Elijah Reed walked out of Rice-Eccles Stadium for the first time in a live game and came away exactly how you’d expect a veteran corner to feel: energized, relieved, and ready for more.
Reed got the start in Utah’s season-opening win over Idaho, and he said the moment carried plenty of weight after months of work with his new teammates.
“Ecstatic. It was a crazy moment to go out there with the guys I've been working with for months. So it was exciting.”
That debut now gives way to a different kind of challenge, and Reed is looking forward to it. The Utes are preparing for Arkansas, which means another chance for Reed to line up against an SEC opponent after beginning his college career at Kentucky before transferring to Akron and then landing at Utah.
On the Razorbacks’ receivers, Reed kept it simple and direct.
“Good set of dudes. We go into every week with the same intentions to dominate who we're going against. So it's going to be a good test this week.”
What stood out most for Reed after the opener wasn’t just his own performance, but the overall feel of Utah’s defense. He said he has confidence in every part of the unit and likes the experience the group is bringing onto the field.
“I feel good about every single person on the field. I feel great about going in with the dudes that we have, just with the experience we have and all the plays that we're making as a team right now. So I feel good about everybody.”
That confidence showed up in the way Utah’s defense moved around against Idaho. Reed pointed to the versatility in the secondary, along with the linebackers making plays on the ball.
“In every way. You see, we have our linebackers picking the ball off, which is always great to see our linebackers getting hands on the ball.
So, you know, we're looking to get some more in the corner group and everything, and safeties. So yeah, it's a good thing to see.”
Against an aggressive game plan like the one Utah used in the opener, Reed said the secondary’s job comes down to one thing.
“You know, just to win our matchups, of course. And that's everything.
We're always gonna be forced to win our matchups. That's what we did all, all, um, camp, fall camp, spring.
So that's what it's going to be every week: win our matchups.”
Reed also said the group’s energy matters, and that the fun is part of why it works.
“I mean, at the end of the day, this is the game we've all been playing since we were little. So you got to remember that, yes, it's a job.
Yes, we're out here to work and win, but you've got to have fun. I mean, that's the only way you're going to go and fly around.
You got to have fun.”
He also praised Jackson Bennee, who saw plenty of time in the nickel, saying that trust runs through the whole defense.
“Great player. You know, we have a lot of trust in him.
We trust every guy we put in there. So not just him, but everyone we put in there.
Yeah, it's just confidence all around. We have confidence in every player that's out there.”
And for Reed, the old SEC-versus-everybody debate doesn’t change the way he sees the game.
“At the end of the day, the way I look at it, football is football. At the end of the day, you've got to go out there and beat whoever you're going up against, and then you should go into it with the same intentions every week.”
In Other News...
Utah Safeties Face Their First Real Test Against Arkansas
Derrick Odum got a useful first look at his Utah safeties in the opener, and the early returns gave the Utes a little to build on. The safeties coach pointed to the groups tackling, communication and the way different players showed up within the scheme, all of it part of an opening performance that offered some reassurance as the defense settles in.
Arkansas brings a different kind of stress test, though, and Odum knows the next one will ask more of that back end. Utahs aggressive front already forced some adjustments in the first game, and now the safeties have to handle an offense that can challenge them in more ways, making this a cleaner measure of how far the group has come and how much more work still remains. [Read more 🡒]
Byrd Ficklin Might Be More Than Utahs Typical Backup QB
Byrd Ficklin spent part of Utahs win over Idaho reminding people that a backup quarterback can still have a real role in shaping a game. Ficklin talked about his development at the position, the backing he has gotten from teammates and coaches, and the enjoyment he takes from being asked to do more than one thing on the field. For a program that values depth and versatility, he has quickly become the kind of player who can fit wherever he is needed.
His throw in the game drew a viral reaction, which only added another layer to a performance that already stood out in a supporting role. Ficklin addressed the attention afterward, and the response underscored why his value may go beyond the usual backup QB label. Utah has plenty to sort through at the position, but Ficklins willingness to embrace multiple jobs gives the staff another option worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Rabbit Evans Gives Utah Defense A Needed Boost Before Arkansas
Rabbit Evans return gave Utahs defense a lift at a time when it could use one, and the safety sounded encouraged after getting back on the field for his first game since the injury. He pointed to the fumble recovery as a good moment in the comeback, and he also spent time talking through the defenses communication and the way younger players have handled their roles.
With Arkansas coming next, Evans described his preparation as part of the usual weekly grind, the kind of routine that helps him settle back in after missed time. For Utah, the bigger takeaway may be that a veteran defensive voice is back in the mix, and the timing could matter as the Utes keep sorting out depth and execution on that side of the ball. [Read more 🡒]