The Utah Checkdown

Previewing (and grading) Utah football's offensive potential in 2025

Back for another week to talk about Utah football and other happenings at the University of Utah
Host Josh Furlong gives an updated look at Kyle Whittingham's contract (as it relates to his future retirement) and also gives a look back at Utah's offensive performance last season to see where they need to improve (Surprise: all of it!).
Furlong breaks down each position group to see who will be the starters, rotation players and depth pieces, and where Utah is most confident.
Can Utah have a bounce-back season on offense, or will a two-year trend move toward three years?
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Is Utah the best football program in the Big 12? Guest John Kurtz makes his case

Utah had a down 2024 season, going 5-7 in a year where the program was picked to win the Big 12 with Cam Rising under center, but are the Utes still the best program in the Big 12?
Special guest John Kurtz makes his case for Utah as the Big 12's best program. He and host Josh Furlong look at Utah and what makes them a strong candidate for that label.
The two talk Utah's status in the Big 12, Cam Rising's medical retirement, what the Big 12 race will look like in 2025 and how the conference can stay afloat amid constant changes in the collegiate space.
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Previewing (and grading) Utah football’s defensive potential in 2025

The transfer portal has closed, but Utah men's basketball and football continues to add players for the upcoming season.
Host Josh Furlong gives an update on the portal activity and who Utah has brought in for the 2025 season. He also gives a look back at Utah's defensive performance last season to see where they need to improve.
As part of that, Furlong breaks down each position group to see who will be the starters, rotation players and depth pieces.
Can Utah return to the top on defense with their current roster? Does Utah have the right pieces (and depth) to compete in the Big 12 this season?
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Is Caleb Lohner the NFL’s next Jimmy Graham?

The NFL draft weekend was relatively quiet for players from the University of Utah ... except for tight end Caleb Lohner, who was selected in the seventh round.
Host Josh Furlong recaps the weekend and Lohner's selection to the Denver Broncos, while also talking about a potential comparison to five-time Pro Bowler Jimmy Graham with head coach Sean Payton at the helm.
What did Denver see in Lohner? What could his future be in the NFL?
Furlong also gives an update on the transfer portal and shares a bit of Mason Madsen's podcast that details the end of the season firing of Craig Smith and how the team took the news.
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Tampering and the transfer portal; and how does Utah compare to the SEC? (w/ Josh Newman)

The spring transfer portal is in full swing, and Utah is attempting to stave off several suitors for some of its top players.
Host Josh Furlong is joined by Josh Newman to talk about tampering and the transfer portal, as well as Utah's opportunity to maybe someday be a part of a Power Two conference.
The two answer questions about whether tampering should be allowed, what changes should be made in the current era and whether any of this should be a concern to college football fans.
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Talking positive Utah football vibes after spring game with Bryan Brown

Utah football wrapped up it spring camp on Saturday with its annual 22 Forever Game.
And while the game itself is very vanilla as to not spoil schemes for fall, there's a lot of optimism coming out of the program about what the 2025 season could be for Utah.
Host Josh Furlong is joined today by Bryan Brown to recap the spring game and the overall vibes coming out of camp.
Has Devon Dampier done enough to give fans confidence about the season? Are there areas of concern? How did Utah's approach to this camp help the program moving forward.
They talk all of that and more.
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Is it time to buy the Devon Dampier hype?

Utah football is in the home stretch of spring camp.
The team will be concluding its last week of spring football this week, with the annual spring game taking place Saturday.
Host Josh Furlong previews the last week of camp, while looking ahead to the offseason and the transfer portal needs.
Can Devon Dampier be enough for Utah's offense to make a rebound in 2025? What will Utah's offense look like this season? Could this be a special season for the Utes?
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Assessing Utah’s depth at QB during spring

Utah held its first scrimmage of spring on Saturday, and we learned a lot about the team's depth at quarterback.
Host Josh Furlong recaps the latest from spring at the QB position and what it could mean for Utah this fall. Devon Dampier is the clear leader of the group, but what does it look like behind him?
Isaac Wilson is back and hoping for some redemption after an inconsistent first season, but can he reclaim the support needed to see the field?
Wilson is being pushed by true freshman Byrd Ficklin, who is having a great spring. Can he overtake Wilson or where does he fall in the pecking order?
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Why fans should be optimistic about Utah's new offense

Spring football is in full swing, and Utah's offense has made continual progress.
Host Josh Furlong recaps the latest media availability with head coach Kyle Whittingham and the players, and gives fans reasons why they should be optimistic about what is coming together on offense.
Utah still has many questions before games are played in fall, but the offense has been the storyline of camp so far.
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Detailing Alex Jensen's contract; a first look at spring football

It's another newsy week for Utah athletics fans.
Host Josh Furlong starts by breaking down Alex Jensen's contract with Utah and what it could mean for the men's basketball program, as well as what to look for in the coming days as he fills out his staff and builds out his roster.
He also gives his takeaways from the first day of spring football camp observations. The media got to watch for 20 minutes, and there's already some exciting aspects about Utah's offense.
Stay up to date with University of Utah athletics news and coverage from KSL.com Sports on social media platform X @KSLcomSports and on KSL.com.
Follow Josh Furlong @JFurKSL