The Utah Utes are coming into Provo with a two and one record after a heartbreaking 51-48 overtime loss to the Oregon State Beavers in Salt Lake City.  This week’s trip down south will be their first game outside the friendly confines of Rice Eccles Stadium.

Each of the Utes’ wins came against in state opponents as they beat Utah State 30-26 in week one and followed that up a week later with a 70-7 drubbing of Weber State.

Utah is coached by BYU alumnus Kyle Whittingham who is in his 20^th year at the school and ninth as the Head Coach.

The Utah offense is averaging nearly 50 points a game under first year co-offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson with the help of the returning coordinator Brian Johnson.  The Ute offense has been led on the field by sophomore quarterback Travis Wilson.  Wilson is a dual threat quarterback with great speed and a strong arm.  He has flourished in Erickson’s new system and has put up huge numbers in his first three weeks.  Wilson has already thrown for 845 yards and seven touchdowns while accounting for 244 yards and five touchdowns on just 24 carries.  At times he does get fazed by pressure and has already thrown three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown in the Oregon State game.

Wilson has a fantastic offensive line in front of him led by three returning starters in sophomore Jeremiah Poutasi, as well as seniors Vyncent Jones and Jeremiah Tofaeono.  Even though the Utes lost one of their key receivers Kenneth Scott for the season in week one, Utah still has plenty of weapons.  The Utes have a trio of solid receivers led by junior burner Dres Anderson who has ten catches for 263 yards and three touchdowns. The other pair of deep threats for the Utes are Anthony Denham and Sean Fitzgerald.  Denham has eight catches for 136 yards so far this season while Fitzgerald has nine receptions for 178 yards and two touchdowns.

Utah also has a talented duo of tight ends that are very dangerous in the passing game.  Jake Murphy leads the way with six receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown.  His contemporary is senior Westlee Tonga who has caught two balls so far this year.

The running back core is deep and versatile.  Kelvin York was the number one back coming out of fall camp but has been supplanted by James “Bubba” Poole and Lucky Radley.  Poole has carried the ball 40 times for 208 yards and one touchdown.  Poole is also a dangerous target out of the backfield already registering ten receptions for 98 yards. Radley has also been impressive having rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries.

The defense hasn’t been nearly as successful having given up more than 450 yards of offense in each of their FBS matchups.

Kalani Sitake’s defense is led by Trevor Reilly and Nate Orchard.  Orchard is a speed rusher who can wreak havoc in the back field and has already tallied 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack.  Reilly always seems to be around the ball which is why he leads the Utes in tackles with 19 including four tackles for loss and a sack.  They are joined up front by defensive tackle Tenny Palepoi who has been a serious problem for opposing offensive lines this season.  He has already registered 15 tackles including 3.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks.  Some other talented players in the front seven are Jared Norris, Hunter Dimick and Jason Whittingham who have a combined 38 tackles on the season.

The secondary has struggled at times early in the season and has given up huge amounts of passing yards against the Aggies and the Beavers.  They are led by junior safety Eric Rowe who is in his third year as a starter and was a freshman All- America in 2011. Rowe is second on the team in tackles with 18 so far this season.  Another player to watch in the secondary in Michael Walker who is tied with Rowe with 18 tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss.