Top 120 countdown No. 22 Utah

OFFENSE

THE SCHEME: The Utes employ a spread scheme that features myriad formations.

STAR POWER: With so many skill-position players gone, T Zane Beadles is the brightest talent. Beadles is the anchor of a line that returns three starters and should be a team strength. He is a good athlete who combines quickness and tenacity. Beadles is equally adept at run and pass blocking, leading some around campus to opine that he's the Utes' best offensive lineman since Jordan Gross, who was a first-round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2003.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: It could be one of two quarterbacks ? junior college transfer Terrance Cain or true freshman Jordan Wynn. Each arrived in time for spring drills as the Utes try to replace Brian Johnson. And each has the talent to win the job. Cain threw for 3,138 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2008, hitting 68 percent of his passes at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. Wynn's skills have sparked comparisons to former Utah star Alex Smith.

WATCH FOR HIM TO EMERGE: RB Matt Asiata played starter-like minutes last fall, leading the Utes with 707 rushing yards. The bullish runner is especially effective out of the "Asiata Formation," which features him getting a direct snap. And his 230 pounds make him an effective goal-line weapon; Asiata tallied 12 rushing touchdowns last year. Look for his numbers to grow as the Utes lean on the ground game while a new quarterback develops.

STRONGEST AREA: It may sound funny, but Utah could have the top group of receivers in the Mountain West even with most of last season's top weapons gone. The leader is acrobatic David Reed, who reminds many of Steve Smith. Aiona Key is a big target (6 feet 4), while Jereme Brooks is a slithery weapon. Coaches think highly of redshirt freshman Luke Matthews, and depth appears OK.

BIGGEST PROBLEM: How does Utah replace Johnson? It won't be easy. Corbin Louks has been the understudy the past two seasons. He has proven to be a good runner, but can he pass? He'll be pushed by Cain and redshirt freshman DeVonte Christopher. And keep an eye on Wynn.

GRADE: B

DEFENSE

THE SCHEME: The Utes employ a 4-3 scheme that features shifting, stunting and blitzing. It's all about creating confusion for opponents and forcing mistakes.

STAR POWER: This unit will revolve around LB Stevenson Sylvester. He capped a terrific 2008 season and set the tone for a big '09 by making three sacks and seven tackles in a Sugar Bowl upset of Alabama. Sylvester is an underrated athlete with a nose for the ball.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: The Utes need cornerbacks, and that's one reason Kamaron Yancy transferred from a junior college in time to take part in spring drills. At 5-9, Yancy lacks ideal height, but he packs a punch as a tackler and has a knack for coverage. He could claim a starting spot.

WATCH FOR HIM TO EMERGE: E Koa Misi is primed to break out as a top-flight pass rusher now that Paul Kruger is off to the NFL a year early. Misi, a senior, has posted some strong numbers, leading all Utah linemen with 68 tackles last season. And his 8.5 tackles for loss ranked third on the squad. Still, he was overshadowed by Kruger and a few other teammates.

STRONGEST AREA: Utah will feature a quick-striking group of linebackers that will rank among the best in the Mountain West. Sylvester is the star, and Mike Wright is the anchor in the middle; he led the team with 81 stops last fall. Senior Kepa Gaison is the other starter on the outside, and there is good depth.

BIGGEST PROBLEM AREA: The Utes need to develop some cover corners with the departures of Sean Smith and Brice McCain. Staffers are counting on R.J. Stanford filling one slot after he played the nickel back role last season. Stanford has the potential to be an elite cover man and is the team's fastest player (4.29 seconds in the 40-yard dash). Brandon Burton will get first crack at the spot opposite Stanford. Yancy also is in the mix.

GRADE: B

SPECIAL TEAMS

There is no way to replace Groza Award winner and consensus All-America Louie Sakoda, who kicked and punted. Redshirt freshman Sean Sellwood will battle true freshman Nick Marsh to be the punter, while Ben Vroman ? who handled kickoffs the past two seasons ? is the new kicker. Vroman ranked second in the nation last season with 44 touchbacks. Reed has big-play ability as a kick returner; he averaged 25.4 yards per return last season. Punt returns were a major headache in 2008, as coaches tried eight players with mostly bad results. Matthews will get the first chance to return punts, and JC transfer Shaky Smithson ? a backup wide receiver ? also could get a look. The coverage teams were mediocre last season and need to improve.

