ESPN College Football

How much can we really learn from spring? Funky scrimmages with backwards scoring systems; depleted depth charts; completely new installs for four teams. Actually, more than you'd think. Here are five things we learned about the Pac-12 during spring.

1. Quarterbacks are still in limbo: Be it Stanford, Arizona State, UCLA, Oregon or Colorado, almost half of the teams still don’t know who is going to be under center when the season starts. Stanford funneled its list of five down to two, Josh Nunes and Brett Nottingham. ASU still has a three-way battle with Michael Eubank, Mike Bercovici and Taylor Kelly -- though coach Todd Graham said they have a better idea than they are probably letting on publicly. The very private competition between Marcus Mariota and Bryan Bennett at Oregon remains in question -- though Mariota was spectacular in the spring game while Bennett faltered. Still, coach Chip Kelly said that one game isn’t going to be his basis for comparison. UCLA coach Jim Mora wanted to name a starter by the end of spring, but no one has “grabbed” it, so we’ll have to wait until August before learning whether Brett Hundley, Kevin Prince or Richard Brehaut gets the gig. And at Colorado, the competition was put on hiatus when Nick Hirschman broke a bone in his foot and couldn’t compete in spring drills. One has to think that was a huge advantage for Connor Wood to get almost all of the reps with the first-team offense.
2. Not everyone has quarterback issues: Teams thought to have quarterback question marks heading into spring seemed to have resolved them. In Utah, Jordan Wynn is completely healthy, and both coach Kyle Whittingham and offensive coordinator Brian Johnson have declared Wynn their guy. While Mike Leach hasn’t officially declared Jeff Tuel his starter, it’s hard to imagine anyone else winning the job in the fall, short of Tuel suffering a significant injury or amnesia. He had a splendid spring, and appears to be a great fit for Leach’s offense. And at Arizona, Matt Scott seized the job early and left little room for any competition. Coach Rich Rodriguez has been gushing about how quickly Scott has adjusted to the offense. At Cal, Zach Maynard, once thought to be challenged by freshman Zach Kline, appears to not only have held on to the job, but distanced himself from pursuers.
3. Wide receivers aplenty: And there are plenty of those in the conference. USC has probably the best tandem in the country in Robert Woods and Marqise Lee. Cal’s Keenan Allen (though he missed spring drills) should continue to put up big numbers, and Washington State’s Marquess Wilson should flourish in the Cougars’ new system with Tuel as his quarterback. Markus Wheaton and Brandin Cooks could challenge the USC duo statistically if quarterback Sean Mannion continues to develop. There are stars on the rise at Arizona State (Jamal Miles) and Stanford (Ty Montgomery), and a potential star at Washington (James Johnson). Look out Biletnikoff, the Pac-12 is a comin'…
4. The conference of defense? The Pac-12 might never bunk its reputation as an offensive-centric conference (especially when it keeps churning out offensive talent). But there is a surplus of talented defenses and defensive players who were on display this spring. Washington seems to have plugged its leaks with new defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox. There’s a 3-4 trend sweeping the conference, and with notable playmakers like Star Lotulelei (Utah), John Boyett (Oregon), Dion Jordan (Oregon), Chase Thomas (Stanford), Josh Shirley (Washington), T.J. McDonald (USC) and DeAndre Coleman (Cal), it’s easy to see why some of the Pac-12 defenses will get the same kind of love as the offenses do in 2012.
5. Confidence is at an all-time high: As it should be in the spring. The four new coaches all feel confident about the systems they have installed. Stanford feels as good as it ever has about its running game. USC and Oregon should get lofty preseason rankings, and this is the time of the year when fans go through the schedules game by game and always seem to come up with a minimum of six wins. Sorry to say, there are teams in the conference that won’t make it to a bowl game this season. But when you hear the coaches talk about their teams, you’d think the conference is going to go 12-0 in the postseason. This is a magical time for fans filled with hope and possibility. Enjoy it while it lasts.

A "crazy road." That's how Jordan Wynn described his career to date as Utah's quarterback. He's experienced astronomic highs in 2009 -- wowing the Salt Lake City fan base with the greatest true freshman season in the history of Utah, capped off with an MVP performance in the Poinsettia Bowl. Utah's future was on his shoulders.

Then the injuries set in, and those shoulders began to falter. He knew there were doubters in the 2010 season. He started 10 games, but most of that time, he struggled with injuries that weren't always made available to the public. Many in the fan base that embraced him as a true freshman began questioning if Utah could get it done with Wynn as the quarterback.

"I think that was a real tough time for him," said offensive coordinator Brian Johnson. "He's a tough kid and he found a way to battle back. People in here [within the program] knew the circumstances of his injuries and what he was going through. And I think he gained everyone's respect in this program. But it was a difficult time for him physically and emotionally as well."

Wynn's second year at the helm wasn't as fun as his first.

"It was very stressful," Wynn said, "waking up every day and knowing it was going to hurt whenever I threw a football."

He finally succumbed to the shoulder injury and missed the Las Vegas Bowl, which Utah lost 26-3 to Boise State -- snapping the Utes nine-game win streak in bowls. Surgery on his throwing shoulder followed.

But 2011 didn't offer much in the way of resolution. Another shoulder injury -- this time on his left (non-throwing) shoulder, followed by another surgery -- forced him out for the year after just four games.

So here we are in 2012. Wynn has added about 10 pounds and is up to 210. He's hoping to add another 10 by the start of the season. He's changed his diet and has worked with trainers to find the best way to keep him healthy.

"This has definitely been a rollercoaster ride that I don't wish on anyone," Wynn said. "It's not one of those things where I'd say if I could go back and do it again I would. Because I wouldn't. It's been a tough, crazy road for sure. But I've come out of it and I'm looking forward to the season."

Wynn doesn't attribute the previous injuries to a bad diet or poor conditioning. Rather, it was just bad luck. A hard hit. An awkward fall. He's watched the cut-ups of his various injuries. But he doesn't waste time questioning the ifs or whys. That's just not productive in his mind.

"I can't linger on it, and I don't," he said. "Right now, I'm focused on making plays. I'm an upperclassman now. I'm full strength and healthy. Now I just need to play how I play. There is no doubt in my mind. I just have to go out and put it on the field. There are a lot of good guys around me. It's time to put it all together."

