This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
As fall camp ticked toward its end, coaches made the Utes sprint to the finish.
Twenty minutes of gassers left most of the Utah football team with their hands on their hips, lungs burning, and in need of water. Even defensive coordinator John Pease splashed some water on his dome.
But in the end, the Utes showed they were up to the conditioning tests. Even Tevin Carter, taking a knee between runs and needing a trainer to spritz water on his neck, was able to finish his reps.
Almost three weeks into camp, the coaches are less concerned about how guys are getting it done, and more concerned that they're getting it done.
"As long as they're making their time," Pease said, "they're doing what they're supposed to."
Kyle Whittingham echoed that sentiment, saying that he's pleased with many of the camp developments. Mny of the position battles and two-way experiments have been decided: Sam Tevi has emerged as the starting left tackle, Cory Butler-Byrd will play defense, Tyrone Smith will play offense, and the coaching staff has a good idea who can be effective this fall.
Add a mostly clean bill of health — with a few exceptions at receiver, such as Tim Patrick — the Utes have a head of steam going into the final week-and-a-half before the season opener Sept. 3 at Michigan.
It's good to know, then, that the team can run a few extra laps when they need to.
"They're in good shape right now," Whittingham said. "We're right where we need to be."
Fogal fares well
To little fanfare, sophomore junior college transfer Jordan Fogal played his way onto the two-deep in fall camp as the backup to junior nickelback Justin Thomas, and Fogal has displayed a nose for the ball during media observation periods.
Fogal was a late addition to Utah's 2015 class after playing safety at San Mateo College in 2013 and recovering from an ACL tear during the 2014 season.
Even though he's at nickel now, Fogal is coached by safeties coach and primary recruiter Morgan Scalley. Utah groups the nickels and safeties together in a defensive approach Fogal said is similar to San Mateo's.
Scalley's energy is infectious, he said: "It's hard to not learn with that guy. Sitting in his room, I've already learned so much just from being here two-and-a-half to three weeks."
And he'd like to start as much as the next guy, Fogal said, but Thomas is "one of the best DBs I've ever seen."
"He's a great guy to look up to. I have no problem being behind JT. I've learned so much — I just go talk to him whenever I'm struggling with something."
Sanders-Williams back at back
If the circle wasn't complete for Marcus Sanders-Williams when he rejoined the Utes last week, it is now.
In the fall of 2013, the Las Vegas native was a running back for the Utes. Now, headed into the 2015 season after a position change to linebacker, a fluke transfer and a return to the team at linebacker, Sanders-Williams is again a running back for the Utes.
A few running backs — Whittingham didn't specify which, but Devontae Booker was running in his typical bruising style Saturday — have been "banged up," so the Utes flipped Sanders-Williams back to a red jersey. He's expected to remain a running back this season.
At a listed 222 pounds, Sanders-Williams has a little more weight to throw around than some of the other rushers. Co-offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick is thrilled to have him.
"Definitely we'll count on him at times," Roderick said. "He reminds me a lot of Karl Williams, but he's a little more nifty as a ball carrier than Karl was. But equal blocker, ball-catcher, complete player. He'll play great on special teams for us. He's an underrated ball-carrier: We'll hand him the ball and he'll make plays."
Sanders-Williams saw limited action in 2013, getting 10 carries for 40 yards. He mostly played special teams as a sophomore, making appearances in all 13 games.
Former Utah signee dies
Just 24 years old, Benji Kemoeatu died Friday in Hawaii.
Utah tight ends coach Lewis Powell, who once lived with the Kemoeatu family, said Benji was working on the family farm when he began to feel tired and collapsed. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The 6-foot-5, 350-pound lineman was one of the nation's top-rated prospects at Kahuka High, later playing at Lackawanna (Pa.) Community College and signing with Utah in 2011, but he never qualified to play at the U.
Brothers Ma'ake, Chris and Tevita all played at Utah, with Ma'ake and Chris becoming NFL veterans.
"It's tough," for the Kemoeatu brothers, Powell said. "They're going through a lot right now."
A year ago, Chris was in dire straits until a kidney transplant from Ma'ake saved his life.
Powell described Benji as a "great kid ... Always smiling, always laughing, good to have around. Positive energy."
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