Utah Utes football: Jason Whittingham has earned his playing time at U.

"It's not easy coming back after two years and getting right back into the swing of things," Jason said. "But I've been back about a year now. I've worked my way back and I feel comfortable with where I am."

Being the head coach's nephew, though, will always have its challenges. Cary considers it a double-edged sword for Jason — providing both motivation and pressure.

The combination, thereof, could have positive ramifications.

"(Jason) doesn't need to prove anything because he really has earned everything he has gotten. His uncle is not going to give him anything he has not earned," Cary said. "(Jason) is 100 percent committed to showing that there's absolutely no favoritism there and he'll work as hard as it takes to convince other people of that."

Email: dirk@desnews.com

Twitter: @DirkFacer

Season opener

Northern Colorado at Utah

Rice-Eccles Stadium

Thursday. 5:15 p.m.

TV: Pac-12 Networks Radio: ESPN 700Season opener

Washington State at BYU

LaVell Edwards Stadium

Thursday, 6:15 p.m. MT

TV: ESPN Radio: 1160 AM, 102.7 FM