Kyle Whittingham’s biggest concern heading into the season?
Utah’s receiving corps.
After Zach Williams, the Utes’ No. 1 pass catcher last spring, unexpectedly transferred to USC, Utah entered fall camp with an unproven group of transfers and returners at the position.
“As far as the wide receiver position, that’s probably the biggest question mark on the football team right now,” Whittingham said at Big 12 Media Days. “As far as the hierarchy, who’s going to be wide receiver one, two and three ... we didn’t come out of spring with any true pecking order. We’ve got a lot of good players there.”
But with one scrimmage and several practices under Utah’s belt, the Utes’ head coach says some of his concerns have been alleviated. Several wideouts have started to emerge, he said this week.
“I’d say they’ve made big strides,” Whittingham said. “Tobias Merriweather is really doing some good things. Daidren Zipperer is doing some good things. JJ Buchanan — he’s not really a wide receiver; he’s playing a lot of flex tight end — he’s really showing out, making his presence known.”
Notre Dame receiver Tobias Merriweather celebrates after scoring against Central Michigan on Sept. 16, 2023, in South Bend, Ind. After playing last year for Cal, Merriweather transferred to Utah this offseason.(AP Photo/Michael Caterina)
Merriweather, a transfer from Cal, entered training camp with arguably the best chance to emerge as Utah’s No. 1 wide receiver. He finished 2024 with 11 receptions, 125 yards and one touchdown before entering the portal this spring.
In his first media appearance of fall camp, Merriweather said he joined Utah in search of the “ability to make a difference.”
“I’m looking forward to being in an offense that wants me to be here and wants me to be featured,” the junior receiver said. “My goal has always been, since I was young, to go to NFL, and that’s still what the case is. I think here’s a good place where I can do that.”
Despite seeing progress from his wideouts, however, Whittingham said the Utes still haven’t established their starters at the position.
“[There’s] still not a real, true pecking order,” he said. “We’re starting to get some semblance of it and some idea, but we need to really see some extensive live work on Saturday’s [scrimmage] to make a decision.”