Expectation Has Never Been Higher For Utah Football Wide Receivers Entering 2020 Season
Jul 23, 2020, 4:25 PM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – If we get college football in 2020 the Utes will rely heavily on their incredibly talented and deep wide receiving core to make more plays than what they are used to if Utah expects to make a third consecutive Pac-12 Championship Game appearance.
It is a concept that Utah fans are not familiar with. Since Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011, the Utah offense has relied heavily on the productivity of its offensive line and running backs. John White, otherwise known as the Wolf Man, Devontae Booker, Joe Williams and Zack Moss are just a handful of running backs that have carried the Utah offense over the years.
That is all expected to change in 2020. The wide-receivers are anticipated to take the brunt of the offensive productivity in 2020, and for good reason.
Brant Kuithe
Headlined by Brant Kuithe, the Utes have a long list of weapons who are more than capable of taking over games.
Highest % of catches that resulted in a 1st-down among returning TEs:
➤ Charlie Kolar, ISU – 73%
➤ Marcus Williams, UNM – 72%
➤ Brant Kuithe, Utah – 72%
➤ Brevin Jordan, Miami – 70%
➤ Jalen Wydermyer, A&M – 69% pic.twitter.com/CmS9LRh0eb— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 23, 2020
Kuithe was the favorite target for Tyler Huntley in 2019. Kuithe has a unique ability to find pockets of space in and amongst opposing defenses but will likely headline the offensive scouting report in 2020. Is he capable of being as productive despite the additional attention that he warrants in 2020? That is the million-dollar question.
Britain Covey
Britain Covey claims to be feeling better than he was prior to tearing his ACL in the 2018 Pac-12 Championship Game against the Washington Huskies. Covey is coming off a 2019 season where he was forced to medically redshirt due to complications with the same knee. If Covey can get healthy, Utah has a duo of slot-receivers in Covey and Jaylen Dixon that make opposing defensive coordinators lose plenty of sleep.
PAC-12 Player Spotlight:
Britain Covey (@Utah_Football WR)
5-8 170
– 2332 Career All Purpose Yards
– 1st Team All Pac-12 in 2018
– 2 Career Touchdown Passes
– Projected 1st Team All Pac-12 WR for 2020 by Jon Wilner— WestCoastCFB.com (@WestCoastCFB) May 4, 2020
Bryan Thompson
Arguably the most skilled pass-catching threat in 2020 lies in the soft hands of Bryan Thompson. The 6 foot 2-inch wide-out has more potential than any Utah wide receiver has had since they joined the conference. It’s just, his body has continued to let him down throughout his career. Thompson cannot stay healthy and is constantly fighting his body to allow him to play football.
Nacua & Enis
Samson Nacua and Solomon Enis are two other receivers that warrant a conversation. Throughout their Utah career, both Nacua and Thompson has shown glimpses of what they are capable of. However, far too frequently do they both go missing. If Nacua and Enis can perform better than they have in the seasons gone, Utah has a legitimate chance to return to the Pac-12 Championship Game for the third consecutive year.
Making sprinting with a mask on look easy.@SolomonEnis | #MaskUpUtah pic.twitter.com/98GYVwTIiO
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) July 20, 2020
Tom Hackett and Steve Bartle, hosts of the It’s Utah’s World podcast, both agreed that they must ‘see it to believe it’ before they can start discussing the ceiling of what 2020 can hold for Utah.
Make no mistake, however, this Utah wide-receiving group is as talented as it has ever been and the potential is out of this world.
Tom Hackett is a Utah and Real Salt Lake Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the It’s Utah’s World Podcast (Utah Football themed) and The Lion’s Den Podcast (Real Salt Lake themed). Follow him on Twitter: @TomCantHackett.
