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When unbeaten Utah plays its first Pac 12 road game Saturday at Cal, the No. 1 receiver in the country will be waiting for the Utes.

In the Golden Bears' first four games, junior Chad Hansen has caught 50 passes for 656 yards and six touchdowns.

For many players, that's a good season.

Asked why Hansen has been able to produce such prolific numbers, Utah cornerback coach Sharrieff Shah goes on … and on … and on.

"Outstanding athlete, legitimate 10.6 guy in track, unbelievable springs, good route runner, knows and understands coverages, great hands," Shah said. "Everything you want in a receiver, he possesses. … You see in him an NFL-type receiver."

In Arizona State's 51-41 win over Cal last week, Hansen caught 10 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown. Statistically, it was his 'worst' game so far.

"They have a great system," said Utah senior corner Dominique Hatfield. "Their offensive coordinator and head coach put guys in the right position to make plays and they know his strong points. They know he can high-point the ball. They know he has body control. He's a very athletic kid. Once again, the system works for what they are trying to do."

Hansen started his career at Idaho State, where he caught 45 passes as a true freshman in 2013 before deciding to transfer.

Cal was one of the few schools that showed any interest in Hansen. Many coaches, he told ESPN, suggested his lack of athleticism would hinder a jump from Idaho State to the FBS-level team.

Hansen has made the leap, however, and now he is Utah's problem.

"You play him physical, you try to stay with him and you change things up," Shah said. "But [mostly] you have to compete because he's a very good competitor. … He believes he will win every single 50-50 ball. That's what you want in a receiver."

Grad transfer makes the grade at Cal

Like Hansen, quarterback Davis Webb didn't start his career at Cal.

Webb is a graduate transfer from Texas Tech. He originally planned to attend Colorado but later switched to the Golden Bears.

At Cal, Webb has played exceptionally well as the replacement for Jared Goff, the No. 1 pick in last summer's NFL draft. So far, he's thrown for 1,836 yards and 18 touchdowns.

"The quarterback is good," Hatfield said. "The timing with his receivers is good. That's why, I think, they are so efficient."

After facing Sam Darnold in last week's 31-27 win over USC, the Utah defense must now slow Webb & Co. For Shah and the Utes, it's business as usual in the quarterback-rich Pac 12.

"… This is what we do," he said "So let's go."

He's starting to "Shyne"

After a slow start, Utah running back Armand Shyne has rushed for 156 yards on 26 carries in consecutive wins over San Jose State and USC.

That's 5.9 yard per carry.

Shyne is from Oakland. He attended American River College in Sacramento last season before signing with the Utes.

"When I first got here, I was way overweight," Shyne said. "I was about 220. So I had to drop that. Plus [in] Salt Lake City, the air is pretty thin. That was even worse. But I'm getting there."

Coach Kyle Whittingham agrees.

Asked about Shyne's rapid improvement, he said, "First of all, he's gotten in shape. He was out of shape when he got here. He's dropped 10 pounds. He's down to about 210, which is the weight he should be at."

Another thing?

"He didn't have knowledge of the offense when he got here," Whittingham said. "He didn't have a grasp of that. But he's caught up. So now he's in shape and has command of the offense. I think you're seeing that manifest week-by week. He's getting better every week."

Along with freshman Zack Moss and junior Troy McCormick, Shyne has helped create a three-headed monster at running back.

"We've got a nice little rotation going," he said. "Fresh legs coming inall the time. Whenever somebody gets tired — just a little bit — we've got somebody else to come in and just keep going."

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