These 2 receivers stood out to Morgan Scalley in Week 4 of Utah’s spring camp

Utah's Creed Whittemore during spring practice. | Utah Athletics

As Utah heads down the home stretch of spring ball, with less than two weeks remaining, the installation of Kevin McGiven’s offense is pretty much complete, and now it’s all about ironing the wrinkles before the summer break.

Utes head coach Morgan Scalley is liking the progress his group has shown through spring ball, highlighting the cornerback group in particular on Tuesday night, but stressed the need for team-wide improvement in the two-minute drill after practice.

“Things that we harp on about being situationally intelligent, how an offense is going to, or a defense is going to, change based on the situation. Not quite good enough in the two-minute situation right now, really on both sides of the ball, big plays over the top, dropping the football, not as efficient as we need to be,” Scalley said.

“Now you’re not really installing much, it’s cleaning things up. I love the progress that’s being made, but we’re not there yet. Good thing is we don’t play for a little bit. So we’re still cleaning that stuff up. Love the progress.”

The competition in the wide receiver room is as wide open as it’s ever been at Utah with Braden Pegan, Kyri Shoels, Creed Whittemore, Larry Simmons and Nate Johnson all having standout plays during media viewing sessions this spring.

Whittemore and Johnson both were called out by Scalley post-practice after good performances.

“Creed’s a guy I got to shout out because that’s a guy that has made a ton of progress. He’s leading by example, outside of celebrating the wrong way on the touchdown. But anyway, really proud of that kid,” Scalley said.

Whittemore was in Kyle Whittingham’s doghouse a bit last year after some ball security issues in practice, but found his way onto the field late in the season, hauling in six receptions for 51 yards against Kansas State and three receptions for 20 yards against Kansas.

Whittemore, a candidate to start at slot receiver this season, reunited this spring with wide receivers coach Chad Bumphis, who coached him at Mississippi State.

“Man, I just missed playing for him. I told Coach Scalley, I was like, ‘I don’t know who you’re looking at right now, but Coach Bump’s a great coach.’ I know he’d been here. So I’m just excited he’s back. He’s a heck of a coach and we’re obviously getting better. It’s showing on the field,” Whittemore said.

Johnson, the former quarterback turned Swiss Army knife, has made strides at the wide receiver position. Johnson was primarily used as a running back last year, catching just one pass for 16 yards, but has transitioned into a wide receiver role this spring.

“That’s another guy that’s fully bought into being a wide receiver that’s making play after play. He was really inconsistent last year in terms of catching the ball, in terms of doing the things that I think he was asked to do in terms of finishing routes and being a hand catcher,” Scalley said.

Through working with Bumphis, Johnson is becoming a more well-rounded receiver and could be one of the weapons for quarterback Devon Dampier this year with a good fall camp.

“He has fully bought in. Bump has done a heck of a job with him. And to Nate’s credit, what a great mindset he’s come into this offseason with, and he’s seeing the benefits of it,” Scalley said.

How is the health of the team this spring?

Injuries have dominated the headlines in each of the past three seasons for Utah, from Cam Rising to Devon Dampier to Micah Bernard and many, many more players.

After longtime strength and conditioning coach Doug Elisaia left with Kyle Whittingham to Michigan, Scalley tapped Greg Argust to head up the team’s strength program. While no football team is ever going to get through a season unscathed, Scalley is pleased with the early returns thus far.

“Good health. Like I said, our strength staff has done a heck of a job. I feel like we’re practicing the right way. And so that’s a product of your training, in my opinion,” Scalley said.

The percentage of live reps this spring is the highest it’s ever been at Utah, but that has not resulted in more injuries, per Scalley.

“You would think, OK, you’re doing a whole lot more tackling, there should be more injuries, but no. In my opinion, you get injured when you’re not doing things the right way, training the right way, eating the right way, sleeping the right way. So it’s credit to the team and our strength staff and nutrition staff, everyone involved in making sure guys are training the right way,” Scalley said.

Any separation on the offensive line?

Though Utah will have an idea of the leading five on the offensive line after spring ball, Scalley is not tipping his hand.

There will be a whole new starting group in front of Dampier this season with all five starters heading to the NFL draft or graduating, but that doesn’t mean they are new to Utah.

Veterans Keith Olson, Alex Harrison, Zereoue Williams, Solatoa Moea’i and Roger Alderman all played at least 130 snaps last season — Utah’s 19.8-point margin of victory last year ensured reps for everyone — and transfer Cedric Jefferson started every game for FCS champion Montana State last season.

That gives Utah plenty of experienced options to work with, though five-star freshman Kelvin Obot will also challenge for a starting spot, along with four-star redshirt freshman Issiah Garcia and Ohio State redshirt transfer Isaiah Kema.

After last season’s stellar performance by the offense line, which led to school rushing records, all eyes will be on the offensive line room in fall camp. While Utah’s offensive line likely won’t reach the lofty heights of last season, the Utes’ offense will only go as far as their line will take them.

Scalley has been pleased with the group under new O-line coach Jordan Gross, but the real test will be in game action.

Right now, there’s still a long way to go until Utah’s opener against Idaho on Sep. 3. Scalley won’t be making a depth chart until the week before the game in order to keep the competition up.

“I would say no separation, right? Everyone is competing. Everyone’s competing and everyone needs to know that they don’t have the starting spot. No starting spots until the week before we play,” Scalley said.

“People pay attention to depth chart. … A depth chart doesn’t mean anything until the week of the game. That’s when a depth chart means something. So until then, everyone just own your 20 square feet, keep improving, find out what your deficiencies are and work your butt off to get better at them.”