This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
For months there has been a footnote in any thoughtful analysis of Utah's 2014 bowl hopes:
* Provided junior quarterback Travis Wilson is able to play.
That's no longer necessary after Tuesday's news that Wilson has been cleared by doctors to resume full-contact activities.
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham told The Tribune last week that he's not sure if or when Wilson will undergo further testing on his damaged intracranial artery. But the Utes can press forward now knowing that Wilson will enter fall camp as their No. 1 guy, even as Kendal Thompson, Donovan Isom and Wilson's 2013 backups strive to unseat him.
Football • Whittingham might require a healthy — and perhaps even improved — Wilson if he hopes to remain Utah's head coach for the foreseeable future. At least, that according to a blog from ESPN and a subsequent poll created by The Tribune's Brennan Smith that found 74 percent of readers feel his seat is heating up, scorching, or "July in Phoenix." Whittingham received some positive news on the recruiting front, however, with Utah landing commitments from 2015 Brighton safety Cody Barton (brother of Jackson) and 2017 Bingham defensive end Langi Tuifua. The Tribune's Kyle Goon caught up with Barton and fellow 2015 commit Tuli Wily-Matagi at All-Poly Camp on Wednesday.
On deck: Season over.
Men's basketball • The Utes added another walk-on with Utah family ties — albeit at another Utah school. Las Vegas point guard Eris Winder is the cousin of BYU's Anson Winder, and will join the Utes after averaging 17.3 points and 5.8 assists at Palo Verde High.
On deck: Season over.
Women's track and field • Utah seniors Rosalie Waller (15th, 800 meters) and Stephanie Jolley (13th, 400 meter hurdles) finished in the top 16 at the USA Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif., this past weekend. Former Ute Amanda Mergaert (15th, 1,500 meters) also narrowly missed the final.
On deck: Season over.
Volleyball • Senior Shelby Dalton was representing the Team USA Collegiate team and senior Chelsey Schofield was touring with the Pac-12 All-Stars in China this past week, taking on some of the best teams in the world's most populous nation and being exposed — for the first time, in Schofield's case — to the unique culture.
On deck: Season over.
Baseball • 6'6 righty Spencer Moran was the jewel of Utah's incoming class, but now he's a Tampa Bay Ray. The 11th-round pick signed to a $395,000 bonus with Tampa Bay.
On deck: Season over.
— Matthew Piper
Twitter: @matthew_piper