Utah’s offense line is about to be at near full strength this Saturday when they face Arkansas, which is exactly the kind of news you want to hear heading into a tough matchup.
O-Line Back in Action
Coach Morgan Scalley dropped the news Tuesday: offensive linemen Keith Olson and Isaiah Garcia “should be ready to go” this week. This is huge because Olson was projected to be in Utah’s starting lineup, and Garcia was set for a spot in the rotation. Both guys missed the opener against Idaho, forcing Zereoue Williams, Solatoa Moea’i, Alex Harrison, Roger Alderman, and Cedric Jefferson to step up on a new-look line last Thursday. Now, Olson is expected to slot right into that right guard spot, taking over from Alderman. Last Thursday, the Utes rotated the O-line way more than usual, partly due to injuries and partly because the game was a blowout. Scalley’s making it clear that is not the plan going forward.
Settling the Starting Five
“We had a good rotation there at the guard spot. I though 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. Getting these two back means they can really dial in that starting lineup against Arkansas and won’t be rotating nearly as much. That kind of consistency is clutch when you’re going up against a solid defense.
But wait, there’s more injury news we need to keep an eye on. Running back Daniel Bray, a sophomore speedster expected to play a big role behind RB1 Wayshawn Parker this year, suffered a concussion after only three snaps against Idaho. Scalley’s trying to be positive, saying, “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.” So, while the O-line gets a major boost, the backfield is still a little up in the air. This Arkansas game is gonna be a real test, and we’ll see if Bray can make it back on the field for Saturday’s showdown.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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