Utes' Warren wants win and record

Paris Warren missed out on an opportunity to break Utah's single-season receptions record in the 3-0 win at BYU on Nov. 22. The freezing conditions at LaVell Edwards Stadium that day weren't conducive to passing. It limited him to just four catches, three shy of replacing former Utes Loren Richey and Dennis Smith in the record book.

Another crack comes in the Liberty Bowl, where the 25th-ranked Utes will meet Southern Mississippi on New Year's Eve.

"It's hard not to think about it," said Warren, who has 71 receptions this season. "But going into the game, I want to get a victory first . . . It'll be good to get the record, though."

If history is any indication, the transfer from Oregon should get it. After all, Warren made the most of a second chance earlier this season when he missed the Texas A&M game because of a shoplifting incident. Without him, the Utes dropped a 28-26 decision to the Aggies.

"I'm not a person who holds grudges," said Utah coach Urban Meyer. "If you correct a mistake that's one thing, and he has. He's a great young man."

Warren overcame his brush with the law to become a first-team All-Mountain West Conference honoree. He ranks ninth in the nation with 7.1 receptions per game.

"The guy's all football. He doesn't want to do anything but help this team and help us win," quarterback Alex Smith said. "And if that's catching 77 balls a year and breaking the record, then he's going to do that. I think he just wants to do whatever it takes."

Meyer said it's because Warren loves football and everything about it. The junior takes pride in his preparation — from studying his opponents to staying focused. Such traits have caught the attention of his teammates.

"The guy is always in the facility. He's always working. He's always looking at film," Smith said. "He's always trying to get better, and I think it shows."

It's a concept that the Utes, as a team, have adopted in Meyer's first season. And that's not all.

"There's just a lot of discipline with this team. There's been a lot of ups and downs with this team, including myself," said Warren, a personable sort who isn't afraid to say what's on his mind. He wasn't allowed to speak with the media days before the Oregon game after making some less-than-flattering comments about his old team. "All we can do is just build on what we've been doing well."

And with Warren, Utah's passing game has evolved into a model of efficiency. Smith wound up completing a league-high 66.8 percent of his passes. He was intercepted just twice in 247 attempts. And though he credits all of his receivers for helping to get the job done, Warren, in particular, has become a favorite target.