To do that, there are still a few things he'll need to brush up on. In 20 games, Wynn has thrown 31 touchdowns to 16 interceptions with a completion percentage a fraction shy of 60 percent. But there are intricacies of the game he needs to improve.

"Something we talk about all the time is being a master of situations," Johnson said. "Football is a game of situations within situations. In this league, you have to be great at the quarterback spot. So two minutes, third down, red zone; if we can be efficient in those three situations every time we get that opportunity, that's the next step in his progression to becoming a complete player."

To do that, he'll need an injury-free season. And he's hoping the bad luck is behind him.

"I still haven't played a full year since I've been here," Wynn said. "I'm excited for the challenge of getting through a full season and proving that I can handle it."

Once again Utah's future is on Wynn's shoulders. And if he becomes the player many feel he can be, no one is going to care that they are surgically repaired.

USC-Oregon, Oregon-USC. Ducks-Trojans. Kiffin-Kelly! Barkley-Black Mamba!

Golly, doesn't anybody else have a chance in this Pac-12 conference? Should we just call off the regular season and have the Ducks and Trojans settle things in a 13-game series?

(That actually might be fascinating to watch. Think about all the interesting weekly coaching adjustments).

Well, that's not happening.

So then the question before us is a radical one. It might very well split up the space-time continuum and send us spinning into a massive black hole: Which team possibly might shock the world? Which team could break up this apparently preordained marriage at the top of the conference, one reportedly written in gold leaf onto the granite facade of Mount Rushmore?

It's a dangerous question, I know. Not the sort of one entertained by the meek. But if you are brave, read on.

Hey, you in the gray shirt, you're not brave! Better stop reading.

We warned you.

Kevin Gemmell: The general consensus is that Oregon and USC will meet for the Pac-12 title. But which team could put a wrinkle in that plan?

Whenever you are dealing with a could question, you always have to stipulate with ifs. X could happen if Y and Z fall into place. The team that strikes me as having the fewest ifs is Utah.

My first thought was to go wayyyyy out there and tinker with the idea of Oregon State being the team to shock the Pac-12. The Beavers could be the surprise team if they get the running game in order, and if the offensive line holds up, and if Sean Mannion continues to mature, and if all of that experience from last season pays off. But that's just too many ifs, and way too far to reach.

Utah, however, has a lot of pieces in place already to be the surprise team this season. First, its schedule helps, because the Utes don't have dates with Oregon or Stanford. Their first three games are in-state, and the fourth is at ASU, which will likely still be adjusting to life under a new head coach. That's potentially 4-0 out of the gate.

Then they get an extra week to prepare for the big showdown -- at home -- with USC. That game will be high-noon in the Pac-12 South, and Rice-Eccles will be jumping. If the Utes can somehow get over that hump, they have four more winnable games before traveling to Washington, which could be a hiccup. That notion alone, however, is one major if. USC also has extra time to prepare, because it's a Thursday game.

Another reason to be encouraged is that all reports are that quarterback Jordan Wynn is healthy. He's chock full of experience, and has shown he can be an elite quarterback when he gets his rhythm. The only reason to think the running game will take a step backwards is that Utah has to replace two stud offensive tackles in Tony Bergstrom and John Cullen. But John White IV has shown to be a very capable -- if not special -- running back. He shouldn't have any trouble adapting.

Also, unlike a lot of other teams with new coordinators, the transition to Brian Johnson should be silky, since he's a veteran of the system and has worked with Wynn since Day 1.

The Utes have one of the top -- if not the best -- defense in the conference. With plenty of returning starters and the most feared defensive lineman in the Pac-12, they should be able to win a game or two on defense alone.

Given the way their schedule is laid out -- combined with returning talent on both sides of the ball and an outstanding coaching staff -- it's not outside the realm of possibility that the Utes could emerge from the South.

Ted Miller: One word: Plastics.

No, wait. That's something else. Our word is "schedule."

Now we have four words: California Freaking Golden Bears! You're back. Welcome. You remember where everything is, right, up here in the national rankings? No, coach Tedford, you don't have to sleep on that twin mattress in your office. You have the view suite down the hall. Yes, it has been a while. Yes, breakfast is included. Eggs Benedict? Well, your wife did tell us about your cholesterol. You want us to stick it? Well, then, Eggs Benedict it is!

The Bears have the schedule to upset the Trojans-Ducks destination wedding. And the talent, by the way.

Schedule? Cal plays host to Oregon, Stanford and Washington, the likely three top teams in the North Division. Plays host, by the way, at an awesomely cool renovated Memorial Stadium that will put the Strawberry back in the Canyon. The Bears went 30-9 in Memorial Stadium between 2005-2010 before playing their home games in AT&T Park in 2011, including 7-0 marks in 2006 and 2008.

Every team is better at home. Cal fans would tell you their team is better-er at home. Sure, it's had its share of mega face-plants in front of the home fans -- Oregon State in 2007 (altogether now "ouch"), USC in 2009, and that three-game home losing streak to end 2010 with a whimper. But there is no doubt it will be better to play the Ducks, Huskies and Cardinal at home, particularly with the Ducks and Cardinal breaking in new quarteracks.

And Cal isn't breaking in a new quarterback. What if, just maybe, Zach Maynard plays the entire season like he did the final four games of the 2011 regular season? And what if offensive coordinator Jim Michalczik works his magic with the line his second year back in Berkeley? And what if all that young talent -- Mustafa Jalil, Stefan McClure, Todd Barr, Viliami Moala, Brennan Scarlett, David Wilkerson, Chris McCain, Michael Coley, Avery Sebastian, Cecil Whiteside, etc. -- breaks through on defense?

We'll probably get a pretty good measure of the Bears early on. They will take a 2-0 record to Ohio State on Sept. 15. That is a winnable game, but it will require the Bears to go East and show some fire. You might recall that they didn't exactly do that in recent years at Tennessee and Maryland.

Then they visit USC. Jeff Tedford is 1-9 against USC, losing those nine by a combined count of 291-144. The Bears can afford to lose at USC, though a poor showing might cause the team to question itself and make it seem like these are the "same ole Bears." That, however, is not a divisional game. The larger issue is holding serve at home, which would give Cal an advantage in the event of a tie atop the North.

