The Utah Blockcast

Utah football director of alumni relations Bo Nagahi joins the Utah Blockcast to explain why Morgan Scalley made reconnecting former Utes an early priority—and how the program plans to make “family” last beyond a player’s final snap.

Nagahi discusses his history with Scalley, the response from former players and his three primary goals for the alumni program: connection, engagement and access. He also outlines a larger vision involving career opportunities, mentorship, degree completion, mental-health support and stronger relationships between current and former players.

Before the interview, Steve Bartle identifies 10 Utes who could surprise this season, including Elijah Reed, Paul Fitzgerald, Ricky Johnson, and Steve Chavez-Soto.

Utah is developing its next generation while reconnecting with the players who helped build the program.

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Fall camp week three availability with Utah defensive end Lance Holtzclaw, safety Nate Ritchie, and cornerback Elijah Reed. 

Week three of fall camp availability with Utah head coach Morgan Scalley, quarterback Devon Dampier, offensive lineman Solatoa Moea'i, and tight end Hunter Andrews. 

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. 

Subscribe to the Utah Blockcast for Utah football analysis, fall camp updates and Big 12 coverage. 

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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 

Subscribe for Utah football analysis, interviews and year-round coverage from the Utah Blockcast. #UtahFootball #GoUtes #Big12Football

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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Utah football is officially back.

In this episode, hear all four interviews from Day 2 of fall camp as Johnathan Hall, Ethan Day, Lucas Samsula, and Jackson Bennee share their thoughts on the Utes.

Utah football is officially back.

In this episode, hear all five interviews from Day 1 of fall camp as Morgan Scalley, Devon Dampier, Wayshawn Parker, Alex Harrison and Braden Pegan discuss the important storylines surrounding the Utes.

Utah football fall camp is officially here. Steve Bartle and Josh Bennett break down the biggest questions facing Morgan Scalley and the Utes as they begin preparing for a potential Big 12 championship run.

What would make Scalley’s first season a genuine success? How much control will Devon Dampier receive in Kevin McGiven’s offense? And can Utah rebuild both lines of scrimmage without lowering its championship ceiling?

The guys discuss:

• McGiven’s unconventional definition of offensive balance

• Dampier taking greater ownership at the line of scrimmage

• How Utah can creatively involve Byrd Ficklin

• Braden Pegan, Kyri Shoels and the receiver room’s vertical potential

• Replacing Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu along the offensive line

• Karson Kaufusi and Utah’s young defensive-tackle rotation

• Whether Colton Swan can generate pressure without a dominant edge rusher

The episode closes with rapid-fire fall camp predictions covering position battles, breakout freshmen, impact transfers, Utah’s strongest defensive unit and the players most likely to become fan and media favorites. Subscribe to the Utah Blockcast for fall camp reports, player and coach interviews, Utah football analysis and complete coverage of the Utes throughout the 2026 season. #UtahFootball #GoUtes #Big12Football

Fall camp is here, and former Utah linebacker Stevenson Sylvester joins Steve Bartle to preview the first preseason under head coach Morgan Scalley.

Sly explains what coaches are truly evaluating during camp, why accountability and confidence determine whether young players earn meaningful roles, and how communication reveals the maturity of a defense. The conversation examines Johnathan Hall’s transition into Utah’s leading voice at linebacker, the rebuilt defensive front, Colton Swan’s opportunity to shape the defense and the relationship between Utah’s personnel and its scheme.

They also turn to an offense featuring Devon Dampier, Wayshawn Parker, Braden Pegan, Kyri Shoels and Byrd Ficklin—and why its versatility could force opposing defenses to simplify their approach.

Topics include:

• What young players must prove during fall camp
• How Scalley could operate differently as head coach
• Hall’s next step as a leader
• What Utah needs from Karson Kaufusi and the defensive line
• How Swan could put his stamp on the defense
• Why Utah’s offense could be so difficult to prepare for
• Whether the Utes have the pieces to contend for the Big 12 championship 

Subscribe to the Utah Blockcast for Utah football analysis, fall camp updates and complete coverage of the Utes throughout the 2026 season.

Utah football enters Morgan Scalley’s first fall camp with Big 12 championship expectations—and major questions across both sides of the line of scrimmage. Steve Bartle and Josh Bennett break down the five storylines that will define camp: • Rebuilding all five offensive-line positions and four defensive-front roles • Devon Dampier’s command of Kevin McGiven’s new offense • Potential breakout players generating early camp buzz • How Scalley will operate his first fall camp as Utah’s head coach • Freshmen who could earn immediate roles, led by five-star tackle Kelvin Obot Which position battle will have the greatest impact on Utah’s 2026 season? Drop your answer in the comments. Subscribe to Utah Blockcast for analysis and complete coverage throughout fall camp. #UtahFootball #GoUtes #Big12Football #UtahUtes #CollegeFootball

Pick Six Previews founder Brett Ciancia joins the Utah Blockcast to explain why he has Utah third in the Big 12 and inside his national top 25. Brett breaks down the Utes’ potential path to an 8–0 start, where Utah fits alongside Texas Tech and BYU, and whether Devon Dampier, Wayshawn Parker and a favorable schedule can overcome complete offensive-line turnover, significant defensive losses and the transition from Kyle Whittingham to Morgan Scalley.

Steve Bartle and Josh Bennett rank the 10 most important players to Utah’s 2026 season—not simply the best players, but the Utes whose roles may be the hardest to replace. They debate Devon Dampier’s command of an offense built around him, Karson Kaufusi’s ownership of Utah’s defensive-tackle tradition, Braden Pegan’s impact and whether Wayshawn Parker is ranked too low. Plus, “6–7” gets its moment, and Eric Weddle receives proper recognition with his Ring of Honor induction.

Morgan Scalley has impressed throughout his opening months as Utah’s head coach, from his introductory press conference and spring practices to Big 12 Media Days and his work building relationships with program supporters. Steve Bartle and Josh Bennett examine the personality, preparation and institutional understanding that give Scalley a strong foundation—along with potential blind spots that could define his first season. Can he turn Utah’s culture into a complete teaching system, empower his assistants and remain decisive when adversity arrives?

Steve Bartle and Josh Bennett draft their five most interesting Utah football players entering fall camp, allowing to break down position battles, breakout candidates and unresolved roles that could determine whether the Utes are ready to contend for a Big 12 championship.

What Is Utah Football Trying To Become?

Steve Bartle and Josh Bennett ask the defining question surrounding Morgan Scalley’s first Utah team. They project the Utes’ offensive and defensive identities, set statistical expectations for Devon Dampier and both units, and examine how Utah can preserve its traditional physicality while becoming more adaptable, explosive and complete.

Utah must replace all five offensive line starters after losing Spencer Fano, Caleb Lomu and a unit that powered one of college football’s most productive rushing attacks. Steve examines what happened to Washington, Michigan and Oklahoma after similar resets—and why history suggests Utah should expect a decline in protection and rushing efficiency. But those teams also replaced their quarterbacks. With Devon Dampier returning after an impressive offseason, could Utah’s biggest offensive star also be the X-factor that keeps its biggest concern from becoming a fatal flaw?

Steve Bartle and Josh Bennett recap Big 12 Media Days with a Utah-focused notebook from Frisco, covering Morgan Scalley’s first impression, Devon Dampier’s standing among Big 12 quarterbacks, Utah’s offensive line questions and key breakout candidates entering fall camp. The episode ends with interviews with Devon Dampier and Johnathan Hall.