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If Devontae Booker was Utah's thunder — rumbling his way to 100-yard games seemingly at will — Joe Williams is the lightning following close behind.

The junior with speed to burn was Utah's go-to offensive option Saturday against UCLA, carrying the ball 26 times for 121 yards.

The Utes took a committee approach to replacing Booker, Travis Wilson rushing for 67 yards on 18 carries and Britain Covey getting four yards on two carries from the wildcat formation for a minimal gain before leaving the game with an injury.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said the Utes had been preparing to play without Booker on Monday, with a full confirmation the team's offensive centerpiece was done for the season on Tuesday.

"He won't be back next week or for a bowl game. There's no chance of that," Whittingham said. "But long term, it looks like he's going to be OK. He'll return to full strength, but he's done as a Ute."

Utah's coach lauded Williams for his hard running style, but was disappointed in Williams' fumble to end Utah's opening drive of the game and a bungled play action fake for a second fumble between Williams and quarterback Wilson that iced the game for UCLA with a minute left.

Williams said it "sucks" to have Booker gone, but that he approached the game trying to "do what I do best."

"My motivation was people who doubted me [and thought] the run game offense wouldn't be the same," the JuCo transfer said. "It just pushed me to really do what I had to do today."

Williams, who also led the team in receiving with four catches for 31 yards, may not break tackles or move piles like Booker did, but he offered some encouraging words for a Utah team facing a post-Booker era: "I don't really like to be stopped."

"I wanted to do my best for the team to put us in great situations," he said. "Carrying the rock was just something I wanted to get done in all four quarters of the game."

bsmith@sltrib.com

Twitter: @BrennanJSmith