The Utah Blockcast

Utah football has officially reached the dog days of fall camp—the stage when Morgan Scalley and his staff begin learning which players they can truly trust.

Steve Bartle breaks down the latest developments from Rice-Eccles Stadium, including Utah’s unsettled offensive line, Alex Harrison’s growth at center, the buzz surrounding Kelvin Obot and concerning red-zone results from Saturday’s scrimmage. 

Plus, Mateaki Helu and Lance Holtzclaw are making their cases for larger roles, Devon Dampier is being tested by Colton Swan’s defense, Hunter Andrews is feeling healthy again and Scalley continues reconnecting former players with the program. The season is getting closer, but Utah still has important questions to answer. 

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Utah football feels reenergized under Morgan Scalley—but two weeks of fall camp cannot answer whether the Utes are ready to win the Big 12.

Steve Bartle examines Scalley’s renewed investment in boosters and former players, the early impact of Steve Saunders’ strength program and what limited practice viewing can actually reveal.

The episode also breaks down:

• Devon Dampier and Wayshawn Parker as Utah’s championship foundation
• Kevin McGiven’s challenge distributing touches
• Braden Pegan and Utah’s deeper collection of playmakers
• The offensive line’s physical development, work habits and football intelligence
• Utah’s unresolved defensive-line and pass-rush questions
• Why the secondary could become a major strength

The excitement surrounding Utah is justified. Now the Utes must prove that their increased energy, improved physical development and deeper roster will translate once the games begin.

Subscribe to the Utah Blockcast for complete Utah football coverage throughout the 2026 season.

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Utah Director of Football Performance Steve Saunders joins the Utah Blockcast to explain the philosophy behind the Utes’ new strength and conditioning program.

Saunders discusses what changed this offseason, how Utah evaluates body composition and meaningful physical development, which players and position groups made the biggest strides, and how the staff balances strength, size, speed and explosiveness. 

Plus, Saunders discusses the long-term vision for Utah’s strength program and what he hopes will physically distinguish a Utah football team in the years ahead. 

Topics include: 

• What changed in Utah’s strength and conditioning program 

• Steve Saunders’ training philosophy 

• Utah’s emphasis on body composition and lean mass

• Building strength without sacrificing speed and explosiveness 

• The biggest physical developments from the summer 

• How Utah evaluates player development • Training durability for a Big 12 season 

• How in-season workloads and recovery are managed

• Preparing players for October and November football 

• The long-term physical vision for Utah football 

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Utah fall camp week two defensive media availability with cornerback Elijah Reed, defensive tackle Jireh Moe, safety Rabbit Evans, and linebacker Cyrus Polu. 

Utah fall camp week two media availability with head coach Morgan Scalley, offensive lineman Zereoue Williams, and quarterback Byrd Ficklin. 

Utah football opened the doors to fall camp practice, giving us our first real opportunity in years to watch the Utes work during August.

Steve Bartle breaks down what stood out from the viewing session, starting with a rebuilt offensive line that looks noticeably different physically. Zereoue Williams has added significant size, the competition continues across the front, and Utah is trying to turn improved bodies into the chemistry and physicality needed to replace five starters.

Then, Byrd Ficklin continues to generate buzz. His arm talent flashed during practice, but the bigger development may be how Ryan Gunderson and Kevin McGiven are helping him process the game faster while still allowing him to remain the dynamic playmaker Utah saw last season.

Also discussed:

• Why Utah still has questions to answer against the run

• Morgan Scalley’s surprising assessment of defensive end vs. defensive tackle depth

• Ethan Day, Pupu Sepulona and other young defensive linemen adding size

• The competition behind Wayshawn Parker at running back

• Why Daniel Bray, Steve Chavez-Soto and Mateaki Helu remain intriguing options

• The possibility of Semi Taulanga and Sione Motuapuaka getting carries

• Why Utah’s secondary could have one of the highest ceilings on the roster

Fall camp has officially given us something tangible to evaluate. Now the next few weeks are about figuring out which encouraging developments can translate when the season begins.

Utah play-by-play voice Bill Riley joins the Utah Blockcast to explain why the program already feels different under new head coach Morgan Scalley—and why the 2026 Utes have the ingredients to contend in the Big 12.

Bill discusses Scalley’s leadership, Kevin McGiven’s offensive vision, Devon Dampier’s continued development, Wayshawn Parker’s pursuit of a bigger season and the questions Utah must answer before opening against Idaho.

The conversation also explores Utah’s championship ceiling, its challenging November schedule and what Bill has learned during nearly two decades as the voice of the Utes. 

Subscribe for Utah football analysis, interviews and year-round coverage from the Utah Blockcast.

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Utah football’s defensive coaches take stock of the young front, emerging secondary depth and position battles shaping Morgan Scalley’s first defense. Defensive coordinator Colton Swan explains how Utah will preserve the foundation of Scalley’s system while introducing his own ideas—and why “players over scheme” will guide the final personnel decisions. Inoke Breckterfield identifies four defensive ends the Utes already trust, Luther Elliss discusses a wide-open competition at defensive tackle and the staff evaluates the continued development of Trey Reynolds and Cyrus Polu at linebacker. The conversation also covers Jackson Bennee’s growth, Utah’s five- or six-player safety rotation, improved depth at cornerback and the remaining questions that padded practices must answer. Subscribe to the Utah Blockcast for complete Utah football fall camp coverage, analysis and reaction.

Utah football’s offensive coaches break down the Utes’ progress through the opening days of fall camp—and the offense is beginning to look like Devon Dampier’s. Kevin McGiven and Ryan Gunderson explain how Utah is giving Dampier greater control of protections and coverage checks while continuing to develop Byrd Ficklin’s processing without restraining his playmaking instincts. Jordan Gross discusses a rebuilt offensive line with as many as 10 playable options, while Chad Bumphis details a versatile receiver rotation featuring Tobias Merriweather, Nate Johnson and Creed Whittemore. The coaches also examine Utah’s plans for Wayshawn Parker and Daniel Bray, the competition involving LaMarcus Bell and the different ways the running backs and tight ends could be featured in McGiven’s offense. Subscribe to the Utah Blockcast for complete Utah football fall camp coverage, analysis and reaction.

Utah football is two days into fall camp, and the early storylines under first-year head coach Morgan Scalley are beginning to take shape.

Steve Bartle and Josh Bennett discuss Scalley’s shorter-but-more-demanding practices, the player-led summer and why Steve Saunders’ strength program has become one of camp’s biggest talking points. They also break down Devon Dampier’s growing command of the offense, Utah’s five-man offensive-line rebuild, the defensive front’s push to restore its physical identity and the early buzz surrounding Ethan Day, Karson Kaufusi, Creed Whittemore, Cyrus Polu and others.

The pads have yet to come on, so which developments feel legitimate, which are still August optimism and which position battles deserve the most attention moving forward?

Share your biggest takeaway in the comments, and subscribe to the Utah Blockcast for more coverage throughout fall camp.

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