Penn State vs. Utah scouting report from Josh Newman of the Salt Lake Tribune: BWI Daily
Penn State football takes on Utah next Monday in the 2023 Rose Bowl game. To get Penn State fans ready for the matchup with Utah, host of the BWI Daily Edition, Thomas Frank Carr, sits down with Josh Newman of the Salt Lake Tribune to learn more about the Utes and their season.
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For most fans, the story of the Utah Utes is firmly intertwined with that of the USC Trojans. Many Penn State fans probably only saw Utah once, when they thoroughly defeated the Trojans during the Pac-12 championship game at the beginning of the month. But what more happened to this team in 2022? Newman takes T-Frank through several critical games, including an October loss to UCLA on the road and a tough loss to Oregon later in the season. He also describes how senior quarterback Cam Rising’s injury affected the team during the year’s second half.
What should Penn State fans know about Cam Rising?
T-Frank is keen to learn more about Rising, a two-year starter for the Utes who has thrown for over 5,000 yards in the last two seasons. What sort of quarterback is he? And does he rise above the negative stereotype of “game manager?” Newman gives his thoughts on Rising and what he’s been able to do for a traditionally conservative offense under long-time head coach Kyle Whittingham.
Next, they sort out the messy backfield for Utah. T-Frank learns more about a group of players that features four players with more than 60 carries. Newman tells the audience about the rollercoaster that the team went on with former starting tailback Tavion Thomas and which players have stepped up in his absence. He and T-Frank then highlight former quarterback Ja’Quinden Jackson as a player that Penn State fans should know.
Next, they break down the receiving room for Utah, which starts and ends with tight end Dalton Kincaid.
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Utah Offensive line
The unit that concerns Penn State fans the most is the Utah offensive line. Newman and T-Frank highlight the players to know and describe the profile of this group through the 2022 season.
Finally, they transition to the defense and discuss the players up front that mean the most to the team. T-Frank asks about the defensive end situation and why edge rushers Conner O’Toole and transfer Gabe Reid got the starting nod late in the year. Newman explains Utah’s injury rash, how they adjusted, and which players stepped up in the void.
Finally, they discuss the secondary and which players will have to play more prominent roles, with cornerback Clark Phillips III opting out of the game. Lastly, they wrap up with Newman’s thoughts about Penn State and how he thinks the game will play out on Monday.