As Kevin noted above, we have a surfeit of "ifs" for both scenarios. It just feels as though Oregon and USC are that far ahead of everyone else.

But you do know that you never know until you do know.

On Oct. 1, Utah went into the halftime locker room trailing Washington 10-7, kicking itself for a pair of red-zone turnovers.

Quarterback Jordan Wynn walked into the locker room with two thoughts. First of all, he felt like he was throwing like his old self for the first time all season with a surgically-repaired right shoulder. Second, there was something wrong with his other, non-throwing shoulder.

Wynn couldn't play in the second half, and the Utes got rolled 31-14 in front of a stunned crowd at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that Wynn's season was done and he would again undergo shoulder surgery.

"I think I was pretty close [to 100 percent], but looking back on it, with the injury I had and surgery I had, it takes time," Wynn said. "I was just starting to feel like I was getting back to my old ways, especially the first half of the Washington game. That might have been one of the better halves of my career."

And when Wynn went down, many saw the Utes' season as doomed. Instead, with Nebraska-Omaha transfer Jon Hays managing a run-first offense that leaned heavily on a tough defense, the Utes nearly stole the South Division crown in their first year of Pac-12 play.

It's fair to ask what might have happened if Wynn had stayed healthy and continued to recover his form from late 2009 and most of 2010. Note that from Oct. 31, 2009 to Oct. 30, 2010, Wynn was 12-2 as a starter, including a dynamic performance in a 2009 Poinsettia Bowl win against California as a true freshman.

Many expect USC to run away with the Pac-12 South Division. Heck, many see the Trojans playing for the 2012 national title.

But what about Utah? Recall that the Utes, in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, lined up for a 41-yard field goal to tie the Trojans in the Coliseum last September (it was blocked and returned for a TD). Sure, USC hadn't really found the mojo at that point that would propel it into the top-five by season's end, but neither had Wynn or the Utes.

If you want to know a game that could have huge Pac-12 and national title implications in 2012 that not many folks are talking about, look no further than USC's visit to Salt Lake City on Oct. 4 — a Thursday night matchup on ESPN.

"It will definitely be interesting," Wynn said. "It was a tough game last year. We came one or two plays short of stealing that thing away."

Of course, there's a lot to do between now and then. The prime objective for Wynn: Stay healthy. And No. 2 is to find a comfort level with his fourth offensive coordinator (Dave Schramm, Aaron Roderick, Norm Chow and now Brian Johnson). Johnson, who just turned 25, is the youngest coordinator in FBS football.

"It's definitely a different dynamic from him to coach Chow [who will turn 66 in May]," Wynn said. "He understands first hand what it's like to be a 21- or 22-year-old in college, and kind of what goes on. It's good for off-the-field stuff. He's easy to relate to."

There's been plenty of speculation about what the switch from Chow to Johnson will mean. Johnson ran a spread-option when he was the Utes QB from 2005-2008, which Chow changed to a pro-style attack during his one-year tenure before becoming Hawaii's coach. While Wynn expects some tweaks — here's a guess that Johnson got the job partly because his suggestions of tweaks intrigued head coach Kyle Whittingham — he doesn't expect dramatic changes.

Read: Him running an option.

"I don't think it's going to be too much different," Wynn said. "He's tweaking stuff here and there, but we're going to keep somewhat of a pro-style system. ... I'm not really known as a runner. To this point, there really aren't any designed runs for me in the offense. I would imagine there probably won't be. But we'll see."

Wynn said both shoulders "feel great." He said he's been working out since December and throwing at 100 percent since January. He also said the frustrations of the past two years have helped him grow.

And, yeah, he's looked around. He sees the pieces coming back on both sides of the ball. This is a talented team with plenty of experience. The idea that his health is the critical cornerstone is not something he embraces or says himself, but he's aware that more than a few folks already are putting it atop their analysis of the Utes in 2012.

"If people want to say it lies on me, that's fine, he said. "If you look at any great college team, they usually have great quarterback play."

It's fair to say that speculating on potential endgames in 2012 for the Utes gets far more optimistic if Wynn starts all 12 games.

Pac-12 spring preview: South Division

Spring practice is almost here. Here's a snapshot at what to expect from the Pac-12 South in the coming weeks.

ARIZONA

Spring practice starts: March 4

Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Hello, my name is ... Like the other two teams in the South Division with new head coaches (Arizona State and UCLA) much of Arizona's first few weeks will be Rich Rodriguez evaluating his personnel and getting to know what he has to work with. Likewise, the players are going to have to figure out what this new coaching staff is about. Everything from how they do pre-practice stretches to how they call the cadence is going to change.
• New scheme and a new scheme: A spread option on offense and a 3-3-5 on defense. That's a lot of new material to digest on both sides of the ball. Until Rodriguez can recruit the players he likes into his scheme, he's going to have to make it work with the players he has. Fortunately on the defensive side of the ball, Arizona has good depth in the secondary with Cortez Johnson, Marquis Flowers, Shaquille Richardson, Jourdon Grandon and Tra'Mayne Bondurant. The Wildcats should also get a boost with the return of injured players Jake Fischer (LB), Jonathan McKnight (CB) and Adam Hall (S).
• Perfect fit? Former starter Matt Scott, who was beaten out by Nick Folesin 2009, is expected to reprise his starting role under Rodriguez. He redshirted the 2011 season and -- magically -- Foles never got hurt last year despite taking 23 sacks and countless hits. Scott is considered the more versatile quarterback and should fit nicely into the new run-based spread attack.

ARIZONA STATE

Spring practice starts: March 13

Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• QB competition: We know what kind of offense new coach Todd Graham is going to run; now it's a matter of figuring out who is going to run it. Graham has his choice of three players -- Mike Bercovici, Taylor Kelly or Michael Eubank -- to replace NFL-bound Brock Osweiler. Graham said earlier this month that there are no favorites heading into the competition and each one brings his own skill set to the table. Eubank has the size (6-foot-5, 235 pounds), Bercovici (6-1, 205) is a mechanic and Kelly (6-1, 202) is a little bit of everything.
• Get the locker room: By the end of the 2011 season, ASU's locker room wasn't just divided, it was completely splintered. Graham's task -- and that of his new coaching staff -- is to pick up the pieces, mend internal fences and find some chemistry on both sides of the ball. Linebacker Brandon Magee, long considered a great locker room leader, should help get the Sun Devils back on track as he returns from a season-ending Achilles injury.
• Hands competition: The Sun Devils lose three of their top four wide receivers from last season -- Gerell Robinson, Aaron Pflugrad and Mike Willie. Jamal Miles returns after finishing second on the team last season with 60 catches and six touchdowns. Rashad Ross figures to be the No. 2 guy, but establishing depth in that corps -- especially if Graham wants to be up-tempo -- is key.

