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The coaches made the decision in the spring, and they've held fast so far. The fans seem to agree with their logic.
The first time Devontae Booker will be tackled this year is against Michigan on Sept. 3. The all-conference back is just too valuable to risk.
But watching the practices where he is allowed precious physical contact, maybe it's not Booker who needs the "bubble wrap" treatment. When he gets an opportunity, he's still going to hit. Hard.
"I don't do too much live work, but when I'm out there running the ball, like 'thud' stuff like that, I still run like it's a real game," he said. "I'm ready for all the contact. That ain't changed for me at all."
Booker made that clear last year, when he splashed into the U. with a 1,512-yard, 10-touchdown season while dragging would-be tacklers in his wake. One could argue that the biggest recruit in the 2015 class was Booker, who passed up a chance to go pro this spring.
He feels the NFL scouts' eyes on him this week — four more were at practice on Thursday as Booker participated in contact-but-not-tackling drills the team calls "thud" — but he works hard to pretend they aren't there.
He admits to drifting sometimes when he watches an NFL preseason game, wondering what might have been if he'd taken a different path: "But then I shake myself and come back to reality."
The coaching staff has boldly predicted a 2,000-yard season for the senior back, which would certainly smash the school record (1,519 yards by John White in 2011) and put Booker among the top 25 NCAA single-season rushers ever. While it might be a brazen forecast, running backs coach Dennis Erickson thinks it's possibly in the cards for a back he grades as one of the best he's ever coached in college.
"He could be the best or one of the best when it's all said and done," Erickson said. "The reason I say that is because he's not only a good runner, but he's a good pass protector and he catches the football. But even more than that, there's no arrogance to him at all. He doesn't talk a lot, and he does his job. That's hard to find these days."
Maybe a mark of Booker's work ethic is what he's improved: He acknowledges that he wasn't the best pass protector last year, coming out of junior college, but he's made an effort to study more blitzes so he understands his assignments more.
On Thursday, hew was announced as one of Utah's five elected captains, adding to the leadership responsibilities expected from a senior. When he can't use his legs or his considerable bulk during practice, he uses his words.
"Not telling them how to run the ball, because everyone has a different running style, but if they tend to start running soft, that's when I get in there and tell them that you gotta hit the hole," he said. "If coaches want to see more vocal leader, I'm willing to work on that."
Healthy linebackers, happy linebackers • When did Jason Whittingham first realize had a serious injury in the Fresno State game?
There were subtle signs.
"It was all misshapen: All my wrist bones were dislocated, and it was just bent to the side," he said. "It's been a long road to getting back in shape and being able to play again."
Pick a Utah linebacker, and most will have a similar story: Gionni Paul had a foot fracture that bothered him most of last year. Uaea Masina sat out most of the year with an arm injury. Even Jared Norris, who did actually play, had to grit his teeth through a few nicks.
Contrast that with this fall, when three seniors are expected to play most of the snaps, and the backups appear all set, making linebackers coach Justin Ena the most cheerful guy in camp.
"You like to have diversity," Ena said. "We've got guys who can play different ways, can read things out, and I let them be themselves. … I want them to use those talents."
Whittingham said the injury pile-up threw off the rhythm of the group — to say the least — last season. But coming into the season, Whittingham, Norris and Paul have a strong on-field relationship that helps them communicate and make plays.
Behind the seniors, others are fighting to be on the field as well. Ena describes Sunia Tauteoli as "a great striker" who will be a special teams contributor. The rangy Masina "needs to play 6 inches lower," but shows a lot of promise. Freshman Cody Barton has come in "physically and athletically prepared and ready to go."
Whittingham said the group keeps the position competitive, and the depth is nice to lean back on.
"I think we're a really strong group," he said. "I think we'll have a really nice year based on our history."
Prepping for Michigan • Utah's fall camp mentality is starting to shift forward with only two weeks to go until the Wolverines come into town.
How do you prepare for a team that has changed a bunch of personnel from the previous year and has a new coach? It's tricky, Utes coach Kyle Whittingham acknowledged, and requires a combination of tactics.
"We have to look at the Michigan game last year for personnel matchups and returning players and getting a gauge on the ability level of each of the guys returning," he said. "As far as schematics, obviously what coach [Jim] Harbaugh did at Stanford is big for us. What he did at San Francisco is in the equation. He's been pretty true to form wherever he's been with what he wants to do philosophically."
There's still a close quarterback battle in Ann Arbor, so coaches can't be sure whether the Wolverines will play Shane Morris, who saw time against the Utes last year, former Iowa starter Jake Rudock or some combination of both.
Co-offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick sees prep for Michigan a little differently.
"We're going to run a lot of the same plays all year, with just a few wrinkles every week," he said. "First game is more about what we do well and being good at it. Our core offense is good against anything. We don't know exactly what they're going to do, but we're prepared to run our offense."
Briefly • Utah announced its five elected captains on Thursday afternoon: Booker, Kenneth Scott, Paul, Norris and Andy Phillips. Of the five, Phillips is the only repeat captain from last year's squad. ... Starting punt returner and standout receiver Britain Covey again did not practice fully, but Whittingham said he expects him to return soon. … Freshman tight end Caleb Repp has been seeing more time at receiver and could play this fall. Said Whittingham: "It looks like now he's going to play mostly wide receiver. For a freshman, he's a big target, plays well and catches everything." … Whittingham said he was a fan of the project which will paint "UTAH" on the fieldhouse roof on the north end of Rice-Eccles Stadium. "I think it'll add to the environment. It'll be a good look, and I still don't quite understand all the financing and how somebody was trying to raise money on their own or something. … I don't get all that, but the end result is going to be good."
Matthew Piper contributed to this story.
Twitter: @kylegoon