Dallas • Although West Virginia is going into Tuesday’s Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl without starting quarterback Will Grier (injury) and starting running back Justin Crawford (sitting out), the Utes’ defense will face one of its stiffest tests of season statistically.
The Mountaineers ranked 14th among FBS teams in total offense (485.2 yards per game) during the regular season. Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said he couldn’t think of a Pac-12 Conference offense with as many weapons on the outside in the passing game as the Mountaineers.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Chugunov will start for the second time in his collegiate career, but the Mountaineers offense features All-American wide receiver David Sills, and a 1,000-yard receiver in Gary Jennings.
“Coach [Dana] Holgorsen is one of the best offensive minds in the country, there’s no doubt about that,” Whittingham said during a news conference Sunday morning at the Cotton Bowl Stadium. “[He has] prolific offenses year in and year out. They have a whole stable of receivers. We’ll do out best to try to cover them. They’ve got three or four go-to guys.”
While 1,000-yard rusher Justin Crawford will sit out the game in preparation for the NFL Draft, running back Kennedy McKoy rushed for 580 yards in 11 games, averaged 5.1 yards per carry and tied Crawford with seven rushing touchdowns.
“You can’t go through a season with just one running back, you have to have three or four of those guys,” Holgorsen said. “It is brutal to be in that position this day and age. You have a couple of guys that can carry the load when one leaves for the bowl; I feel like we are in good shape in that position.”
Competition on the horizon
The Utes’ early signings were highlighted by four-star quarterback Jack Tuttle from San Diego, the highest-rated quarterback prospect to sign with Utah out of high school.
“It’s a huge get,” Whittingham said. “The quarterback position is so important. Football is quarterback-driven game, and you better be good at that position if you want to have a chance to win. Getting Jack was just a big deal for us on so many different levels.”
Whittingham said he expects Tuttle, who will enroll this winter, to compete immediately. The Utes will have two returning scholarship quarterbacks in starter Tyler Huntley and Jason Shelley. Shelley redshirted this season.
“Absolutely there will be competition in the spring, that’s at every position,” Whittingham said. “There’s no position that’s immune from that. The best guy is going to play, just like last year. We determined that Tyler was our best option to win. He unseated a senior that won nine games the year before. It’s no different this year. We’re going to keep moving forward with that mentality.”
Local commit
East High two-way lineman Paul Maile announced he’d committed to Utah via Twitter on Saturday night. Rivals.com and 247Sports rated Maile a three-star defensive lineman, and 247Sports rated him the eighth-best prospect in the state and 38th-best defensive tackle prospect nationally.
Maile joins in-state commits offensive lineman Hunter Lotulelei (Highland), offensive lineman Jaren Kump (Herriman) and tight end/defensive lineman David Fotu (Herriman) expected to sign in February. Wide receiver Delon Hurt from California committed earlier this month and also plans to sign in February.
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