Ute receiver competing at full strength

Brian Hernandez is feeling good.

For the first time in years, the Utah receiver isn't playing with pain.

"I feel like I'm 100 percent right now," he said. "So I'm feeling good."

And it shows.

In last Saturday's scrimmage, the senior led the Utes with six catches for 77 yards.

"Going out there and feeling like myself again was the biggest thing," said Hernandez. "So it was fun to go out there and make a few plays."

Since joining the Utes in 2005, Hernandez has battled a serious left ankle injury and later a bruised quad on the same leg. He played through the pain, but by his own estimation was only 60 or 70 percent healthy at times.

Even so, Hernandez managed to make 86 catches for 1,133 yards.

He's been especially productive in bowl games — helping the Utes prevail in the Emerald and Armed Forces bowls with eight catches in each victory.

"Brian is a hard-working guy," said quarterback Brian Johnson. "He gets open and he catches the ball well."

Hernandez has done so with a sore ankle, which required surgery in January 2006, and a quad bruise suffered in last year's season-opening loss at UCLA. The latter, coupled with missing spring ball last year while his ankle recovered, left Hernandez's leg a little weak.

Nowadays, he's moving at full speed.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has high praise for Hernandez.

"He had a great scrimmage, and he's running around very well," said Whittingham. "He's playing his best football right now."

Good news for a Utah offense with great depth and plenty of experience. Hernandez is part of a solid receiving corps that includes Brent Casteel, Derrek Richards, Freddie Brown and Bradon Godfrey.

"We're all pushing ourselves. We like to compete against each other," said Hernandez. "We have five guys who played a lot last year. We're all capable of going out there and having a big day, making big plays for this offense."

Quarterback is another position of strength for the Utes.

"I'm expecting big things from the offense this year," said Hernandez. "Brian's a great quarterback and a great leader. He's knows what he's doing out there."