Utah Utes football notebook: Jereme Brooks is taking ownership of receiving corps

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah receiver Jereme Brooks is catching more than passes this spring. The senior is also fielding questions from the Utes' young receiving corps.

"He's our go-to guy. He's obviously the most experienced receiver we have in the program returning," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "He's done a nice job accepting the leadership role in that group and he's going to be a guy we can count on this fall."

Brooks, who was second on the team with 56 receptions last season, is the only returning receiver with more than 13 catches. That's the total fellow senior Shaky Smithson hauled in as a junior. Smithson, however, isn't participating in spring ball after offseason surgery.

Brooks, thus, is the only receiver in camp with 10 or more catches in 2009.

"The receiving corps is really young so I'm just trying to lead these guys and shows these guys the right way to do stuff and how to be a great receiver," said Brooks, who noted that sophomores Luke Matthews (nine catches last season) and DeVonte Christopher (two catches) are making strides — making the transition from young receivers to every down receivers.

The continued development of Matthews and Christopher is something the Utes are counting on this spring. Quarterback Jordan Wynn said the duo are also stepping up their leadership. Brooks, though, is the leader of the pack.

"He's taken ownership of that receiving group," Wynn said. "(He's) just helping out with the young guys and setting a really good example of how practice should be done — working hard and just helping out."

It's a role Brooks is happy to fill. He's also eager for fall camp when several highly touted receivers join the mix. The newcomers include Dres Anderson (North HS, Calif.), Martavious Lee (Palomar CC, Calif.), Terrell Reese (Brenham HS, Texas) and Kenneth Scott (Colony HS, Calif.).

"I've heard the new guys that are coming in are really good guys, and I think they'll fit in great with our offense," Brooks said while noting that the receivers are a close-knit group that learns quickly.

Utah's spring roster at receiver currently includes two seniors (Brooks, Smithson), one junior (Zach Wade), three sophomores (Christopher, Matthews and Jake Orchard) and five freshmen (Sean Fitzgerald, Griffin McNabb, Fatu Moala, Jamal Smith and Justin Wright).

FIRST SCRIMMAGE: Whittingham said the Utes will run up to 100 plays in their first spring scrimmage, Friday from 4-6 p.m. at Rice-Eccles Stsdium.