GRADE: C-minus

COACHING

There are lots of changes, as both coordinators are new. Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig first left for Kansas State before landing at California. To replace him, Whittingham stayed in-house, promoting quarterback coach Dave Schramm. Don't expect a big change in scheme. When defensive coordinator Gary Andersen left to become coach of Utah State, Whittingham again stayed in-house by promoting Kalani Sitake from linebackers coach. Still, Whittingham's fingerprints will be all over this defense. Also new to the staff are offensive line coach Blake Miller, who arrives from Rice; cornerbacks coach J.D. Williams, who previously was at Washington; and defensive line coach John Pease, a veteran with 19 years of NFL experience. Pease had been out of football since retiring from the NFL in 2005.

GRADE: B-plus

DATE	OPPONENT
Sept. 3	Utah State
Sept. 12	at San Jose State
Sept. 19	at Oregon
Sept. 26	Louisville
Oct. 10	at Colorado State
Oct. 17	at UNLV
Oct. 24	Air Force
Oct. 31	Wyoming
Nov. 7	New Mexico
Nov. 14	at TCU
Nov. 21	San Diego State
Nov. 28	at Brigham Young

SCHEDULE

If Utah is going to come close to duplicating its 2008 success, it will have to pass some early season tests. Chief among those is a trip to Oregon. There's also a visit from Louisville. Mountain West play opens with two road games: at Colorado State and UNLV. But the tale of the Utes' season figures to be told in November, with games at TCU and at archrival BYU.

OVERALL OUTLOOK

Whittingham has turned this into the premier non-"Big Six" program in the country, taking what Urban Meyer began and making it better. In four seasons, Whittingham has won 73 percent of his games, gone 4-0 in bowls and coached Utah to its best season in 115 years. No doubt, 2008 was a masterpiece. Whittingham led Utah to 13-0 record that was capped by the upset of Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and a final No. 2 ranking. Some felt the Utes, as the nation's only undefeated team, should have been No. 1. The Utes may take a step back this fall, largely because of the loss of Johnson under center. Still, never count out Utah behind Whittingham.

? TOM DIENHART

OFFENSE QB Corbin Louks (6-0, 190, Jr.) DeVonte Christopher (6-1, 190, R-Fr.) RB Matt Asiata (5-11, 230, Sr.) Eddie Wide (5-10, 195, Jr.) WR Jereme Brooks (5-7, 170, Jr.) Elijah Wesson (5-11, 190, Sr.) WR Aiona Key (6-4, 195, Sr.) Ray Magee (6-4, 226, Jr.) WR Luke Matthews (6-1, 205, R-Fr.) John Peel (6-1, 185, Sr.) WR David Reed (6-0, 190, Sr.) Shaky Smithson (5-11, 210, Jr.) T Zane Beadles* (6-4, 305, Sr.) Viliamu Nau (6-6, 300, Sr.) T Tony Bergstrom (6-6, 300, Soph.) Neli A'asa (6-2, 300, Jr.) G Zane Taylor% (6-2, 300, Jr.) Derek Tuimauga (6-4, 310, R-Fr.) G Caleb Schlauderaff* (6-4, 300, Jr.) Walter Watts (6-2, 296, Jr.) C Tyler Williams (6-1, 282, Sr.) Tevita Stevens (6-1, 295, R-Fr.) K Ben Vroman (6-0, 203, Sr.) PR Luke Matthews (6-1, 205, R-Fr.)	DEFENSE E Koa Misi* (6-3, 256, Sr.) Junior Tui'one (6-4, 274, Jr.) NT Sealver Siliga (6-3, 300, Soph.) Kenape Eliapo (6-0, 310, Sr.) T Lei Talamaivao (6-2, 280, Soph.) James Aiono (6-3, 280, Jr.) E Derrick Shelby% (6-3, 250, Soph.) Nai Fotu% (6-0, 240, Jr.) LB Kepa Gaison (5-10, 215, Sr.) Chaz Walker (5-11, 215, Soph.) LB Stevenson Sylvester* (6-2, 224, Sr.) J.J. Williams (6-0, 225, Soph.) LB Mike Wright* (6-2, 239, Sr.) Mo Neal (6-2, 221, Soph.) CB Brandon Burton (6-0, 184, Soph.) Kamaron Yancy (5-9, 187, Jr.) CB R.J. Stanford (5-11, 184, Sr.) Conroy Black (6-0, 176, Jr.) FS Robert Johnson* (6-2, 200, Sr.) Reggie Topps (5-11, 180, R-Fr.) SS Joe Dale* (5-11, 200, Sr.) Justin Taplin-Ross (6-3, 212, Jr.) P Sean Sellwood (6-3, 200, R-Fr.) KR David Reed (6-0, 190, Sr.)
(NOTE: *--denotes returning starter; %--denotes returning starter who has changed positions.)