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Utah wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield hasn't had a ton of luck in his first year on the job.
First, his group caught an extended case of the yips.
Then senior captain Dres Anderson and junior Tim Patrick were lost for the year due to injury.
Tuesday, Stubblefield was made available to media for the first time all season, and spoke about the situation.
"It's tough," he said. "You're forced to play some guys that may not be ready quite yet, however, you're getting them quality reps, and there's nothing better than getting game reps."
His take on a few of those guys:
True freshman Kenric Young, who caught his first career pass against Arizona • "Kenric is a guy who has a lot of talent. The sky's the limit for him. He's not quite there yet. He's not. We're playing him because we've got some injuries. Ideally, you would have liked to have seen him develop a little bit more before you put him out on the field. The good thing about Kenric is he wants to be good. I know now, especially since he's gotten some game reps, that he's going to be more motivated come the offseason to get his body more prepared for play in the Pac-12."
True freshman Jameson Field • "Jameson, it's just taken him a little while to get adjusted. His biggest issue has been his hands. Just me feeling comfortable, putting him in there, that he's going to catch the ball. He's a hard, hard worker. I think that that's one thing that anybody, when they look at the way he plays, he plays hard every snap. You'll win with those guys. You'll win with those guys that are willing to play hard every snap, even if it's blocking backside, or blocking at the point of attack. That's what I'm probably most pleased about with Jameson."
Senior Ryan Petersen, a walk-on who was discovered in the MUSS game and has traveled with the team and played special teams • "Ryan Petersen adds extra joy to my job. He's somebody who appreciates every part of being a college football player. I couldn't be more impressed with the way he has handled his role, and just how appreciative he is of being called a Utah football member. Every time he made a tackle, or assisted tackle, [on special teams], I couldn't be more fired up for him. One thing he does in practice: keeps his mouth shut. Whether it be on scout team for the defense or scout team for special teams, doesn't say anything, puts his body on the line, and gives it his all."
BACKUP BATTLE • Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said Tuesday that the No. 1 quarterback job is Travis Wilson's, but there's a tussle for No. 2, and interestingly, it involves junior Adam Schulz for the first time this season.
Redshirt freshman Conner Manning was recently selected over out fellow redshirt frosh Brandon Cox after Kendal Thompson was lost for the season with a knee injury, but Manning went just 2-for-6 with an interception returned for a touchdown in his college debut, and now, apparently, Schulz is back in the mix with Manning and Cox.
Whittingham said it helps Schulz's case that he appeared six times last season, passing for more than 1,000 yards.
"Schulz has been a team guy, all year long," he said. "He's been doing everything he can do to help the team and stay prepared and stay ready."
JASON WHITTINGHAM RETURNS • He didn't start against Arizona — that honor remained junior Jason Fanaika's, but for the first time in eight games, last year's second-leading tackler was part of Utah's front seven.
Jason Whittingham said Tuesday that he injured his wrist shortly after the start of the second half against Fresno State, falling and dislocating it. Doctors inserted five pins into his wrist, and they were finally removed last week.
"I'm really excited to be back out here," he said. "It's fun to be back out here on the field with my boys."
— Matthew Piper
Twitter: @matthew_piper