Utah Utes football: Camp shuts down during spring break

SALT LAKE CITY — On the surface, Utah's spring football schedule could easily be described as a form of March Madness.

Head coach Kyle Whittingham, however, would disagree.

After kicking things off with five practices over the past two weeks, the Utes are shutting things down for spring break. They'll reconvene on March 29.

"We like it. We have no complaints," said Whittingham, who noted that it gives players with bumps and bruises a chance to heal up. It also works well with final exams and the way the calendar falls.

Whittingham has opted to schedule spring practices around the break for the past three years.

And it'll likely continue.

"We've had good success doing it this way," he said.

The Utes, who practiced at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday, have 10 spring sessions remaining. They'll cap things off with the Red-White Game on Saturday, April 17.

"I think we've made good progress. Obviously, we've got a bunch of stuff to work on," Whittingham said following the completion of the first segment of camp. "I think we're on pace. We've got to come back and pick up where we left off and finish strong."

Most of the installation has taken place, and the players will take home some things to study over spring break.

"The guys who are here right now are working hard," Whittingham said. "Everybody's got to improve. That's the objective in spring football."

And progress, he added, is being made.

Quarterback Jordan Wynn agrees. The sophomore is directing an offense with a rebuilding receiving corps, of sorts. Whittingham said it's an area of emphasis this spring.

"I think we've definitely made a lot of progress. We've got some new stuff going in. That's really it," Wynn said while noting that the timing is getting better. "We've just got to continue to perfect our execution of it and stay consistent."

Senior Jereme Brooks is the experienced leader of the receivers in camp. Others stepping to the forefront include sophomores DeVonte Christopher and Luke Matthews, as well as freshmen Jamal Smith, Sean Fitzgerald and Griffin McNabb. Tight ends Kendrick Moeai, Brad Clifford and Westlee Tonga also are making a splash.