COLORADO

Spring practice starts: March 10

Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Momentum, maybe? For as rough as 2011 was for the Buffs, they ended the year on a high note, winning two-of-three down the stretch -- including a 17-14 win over Utah in the season finale. But there is also the possibility that things might get worse before they get better. With just four returning starters on offense, spring in Boulder will likely be more about teaching and less about refining.
• Where to start (offense)? Well, quarterback might be a good place. In the court of public opinion, Connor Wood, a transfer from Texas, seems to be the favorite. Nick Hirschman appeared in five games last season, mostly in mop-up time when the game was already out of hand. It's also possible a starter could be named by the end of spring ball. Finding offensive weapons to surround the new quarterback will also be a challenge. Wide receiver Paul Richardson caught 39 balls last season, and running back Tony Jones showed a flare for catching the ball out of the backfield. He'll likely step in as the new workhorse back for the departed Rodney Stewart.
• Where to start (defense)? Last in this. Last in that. Last in almost every team statistic the Pac-12 has to offer. But there are some intriguing youngsters on the roster. Cornerback Greg Henderson was all-conference honorable mention as a freshman with a team-high nine passes broken up. Jered Bell also returns from injury after blowing out a knee last preseason. If healthy, he's expected to be a big contributor in the secondary. Linebacker Jon Majorreturns as the team's leading tackler, and if Doug Rippy is fully recovered from his knee injury, he'll look to build on what was a pretty good season last year before getting hurt.

UCLA

Spring practice starts: April 3

Spring game: May 5

What to watch:

• QB up for grabs: Like the majority of the conference, UCLA enters spring with a quarterback competition. New offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone said he doesn't care how much experience (or lack thereof) a player has -- if he can play, he wins the job. So don't be surprised if Brett Hundley passes Kevin Prince and Richard Brehautas the new man leading the Bruins. Fans have been clamoring for a change. Hundley might be it.
• Attitude adjustment: One of the first things new head coach Jim Mora did was slam the team for its tradition of going "over the wall," a time-honored senior ditch day, saying if they want to jump the wall, they should just keep on going. How's that for sending a message? UCLA has earned a reputation for being soft and underachieving despite good talent. Attitude and toughness is needed -- and so far, Mora appears to be hammering that point home.
• Speaking of toughness ... The defense has to get tougher. No two ways about it. It was weak against the run last season, allowing more than 190 yards per game on the ground; couldn't get to the quarterback; and couldn't get off the field almost 50 percent of the time on third down. It's time for potential all-conference players such as defensive end Datone Jones to start living up to the hype and the defense as a whole to stop getting pushed up and down the field. At 6-5, 275 pounds, Jones has the physical makeup to be a major force in the conference and catapult himself into the elite class of collegiate defensive players.

USC

Spring practice starts: March 6

Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Ignore the hype: Few teams ended last season hotter than USC and returning quarterback Matt Barkley. The Heisman talk has already started, the way-too-early rankings already have the Trojans as national championship contenders, and the public perception is that the offense is unstoppable. Nice to hear, but hype is a double-edged sword. Head coach Lane Kiffin has a knack for deflecting hype. This season will be his toughest test to date.
• Insurance? The Trojans are loaded on both sides of the ball with returning players. But after the starting 22, things start to get dicey. Developing depth and keeping the starters healthy is a top priority -- particularly on the offensive and defensive lines and at running back, where experience is thin outside of the starters. The entire back seven returns on defense -- headlined by hard-hitting safety T.J. McDonald. Stopping the pass has been a major priority for Kiffin, and if this group stays healthy it should see the pass-efficiency numbers improve even more.
• Other options: Along those same lines, wide receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee make up the most feared receiving duo in the conference -- maybe the country. But who are the Nos. 3 and 4 receivers behind them? George Farmer? Victor Blackwell? De'Von Flournoy? Don't overlook the tight end duo of Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer, which should rival Stanford's Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo as the best tight end tandem in the conference.

UTAH

Spring practice starts: March 20

Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• Youthful approach: Head coach Kyle Whittingham turned some heads by naming former Utah quarterback Brian Johnson as his offensive coordinator. Johnson, who recently turned 25, said he's not looking to make wholesale changes to the offense, though he wants to put his stamp on it and continue to build around running back John White IV, who had a breakout season in his first year of major college football. Having quarterback Jordan Wynn back healthy should also help as the team transitions to Johnson running the offense.
• Fixing the line: Who is going to protect Wynn (if he does indeed win back the starting job) and make holes for White? That's a major concern heading into spring as the Utes have to replace a pair of all-conference linemen in Tony Bergstrom and John Cullen. The Utes should be set at the interior but have to adjust to a new position coach, with Tim Davis leaving for Florida after just one season and Dan Finn -- a former Utah graduate assistant who was brought on to help Davis -- taking over the whole line following a one-year stint at San Diego State.
• Work the experience: The defensive line should be one of the best in the conference, especially with the return of Star Lotulelei, who won the Morris Trophy last season as the conference's best defensive lineman. With the Kruger brothers returning to the line -- Joe at defensive end and Dave at tackle -- Derrick Shelby is the lone starter who has to be replaced. There's also some pretty good depth in the secondary that was tops in the conference last season in pass-efficiency defense.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham put a lot of faith in his former quarterback-turned-quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson by naming the 24-year-old Utah's next offensive coordinator last week. One conversation with Johnson and it's clear he's energized and excited about the opportunity that many assistants wait decades for.

You're now the youngest coordinator in major college football. Is there some pressure that goes with that?

Brian Johnson: I think with any job there is pressure with how competitive everything is. But I think we're just more excited to put together an offense that can help win a conference championship.

Being so close in age to many of the players, is it tough sometimes to make the distinction between buddy and coach?

