Utah Utes football: Asiata expected to take on bigger role

If all goes as planned this season, tailback Matt Asiata will join some elite company.

The senior is primed to join Carl Monroe, Dameon Hunter, Darrell Mack, Mike Anderson, Del Rodgers, Quinton Ganther, Keith Williams, Eddie Johnson (twice) and Eddie Lewis as the only 1,000-yard rushers in University of Utah history.

After splitting carries with the now graduated Mack a year ago, Asiata's opportunities are expected to increase this fall.

"Matt will be a featured back much like Darrell was in '07," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "He's the primary ball carrier."

Others like junior Eddie Wide and redshirt freshman Sausan Shakerin will get some touches, he added, but Asiata will be the primary guy.

And odds are he'll likely improve on last season's team-high 707 yards on 146 carries.

"Whatever the coaches want. I'm just going to do my part and play hard," said Asiata, who scored 12 rushing touchdowns last season. "The coaches, they have put most of the stuff on me because I'm a senior."

The former Hunter High star vows to do his best to meet expectations on and off the field.

"I'm really comfortable," said Asiata. "I like being a leader out there and am trying to push the offense and some of the players on the defense to get better and stuff. At the end, we're all a team. We've just got to go compete."

Asiata said the competition at running back has been good. Wide and Shakerin, he explained, are helping him out and they're pushing each other to succeed.

"I'm looking forward to my senior season," said Asiata. "Our team is looking good — our offense, our defense — we've got a lot of work to do, but it'll come along. It's just spring right now."

When fall rolls around, though, Asiata acknowledges he'll have 1,000 yards on his mind.

"That's a goal for me — get a 1,000 yards and just help my team win," said Asiata. "For an individual, it's a big mark."

Whittingham acknowledged it's kind of a benchmark.

"No question about it," he said. "Production from the tailback position is very critical for our success."

It's a responsibility Asiata is more than willing to accept.