2008 Utah Utes
Written July 18, 2008 by Jason Lowry
With the upcoming NCAA Football season right around the corner professional handicapper Jason Lowry is ready to bring you his 2008 Utah Utes football predictions. The Utes are coming off a 9-4 season that included a win over Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl game. The Utes finished 5-3 in the Mountain West Conference for a solid 3rd place finish, and this year they bring back 14 starters in hope to compete for the conference title this season. Head coach Kyle Whittingham is 24-14 in his 3 seasons as the Utes coach, and he has one of his better teams since becoming coach. Lets take a closer look at what the Utes will be sending to both sides of the field in 2008.
Offense:
The Utes bring back 8 starters on this side of the ball, and it all starts with senior quarterback Brian Johnson who threw for over 1,800 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. The team also has a big time talent at running back in senior Darrell Mack who ran for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago. The team brings back 2 starters at the receiver spot in seniors Marquis Wilson and Brandon Godfrey, and will be joined by fellow senior Brent Casteel. Godfrey is going to have to step up and take over the No. 1 receiver spot this season with the loss of Derrek Richards. The offensive line remains pretty much intact, as they are only need to replace the center position, and it looks like sophomore Zane Taylor will be that guy. Both right guard Robert Conley and left tackle Zane beadles are two of the best in the Mountain West.
Defense:
The defense brings back a little less, as they only got 6 starters expected to come back this season. Two of those come at defensive end in junior Koa Misi and sophomore Paul Kruger. The Utes will have two new faces at the starting tackle spots, and it looks like it will be sophomore Isley Fillaga and senior Aaron Tonga. The team might struggle a little at the linebacker spot as they only bring back 1 starter in junior Stevenson Sylvester. It looks like sophomore Nai Fotu and junior Mike Wright will be the go to guys on opening day. Wright had 3 sacks in backup duty last season. The secondary brings back 2 of the best corners in the conference in junior Sean Smith and senior Brice McCain. Junior Robert Johnson is back at free safety, and will likely be joined by fellow junior Joe Dale at the strong safety spot.
Prediction: 1st in the Mountain West
We really like the Utes this season to jump ahead of the rest of the competition in the Mountain West. The Utes haven’t finished better than 3rd in the last 3 seasons, and it could all come down to a showdown with BYU on Nov. 22 at home. We think this team is good enough to not only win the conference, but rack up 10 win season as well.
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