BJ: Absolutely not. There are about four or five guys on the team I played with who are still here. I think, for the most part, this is my third year and I haven't had to deal with it my first two years. That distinction is there. We have a great group of kids so that hasn't been an issue.

On the flip side, you're going to be overseeing coaches 10, 15, 20 years your senior who have been at it a lot longer than you. Is that going to be awkward?

BJ: Not at all. In this building, we have consummate professionals. Guys understand the task at hand and we understand what it takes to be successful offensively. We will work together and get this thing going in the right direction.

Any wholesale changes to the offensive philosophy or approach?

BJ: Not wholesale. I think the baseline of what we've done here the last seven years, that's remained intact. We'll continue to tweak stuff here and there. Dan Finn is on board to coach the offensive line along with Tim Davis. Those guys have coached a lot of ball. I'm excited to be getting their ideas on paper and getting their input on the scheme.

What are the immediate holes, fixes that need to be addressed on the offensive side of the ball?

BJ: I think the biggest concern is losing two all-conference tackles in Tony Bergstrom and John Cullen. Those guys have played a lot of football and were really good leaders for us. But that's the nature of the business in college football. There is a lot of turnover and you have to be able to replace those guys. Finding two tackles who can come in and provide immediate help for us will be important.

If Jordan Wynn is healthy, is he your quarterback? Or is there an open competition?

BJ: I think the experience that Jordan provides will help us tremendously in our offensive production. Everything we do here, it's always competition. That will never change as long as Coach Whittingham is the coach here.

So ... is Jordan your quarterback?

BJ: I think he goes in taking the reps with the ones and he's started a lot of football games and won a lot of football games. So yeah, he is.

How is his health?

BJ: He's back to throwing. He'll be full-go for spring ball. He's had some bad luck with injuries, but hopefully we won't ever have to go through that again.

A nice breakout season for John White IV. What are you expecting from him next season?

BJ: We expect him to continue what he started this season. He's obviously very explosive and dynamic with the ball in his hands. I think we have to build the offense around him. He's extremely talented. We have to find ways to get him the ball in space and get the ball in his hands as much as possible.

So you're approach is run first?

BJ: I think in football you have to be. You have to establish the run in order to be balanced. From there, you build it all. We have to establish that physical presence at the line of scrimmage and you have to be creative and find ways to get our playmakers the ball and let them give us the best chance to win.

At this pace, you'll probably be up for an NFL head-coaching job in the next two years. Any aspirations of being a coach in the pro game?

BJ: I think that's why you get in this profession. I've learned from some great coaches. I've been fortunate to be in this program for eight years and I've seen some great coaches come through here. Coach Whittingham has been almost a father-like figure to me for the last eight years and I strive to be like him as a coach. That's my ultimate goal. If I can do that, that would be OK with me.

Finish this sentence. If I can accomplish -- blank -- I will be happy with Utah's offense.

BJ: A conference championship. That's why we play this game, to win the Pac-12 South and get a chance to play in the championship game and play for the Rose Bowl. That's the starting point. That's why we're all in this profession. That's why we're all in this business is to be the best at it. That's what we're working towards.

We like doing Power Rankings at ESPN.com. These are the post-signing day Power Rankings.

If you want to see where your team stood on Jan. 10, go here.

The schedule does not factor into these. This is a projected pecking order based on where a team stands right now.

And if you don't like where your team is in the post-signing day Power Rankings, then I'd suggest whining about it until your team plays better.

1. USC: The Trojans ranked 13th in the final recruiting rankings with just 12 signees. They will be ranked in the preseason top five, perhaps even No. 1. If things go according to plan, USC will blow a big raspberry at Paul Dee next January.

2. Oregon: The Ducks surprisingly lost QB Darron Thomas to the NFL, but the far more important news is not losing coach Chip Kelly to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A strong recruiting class and another likely top-five preseason ranking sets the Ducks up nicely to enter the national title chase.

3. Stanford: Stanford signed the best recruiting class in the Pac-12. It was ranked 12th by ESPN Recruiting and much higher by just about every other recruiting service. While the Cardinal have big holes to fill -- most notably behind center -- a glance through the roster suggests those rooting for the program to topple after a grand rise will be disappointed.

4. Washington: Much of the recruiting season had been disappointing for the Huskies, particularly losing almost all of the top in-state prospects, including a pair of A-list linemen who would have addressed major needs. But Steve Sarkisian made a series of aggressive moves rebuilding his coaching staff, most notably with the hiring of defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox and ace recruiter Tosh Lupoi. That supplies much of the positive momentum here.

5. Utah: The Utes signed a strong recruiting class and welcome back a wealth of starters from a team that won eight games without much production at QB. The promotion of 24-year-old Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator was a surprising move, particularly with fans rooting for a "celebrity" hire. It could prove to be a stroke of genius, but the onus is now on Johnson to make it become so.

6. UCLA: The Bruins are the big climbers from our Jan. 10 power rankings -- moving up from No. 10 -- but that's what happens when new coach Jim Mora punches back at skepticism with an outstanding recruiting class. A team that looked like a "meh" is moving closer to a "maybe."

7. California: Despite all the hand-wringing over the loss of Lupoi and receivers coach Eric Kiesau to Washington, the Bears still signed a top-25 recruiting class that addresses needs. Still, perception matters, and at present, Bears fans seem more worried than optimistic. Nothing, of course, that a few wins in a shiny remodeled stadium can't change.

8. Arizona: Rich Rodriguez's recruiting class finished at or near the bottom of the Pac-12, according to most rankings. That said, Rodriguez got his man at defensive coordinator, Jeff Casteel, which is significant because most trace the problems at Michigan to his failure to do so for the Wolverines.

9. Washington State: The Cougars didn't soar in the recruiting rankings just because of the hiring of coach Mike Leach. Still, that doesn't appear to be dampening the enthusiasm in Pullman.

10. Arizona State: New coach Todd Graham did a solid job salvaging the Sun Devils' recruiting class. But the loss of QB Brock Osweiler to the NFL and the NCAA's rejection of receiver T.J. Simpson's bid for a sixth year of eligibility leave the program with plenty of questions on offense. And just as many on defense.

