Utah Utes football: Louks may make switch to safety

Midway through Saturday's practice at the Spence Eccles Field House, Utah quarterback Corbin Louks made a switch. For the remainder of the session, he played safety.

"I'm just trying it out and seeing how it works," said Louks, who is determining his future after falling to No. 3 on the depth chart at quarterback behind Jordan Wynn and Terrance Cain. "I had a lot of fun today."

Louks said the other safeties welcomed him with open arms and he sat in on two position meetings with the group.

"I was out there having a blast with the guys, trying to help out the team," said Louks, who discussed a position change with head coach Kyle Whittingham when told he was the odd man out in the quarterback competition on Friday.

Louks is still weighing his options and plans to speak with peers and mentors over the weekend before deciding on his next move.

Utah coaches are hoping he'll stick around and play defense.

"He did well. Now I just have to coach him down," mused safeties coach Morgan Scalley. "He takes natural angles."

Scalley said Louks' combination of speed, knowledge of the offense and natural athletic ability are definite assets. So, too, is his range and football smarts.

"He's a great young man. He's an unselfish football player," Scalley said. "And if it all goes to plan, we'll have him in that safety group for good."

The best-case scenario, he added, would be to redshirt Louks and let him learn the position in greater detail.

"He's just got to get the technique of playing safety down and he'll be good," said free safety Robert Johnson.

Scalley believes Louks could contribute this season, but noted that a redshirt year would probably be the best-case scenario. Current starters Robert Johnson and Joe Dale are seniors.

"He's athletic, fast and he's got a lot to offer," said Whittingham, who pointed out that the position change is still in the experimental stage at this point. "We certainly have the luxury to redshirt him if that's the direction we decide to go."

In other words, no decisions have been made.

"He's giving it a shot," Whittingham said of the move. "We'll see how it progresses.

Louks, however, is still non-committal about his future.