac-12 title. Without Huntley and Moss, Utah’s offense barely got off the mat. As far as biggest revenge games for 2019, this one ranks right up there.

A win over Washington would not only exorcise the demons from 2018 but also help in conference standings towards the end of the season. Whittingham has the Utes finally transitioning into becoming a force in this conference and the last thing they want to do is regress. Fans of both teams should look forward to this one as potentially the Pac-12’s best game for that week.