11. Oregon State: The Beavers were victimized by a handful of late recruiting flips that put dents in what was shaping up to be a strong class. And the loss of secondary coach Keith Heyward to Washington also was a blow. On the plus side, the Beavers will see 17 returning starters during spring practices.

12. Colorado: The Buffaloes remain at the bottom because the bottom line is this: They welcome back 13 starters from a team that went 3-10 and ranked last in both scoring offense and scoring defense. Still, coach Jon Embree put together a solid recruiting class, one that could become the foundation of his substantial rebuilding project.

When Utah coach Kyle Whittingham tapped Norm Chow as his offensive coordinator last year, he got a celebrated, experienced veteran. With Chow off to the islands as Hawaii's new head coach, Whittingham is going with youth, energy and potential this go-around.

Whittingham has promoted has promoted Brian Johnson from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator.

Johnson, who will turn 25 on Feb. 16, has been the Utes quarterbacks coach for just a year. He will continue to coach quarterbacks, and it seems likely that the Utes will use more of a spread-option scheme in 2012 as they did before Chow arrived with a pro-style offense.

"After spending the past month conducting a national search for an offensive coordinator, it became very apparent that we had the best candidate for the job right here on our own staff," Whittingham said in a statement. "Brian is a leader and a special coaching talent, just as he was a special player, and he is the right person to lead our offense."

The winningest quarterback in Utah history, going 26-7 as the Utes' starter, Johnson was the MVP of the blowout victory against Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, which capped a 13-0 season.

This is a bold move for Whittingham -- if there are any 24-year-old coordinators with any other AQ team, none come immediately to mind -- and a huge career boost for Johnson. Simply put, if he's successful he will become a head coach before he turns 30.

"I am excited that Coach Whittingham has given me this opportunity and I am prepared for the challenge," Johnson said in a statement. "I'm looking forward to working with a great coaching staff and putting together a productive offense that will help us win a conference championship. I've had many good mentors as a player and a coach, including Dan Mullen, Andy Ludwig, Aaron Roderick and Norm Chow."

Whittingham also announced other staff moves. Defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake was given the title of assistant head coach. Aaron Roderick, in his eighth year coaching the receivers, will also serve as the passing game coordinator.

Sitake, 36, has become a hot defensive coordinator since being promoted from linebackers coach in 2009. Roderick was the Utes' co-offensive coordinator before Chow arrived, and he applied for the job that went to Johnson.

Dan Finn, a Utah graduate assistant from 2004-06, has been hired to coach the centers and guards. Finn spent last season as the offensive line coach at San Diego State, and the previous four years as the offensive line coach at Idaho (2007-10). Tim Davis, Utah's offensive line coach in 2011, will now concentrate on coaching the tackles and tight ends.

Jay Hill, in his eighth season as a full-time assistant, takes over the running backs for Dave Schramm, who was hired as Fresno State's offensive coordinator. Hill has served two different stints as the cornerbacks coach, most recently in 2010 and 2011, and oversaw the tight ends from 2007-09. He remains Utah's special teams coordinator.

Sharrieff Shah, a starting safety for the Utes from 1990-93 and a three-year team captain, returns to his alma mater to coach the cornerbacks. Shah, a Salt Lake City attorney since 2001, was a certified NFL agent from 1996-2002, representing players in the NFL, CFL and NFL-Europe. He received his bachelor's, master's and law degrees from the University of Utah. Shah has also served as the team's sideline reporter for ESPN 700 radio for the past 12 years.

Norm Chow: Utah tight ends coach.

Sorry. Just wanted to type that.

Here's how Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has reshuffled his staff after hiring Chow away from UCLA, per a press release:

[O]ffensive coordinator Norm Chow will also coach the tight ends, while Dave Schramm takes over at running back -- a position he managed during his first four years at Utah (2005-08). Aaron Alford, a Ute assistant since 2007 and the running backs coach for the last two seasons, moves into an administrative role as the director of high school relations. The rest of Utah’s offensive staff has Aaron Roderick beginning his seventh year with the receivers, Brian Johnson coaching the quarterbacks for the second year, and Tim Davis taking over the offensive line.

Utah also announced that Chad Kauha’aha’a will take over as defensive line coach. He replaces John Pease, who retired after the season. Kauha’aha’a was Utah State's defensive line coach for the past two seasons. He's a former second-team all WAC player for the Utes in 1996. Whittingham was the defensive coordinator during Kauha’aha’a’s last three years at Utah.

But back to the offensive shakeup. Here's how Whittingham explained it:

“We took our time re-positioning the offensive staff and made sure that we got everybody into the roles we felt were best for the program. Aaron Alford did a nice job with our running backs, and the cornerbacks before that, but as the director of high school relations, he will fill a critical role for us in our move to the Pac-12.”

It seems like Whittingham tried to limit the shock to his staff's system as best he could, seeing that Schramm and Roderick shared the coordinating duties last year and are functionally getting a demotion because of the arrival of Chow.

Most interesting: Chow is not coaching quarterbacks. That's been his specialty since his BYU days in the 1970s. That decision feels like tip of the cap to Brian Johnson, as well as a way to allow Chow to serve in a more supervisory role. A graduate assistant can put tight ends through drills. Coaching quarterbacks is far more involved.

Further, Chow turns 65 in May. It seems unlikely he'll be Utah's offensive coordinator for the next decade, though you never know. You'd think the rest of the offensive staff, even if they are grumpy at present about the changes, could absorb plenty of knowledge from Chow over the next few years that will benefit them down the road.

While Chow's tenure at UCLA wasn't successful, he's still on a short list of the best offensive minds in college football history. You'd also think he'll be plenty motivated to wash the bad taste out of his mouth over how things went in Westwood.

And who isn't excited about UCLA's visit on Nov. 12?

There is a reason most freshmen quarterbacks redshirt. The position is so tough to learn, the speed of the game moves too fast, the defenders are so much bigger and stronger, it takes time to figure everything out.

For the few who do get to play, inconsistency is part of the learning curve. Utah quarterback Jordan Wynn knows all about that, after being called off the bench to play against Wyoming late last year.

The Utes won, but playing was a blur for Wynn. He was not exactly comfortable, even as he started the final four games of the regular season. Losses to TCU and BYU were two big doses of reality.

