‘You definitely want to show well for the conference’: Early test vs. Arkansas important for Utes and Big 12

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After a game against Idaho that allowed the Utes to ease into the season a bit and test out their depth, the real season starts on Saturday with a late-night contest against Arkansas.

The Razorbacks will make the trip to Salt Lake City, marking just the second time an SEC opponent has visited Rice-Eccles Stadium. For the Utes, it’s the first test they’ve faced this season, but it’s also an opportunity to earn the Big 12 Conference some bragging rights with a win over an SEC team.

“You definitely want to show well for the conference. Just the challenge of playing top-quality teams — regardless of where they’re coming from, you want to be able to show your best stuff,” said Utah coach Morgan Scalley.

“Arkansas has a long history of great football, so we’re excited to host and, yes, we want to represent the Big 12. We want to represent the state of Utah the right way, and our boys are getting ready for that.”

Utah had an easy 66-14 win over FCS opponent Idaho to open the season, but Arkansas — picked to finish last in the SEC — didn’t fare as well in its opening win over FCS North Alabama.

Though the Razorbacks won 31-14 and gained 415 yards, Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield called it “one of the worst offensive performances that I’ve been a part of.”

Arkansas gained only 148 rushing yards and its offensive line graded out poorly, allowing three sacks and five tackles for loss. Starting quarterback KJ Jackson threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw an interception and lost a fumble.

Arkansas’ defense had a good showing, holding the Lions to 153 yards of total offense and only 40 yards of rushing. At halftime, North Alabama had just 18 yards of offense. Arkansas finished with two sacks, five tackles for loss and a recovered fumble.

The Hogs’ defensive line will provide the Utes’ new-look offensive line with its first big test of the season.

“You watch that team and they’re big, big up front. So that’s, again, going to be the challenge is that battle up front, both on the offense and defensive sides. They’ve got a very twitchy athletic edge rusher in (Steven Soles Jr.), who is a transfer from Kentucky. They’re more of an odd front with (defensive coordinator) Ron Roberts coming from Florida,” Scalley said.

Utah was missing projected offensive line starter Keith Olson and projected rotation player Isaiah Garcia to begin the season, starting Zereoue Williams, Solatoa Moea’i, Alex Harrison, Roger Alderman and Cedric Jefferson. For the most part, the group was solid, but — as expected — took a little bit to get going.

“I felt as the game went on, they played much more cohesive … Didn’t give up a sack, proud of the way our offensive line (played). We had a good rotation there at the guard spot. I thought guys got quality reps, and so we’ll settle in on a starting five this week that hopefully can last us throughout the game,” Scalley said.

Though Dampier got hit more than Utah wanted at the start of the game, it wasn’t all on the offensive line, Scalley said.

“To Devon getting hit, some of that was him — pulling the ball, holding onto the ball for a little bit. Sometimes those options when you’re doing the read fakes and stuff like that, you’re going to end up getting your quarterback hit at times, but we’d like to definitely take those hits off of him. We don’t want him getting hit as much as he was getting hit early in that game,” Scalley said.

The Razorbacks’ offense was not overly impressive in Week 1, but things can change drastically from week to week in college football. The Utes’ defensive line will be challenged by an Arkansas offensive front that has things to work on, but poses a much bigger threat than Idaho.

“On the offensive side of the ball, very stout up front,” Scalley said.

Utah rotated early and often on the defensive line in Thursday’s opener, doing a full-scale line change as soon as Idaho’s third drive. The Utes started with Lance Holtzclaw, Karson Kaufusi, Jireh Moe and Ethan Day, and that’s who Ute fans should expect to see on Saturday night.

Holtzclaw, Kaufusi, Moe and Day were ranked in the top seven of Utah’s best-performing defensive players on Thursday, per Pro Football Focus.

“Really felt good about Karson Kaufusi. I thought he played very well. Jireh Moe did some really good things and then I thought Lance Holtzclaw was all over the field providing pressure,” Scalley said. “A lot of QB hits in that game, which is kind of what we’re after, is making him throw off-schedule, making him uncomfortable. So there are definitely some things to clean up, but overall happy.”

Injury update

Running back Daniel Bray, who is expected to see a lot of time this season behind RB1 Wayshawn Parker, played just three snaps and rushed for 13 yards before suffering an early injury that took him out of the rest of the game.

Scalley said Bray suffered a concussion.

“He’s going through the protocol right now. It looks like we’re on track to have him back, but with concussions, you never know day to day how they handle everything. So we’re making sure that he’s safe and ready to go,” Scalley said.

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