This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
There's rarely much cause to sweat defensive line depth on the hill.
And there still probably isn't. But Utah's weekly Monday spring camp release said senior nose tackle Viliseni Fauonuku will "likely" be out the remainder of spring with an ankle injury sustained last week, meaning that sophomore walk-on and former Alta standout Beaver Ho Ching, a rare unknown quantity, slides into the two-deep behind sophomore Lowell Lotulelei.
The extent of Fauonuku's injury is not known. The bull-rushing specialist has played in 32 games over the past three seasons, recording 51 tackles and five sacks.
Offensive guard Lo Falemaka is also likely out for spring after injuring his knee in Saturday's scrimmage, joining sophomore guard Salesi Uhatafe, sophomore running back Dre'Vian Young, freshman defensive tackle Vaha Vainuku, sophomore quarterback Brandon Cox and senior cornerback Ahmad Christian on the shelf for spring. Whittingham told a crowd assembled in the north end zone on Saturday that Christian is expected back "Octoberish" and will likely play nickel.
The return of sophomore running back McCormick at any time this season is in doubt.
Meanwhile, wideout Tim Patrick is expected to be a limited participant this week for the first time since he broke his leg in a 51-27 loss to Oregon.
Sitake, Tuiaki deals made available • On Monday, The Tribune received the contracts signed in February by former Utah defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake and defensive line coach Ilaisa Tuiaki.
Read into them what you will.
Sitake will make $730,000 per year for three years — shy of the three-year, $750,000 final offer from Utah athletic director Chris Hill, but with a different bonus structure. Hill's final offer was said to include incentives that could take Sitake's earnings to $800,000, while Sitake's bonuses at OSU are tied into head coach Gary Andersen's contract and could earn him as little as a 1/2-month's pay for a six-win, bowl loss season and as much as two months' pay for winning a College Football Playoff or Access bowl.
Tuiaki signed a two-year deal at $250,000 per year, a $75,000 increase from the $175,000 he made the previous year at the U. Emails between Kyle Whittingham and Hill indicated Tuiaki might have been offered a multiyear deal to stay at the U.
NFL Draft notes • Cornerback/safety prospect Eric Rowe continues to be projected as a borderline first-round prospect by mock drafters, most recently joining CBS Sports Rob Rang's first round as the 31st pick by the New Orleans Saint. Rang has defensive end Nate Orchard, the Ted Hendricks Award winner as the nation's best collegiate defensive end, falling to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 55.
Also Monday, the Detroit Free Press reported that the Detroit Lions hosted Utah return specialist Kaelin Clay on a pre-draft visit.
Aussie, aussi • Weber State punter Blake O'Neill transferred to Michigan as a graduate student, making him immediately eligible for Utah's opener against Jim Harbaugh's Wolverines on Sept. 3.
So what? Well, O'Neill was recruited from Melbourne's ProKick Australia school by Weber State head coach Jay Hill, who also found Utah's Ray Guy Award-winning punter Tom Hackett at ProKick.
According to ProKick founder Nathan Chapman, the friends/foes will train together this May while they are back home, before Hackett reports back for summer conditioning.
Twitter: @matthew_piper