Something started to click in the Poinsettia Bowl against California. The game slowed down, and he felt more confident. Wynn won MVP honors, going 26-of-36 for a career-high 338 yards and three touchdowns.

As Utah prepares to open the season tonight against Pittsburgh, Wynn is firmly entrenched as the starting quarterback. This is his team. That means he is essentially the face of the program, given the bright spotlight that has shined on every Utah quarterback in the recent past.

“It’s a great quarterback tradition here, and I’m just trying to continue it,” Wynn said.

His coaches believe he has the potential to be the best one yet. No pressure. New quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson, who led Utah to its undefeated season in 2008, sees a mature leader with an immense amount of talent and work ethic similar to his and former No. 1 NFL draft pick Alex Smith.

“He should probably be the best guy to play here when he’s finished playing,” Johnson said. “He understands the situation he’s in, and he understands the magnitude of keeping this program playing at a high level. I look for him to have a great career here.”

Wynn ended last season completing 58 percent of his passes, while throwing for 1,329 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions. He has done plenty already to improve himself. Wynn put on 43 pounds to get himself in the 195 pound range. When he came into school as a freshman last season, he weighed about 150 pounds and admitted to being fatigued during fall camp.

To put on the weight, he ate three large meals and three snacks in between them. Wynn even woke himself up in the middle of the night to eat a sandwich and drink a protein shake. “I got sick of eating,” he said.

With the weight on, he still eats three large meals a day, but his body is much leaner and he is in better shape. He feels good with the added weight and does not feel sluggish.

Spring practice gave him a good opportunity to pick up where he left off in the bowl game. He was given the ability to call audibles, and the entire playbook is open to him now. Utah is no longer limited in what it can do. What is noteworthy is how quickly Wynn has picked up a very complex spread offense.

“I would say your typical quarterback, it takes about a year in our system to assimilate everything, to get the whole scheme and digest it,” coach Kyle Whittingham said. “Jordan did so quicker than most. There’s nothing we feel we have to hold back scheme-wise … Jordan will have some packaged plays where he will make decisions at the line of scrimmage based on the look the defense is giving him. We feel he’s ready for that. The game will be the proof in the pudding.”

Wynn has also worked on cutting down on his mental errors and overall mistakes, and realizes being a game manager is not necessarily a bad thing.

Now, this team is his, from Week 1 on.

“I’m ready for this,” he said.

The BYU quarterback competition among Jake Heaps, Riley Nelson and James Lark is still undecided.

Florida International players and coaches continue to deal with the aftermath of the death of running back Kendall Berry.

As spring practices continue, Jordan Wynn remains the future of the Utes' offense.

After Saturday’s scrimmage, Bowling Green coach Dave Clawson is starting to see improvement within his team.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham places his faith in 23-year-old quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson.

The quarterback race at Louisiana Tech continues to narrow as spring pushes on.

The Nevada first-team defense kept Colin Kaepernick’s offense out of the end zone during the spring game.

The quarterback race is still wide open at UAB as coach Neil Callaway looks for a replacement for Joe Webb.

Former Utah quarterback Brian Johnson, who led the Utes to a perfect season and a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama in 2008, has been named the team’s quarterbacks coach.

Johnson replaces J.D. Williams, who left for UNLV.

“The addition of Brian Johnson to our coaching staff is a huge positive for our program,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “Brian was an outstanding player for us, has natural leadership ability and possesses a complete understanding of the game. Brian’s intelligence, knowledge of the quarterback position and tireless work ethic will help make his transition into coaching a smooth one. Our players respect and admire Brian, and they will respond well to him in his new role.”

Johnson, 23, was 26-7 in his three years as starter for the Utes. He earned five bowl victories from 2004-08 and was named the MVP of the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl and the 2009 Sugar Bowl.

Johnson graduated from Utah in May 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications. He spent this past season assisting the quarterbacks for the Utes.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

Quarterback Brian Johnson, Sugar Bowl MVP and all-around Utah hero didn't get drafted by an NFL team this past spring, but he is going to have the opportunity to play professional football.

Johnson, along with 21 other players from the non-automatic qualifying schools, was selected in the premiere draft for the United Football League (UFL), a new football league that begins play this fall.

Johnson was drafted by UFL New York (I don't think there's a team name yet). Other names you might recognize include, Colorado State's Cecil Sapp, TCU's Bo Schobel and Western Michigan's Branden Ledbetter.

According to the league's Web site, the UFL will operate out of four cities -- New York, Las Vegas, Orlando, and San Francisco -- but also will play games in Hartford, Los Angeles and Sacramento. The game will be almost identical to the NFL game and will play on Thursday and Friday evenings in the fall. The first regular season game is in October and the championship game is scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend.

While this might not sound like an ideal move for any young football player, it might be the perfect breeding ground for developing talent. Coaches in the league include Dennis Green, Jim Fassel, Jim Haslett, and Ted Cottrell. All have tons of NFL experience, making this a gateway to the league.

Here is a list of all the players from non-AQ schools who were drafted this past week:

UFL LAS VEGAS

DE Adrian Awasom (North Texas)
OG Jason Boone (Utah)
LB Ezra Butler (Nevada)
NT Gabe Long (Utah)
RB Tyson Thompson (San Jose State)
DB Nick Turnbull (FIU)

UFL NEW YORK

C Jasper Harvey (San Diego State)
QB Brian Johnson (Utah)
DB Terell Maze (San Diego State)
T Ray Norell (Buffalo)
WR Steve Sanders (Bowling Green)
RB Cecil Sapp (Colorado State)
NT Bryan Save (Colorado State)

UFL ORLANDO

DE Bo Schobel (TCU)

UFL SAN FRANCISCO

RB Femi Ayanbadejo (San Diego State)
WR Marcus Fitzgerald (Marshall)
TE Branden Ledbetter (Western Michigan)
LB Joe Martin (San Diego State)
T Brian Rimpf (East Carolina)
NT Jason Stewart (Fresno State)
DB Marviel Underwood (San Diego State)
WR Joe West (UTEP)

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

Four teams from the non-automatic qualifying schools have participated in BCS games. Each team had different strengths, weaknesses and used different paths to get there. Although they might not have started out with the goal of busting the BCS, as both Utah coach Kyle Whittingham and Boise State coach Chris Petersen said, each provided a unique road map for other teams to follow in their footsteps. 

