University of Utah head football coach Morgan Scalley held a weekly press conference on Monday, October 12, at the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center. During the session, Scalley reviewed the team's recent victory and discussed the upcoming road game against Colorado.
Reflecting on the previous game, Scalley noted a second-quarter lull where the opponent gained momentum following a fourth-down stop and a touchdown. He credited the team's leaders, including Devon, for preparing the players in the locker room to regain momentum. Scalley highlighted the team's red zone efficiency, noting they were 5-of-5 in scoring touchdowns while the opponent was 2-of-5.
Addressing the quarterback rotation, Scalley remarked that the willingness of backup Byrd Ficklin to play multiple roles is a benefit to the offensive coordinators. He noted that both Dampier and Ficklin possess the ability to run, catch, and throw. Regarding running back Wayshawn Parker, Scalley emphasized the importance of distributing the ball to keep players healthy and unpredictable, noting that Parker's downfield blocking is a trait recognized by NFL scouts.
Scalley also touched upon the program's recruiting philosophy and the 'We Are Utah' slogan. He stated that the priority is recruiting players capable of competing at the collegiate level, regardless of whether they are in-state. He noted that high-quality high school coaching in Utah is attracting attention from SEC and Big 10 programs.
Other Utah Athletics updates mentioned by Scalley included the men's golf team hosting the Big 12 Match Play Tournament at Salt Lake Country Club, which began with a shotgun start on Monday, October 12. Additionally, the women's tennis team is scheduled to begin the ITA Regionals in Provo on Tuesday, October 13, and the volleyball team is set to host a ranked BYU team at the Huntsman Center on Thursday, October 15.
The Utah football team will next face Colorado on the road. Scalley noted that the Colorado roster includes former Utes Isaac Wilson and Jason Stokes on the defensive side of the ball.
