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For a second straight year, Siale Fakailoatonga will be sitting out the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Coach Kyle Whittingham said Thursday that the senior tight end tore his ACL in the same knee that was http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3084066-155/utahs-tight-end-group-ready-to";>injured midway through the 2015 season. He is expected to redshirt and play again next year.

"We feel so bad for him," Whittingham said. "He does have a redshirt year — that's the silver lining."

The injury leaves senior Evan Moeai (http://bit.ly/1OTbqSB";>who has suffered a season-ending injury in the season opener each of the last two years) and junior Harrison Handley as the leading candidates to start at tight end this fall. Handley is Utah's leading returning receiver with http://bit.ly/1Vm9JPI";>21 catches for 286 yards last year.

At 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, Fakailoatonga will be missed most as a blocker, where coaches often pointed out his exceptionalism. He also had 12 catches last year for 120 yards in the six games before he was injured.

The Utes have committed to running more two-tight end sets this season, despite their hit to their health. Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick called the position group "extremely competitive."

While Handley and Moeai have been involved in the passing game, Whittingham said the Utes are also pleased with incoming freshmen Chad Hekking (who had seven catches in the spring game) and Bapa Falemaka, a push-forward scholarship player from Judge Memorial.

Receiving zone • Since making two touchdown catches at Oregon last year, Caleb Repp has been awaiting his next opportunity to score.

He demonstrated it in Utah's Thursday scrimmage with a touchdown catch shared on social media, and drew praise from Roderick for several contested catches throughout the session. But he's adamant that he's not the only one who is getting better.

"I've seen a big improvement in everybody," Repp said. "Expect big numbers … we're aiming for big plays … Coach always says we make the offense go, so as long as the receiving group is going, I feel like this offense is going to come with us."

That's not exactly a revelation, but there were formidable flashes from the receiving corps, none more so in the media period than http://bit.ly/2bkZ1tv";>Troy Williams' 68-yard bomb to Tyrone Smith on fourth-and-20.

With a handful of big plays Thursday and a stable of quarterbacks who can throw downfield, the Utes will be throwing more. Roderick said the coaching staff has a high degree of confidence particularly in their outside receivers who will be competing for jump balls — like Repp, Smith and Tim Patrick who are all taller than 6-foot-4.

"We have more faith in that right now than we had in awhile," Whittingham said. "It's still a work in progress, but we're pushing the ball downfield better now than we have for quite some time."

Barton pushing back at LB • The junior college newcomers aren't running away in every position battle.

Sophomore Cody Barton isn't giving up one of the two linebacker positions without a fight, and Whittingham mentioned that Barton has "really made a push" in the last few practices going against http://bit.ly/2aDo7nN";>junior college transfer Kavika Luafatasaga for the spot opposite Sunia Tauteoli.

Barton has been described throughout his Utah career as aggressive and goal-oriented, and having a year of experience on Luafatasaga seems to be giving him an edge two weeks into camp.

"Kavika Luafatasaga hit a little bit of a wall with the install," Whittingham said. "Got a little bit overloaded, thinking too much. As soon as he can feel more comfortable, he's got a ton of ability. But right now he's thinking too much."

So far in camp, Tauteoli has been "head and shoulders" above the other linebackers, Whittingham said.

kgoon@sltrib.com and hkim@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon and @HayDayKim