UTAH
Undefeated record and year: 12-0, 2004
Head coach, season: Urban Meyer, 2nd
Preseason rankings: AP 20, Coaches' 19
BCS bowl: Fiesta Bowl, def. Pittsburgh 35-7
Final rankings: AP 4, Coaches' 5
Returning starters: 8 offensive, 7 defensive
Seniors: 18
Quarterback: Alex Smith (Jr.)
BCS conference teams on nonconference schedule: Texas A&M, at Arizona, North Carolina
Record previous season, conference titles, bowl appearances: 10-2, MWC champs, Liberty Bowl champs (d. Southern Miss 17-0)
What made that team special: Utah was definitely one of the more talented teams in the country. The Utes produced five NFL draft picks off the 2004 squad, including the No. 1 overall draft pick -- junior quarterback Alex Smith.
After the season: Utah was the original BCS buster and proved that schools from smaller conferences could compete with some of the football powers. The Utes timing was great since 2004 was also the year the BCS decided to allow automatic qualification to any team from the non-automatic qualifying schools ranked in the top 12 in the BCS standings beginning in 2006.

BOISE STATE
Undefeated record and year: 13-0, 2006
Head coach, season: Chris Petersen, 1st
Preseason rankings: RV in both AP (31) and Coaches' (31)
BCS bowl: Fiesta Bowl, def. Oklahoma 43-42 OT
Final rankings: AP 5, Coaches' 6
Returning starters: 9 offensive, 9 defensive
Seniors: 24
Quarterback: Jared Zabransky (Sr.)
BCS conference teams on nonconference schedule: Oregon State
Record previous season, conference titles, bowl appearances: 9-3, WAC champions, Lost MPC Computers Bowl (l. Boston College, 21-27)
What made that team special: The 2006 team was an experienced group that had been through some ups and downs, including missing out on a BCS bowl despite an undefeated regular season in 2004. The frustration over that year carried over to 2005, but the Broncos made their way through it and finished the 2006 season the second-highest scoring team in the country.
After the season: The 2006 Fiesta Bowl was declared by many as one of the greatest games in college football history and officially put Boise State on the national map. It was the Broncos' second undefeated season while a member of the FBS.

HAWAII
Undefeated record and year: 12-1, 2007
Head coach, season: June Jones, 9th
Preseason rankings: AP 23, Coaches' 24
BCS bowl: Sugar Bowl, lost Georgia 41-10
Final rankings: AP 19, Coaches' 17
Returning starters: 6 offensive, 6 defensive
Seniors: 24
Quarterback: Colt Brennan (RS Sr.)
BCS conference teams on nonconference schedule: Washington
Record previous season, conference titles, bowl appearances: 11-3, Sheraton Hawaii Bowl champs (d. Arizona State, 41-24)
What made that team special: Hawaii was third in the country in total offense with 512.08 yards per game. Behind senior quarterback Colt Brennan, a Heisman Trophy finalist, the Warriors scored 76 touchdowns and defeated their opponents by an average of 22 points.
After the season: Hawaii's 41-10 loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl cast doubt on whether the Warriors' undefeated season was credible enough to warrant a BCS bid and provided more scrutiny toward non-automatic qualifying teams and their conferences.

UTAH
Undefeated record and year: 13-0, 2008
Head coach, season: Kyle Whittingham, 4th
Preseason rankings: RV in both AP (28) and Coaches' (29)
BCS bowl: Sugar Bowl, def. Alabama 31-17
Final rankings: AP 2, Coaches' 4
Returning starters: 8 offensive, 6 defensive
Seniors: 20
Quarterback: Brian Johnson (RS Sr.)
BCS conference teams on nonconference schedule: at Michigan, Oregon State
Record previous season, conference titles, bowl appearances: 9-4, Poinsettia Bowl champs (d. Navy, 35-32)
What made that team special: Prior to the 2006 season, quarterback Brian Johnson was convinced to redshirt with the promise that 2008, his senior season, would be the best season of his career. It was during that year he learned how to watch film and how to lead his team.
After the season: Utah's decisive win over Alabama sparked protests about whether Utah should be the national champion since it was the only undefeated team in the country. While the Utes finished No. 2, it spurred the Mountain West Conference and several legislators to fight the BCS for equality.

Source: ESPN Stats & Analysis

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

It's taken Brian Johnson nearly three seasons to realize, but suffering a season-ending knee injury during his sophomore year in 2005 might have been the best thing that happened to him and Utah football.

	Boyd Ivey/Icon SMI
	Brian Johnson has tossed 24 TD passes for the Utes this season.

It's the only reason Johnson, a fifth-year senior who had to redshirt the 2006 season, is around this year to lead the Utes to a 12-0 season, an Allstate Sugar Bowl berth and a chance to become the most successful team in the history of the Utah program.

Johnson remembers the moment of the injury all too well. It was against New Mexico, 10 games into the season. Johnson decided to take off on fourth down and was scrambling toward the first-down marker when he was hit awkwardly while cutting to stay inbounds. He felt the knee give way and knew his season was over.

But his career was just beginning.

After Johnson got over the initial frustration of the injury, he found himself with a lot of time on his hands. So he spent that time in the film room, studying opponents, and crafting game plans with offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig. He started to notice opponents' tendencies and started to realize that being a great quarterback wasn't just about putting up great numbers, it was about putting his team in a position to win by making smart decisions.

"After I tore my ACL in '05, I was preparing before, but I think after that my preparation has kind of picked up each and every year since then," Johnson said. "I was putting up some pretty good numbers, but we weren't winning ballgames. It wasn't translating to the field. So I just tried to take a different approach to it and tried to beat teams mentally. Understand their tendencies, understand what they were trying to do defensively, and going out there and trying and execute."

Johnson said when the coaches informed him that he wouldn't be playing in 2006, he sat down with Ludwig and coach Kyle Whittingham and looked at a depth chart. They highlighted all of the players that would be seniors in 2008 and reassured Johnson that he was sitting out the 2006 season with the future in mind.

So Johnson kept that future in front of him, not knowing exactly what would happen, but knowing that whatever it was, he'd be prepared for it.

But the one thing he wasn't prepared for was getting hurt again.

(Read full post)