SALT LAKE CITY – Utah football has been working hard in fall camp over the past two weeks. Players are competing at a high level and coming together as a team.
There are many familiar faces and many new faces on the roster. One of the more familiar new faces is tight end Carsen Ryan, who comes from American Fork and transfers from UCLA.
Tight End U is healthy and happy 😤😤😤@CarsenRyan pic.twitter.com/fIZWAMSpxB
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) 9 August 2024
Carsen Ryan didn’t let his injury hurt him
After being traded to Utah in January, Ryan suffered an injury that kept him out of most of the offseason. After a few months away from football, his return to the field in training camp was quite a positive experience.
“It was really good, it was really nice to be back playing,” Ryan said. “It’s been a while since I recovered from the injury, but I’m just happy to be here, happy to be with this new team and just happy for the season to start.”
The injury was especially unfortunate for Ryan as he was transitioning into a new program, and even though he couldn’t play, he wanted to keep playing and prepare as best as he could for his return.
“It was a little different. I’ve had injuries before, but coming to a new team, I was trying to find my place on the team,” Ryan said. “I did everything I could to make myself known, learn the playbook and just be a good teammate – always be there for my guys.”
He fights his way back into the team
“I’ve been feeling pretty good. It’s always a little difficult when you’re not training,” Ryan said of his conditioning. “They say the best way to get in shape is to play football. If you can’t do that, it takes a while. I feel great right now, I feel as athletic as ever and I’m just ready to go.”
While this process is about being physically fit, Ryan knows he needs to make progress mentally as well. Especially with the season quickly approaching, his main focus is on the playbook to familiarize himself with everything that will be asked of him.
“My mindset right now is to learn the plays and get used to this offense and get comfortable with it,” Ryan said. “I just want to keep learning, keep getting in shape and keep getting ready for the season opener against SUU.”
Utah’s tight end roster is full of NFL talent
After two seasons at UCLA, Ryan has proven himself to be quite a capable tight end. As a Bruin, Ryan had 13 catches for 205 yards and three touchdowns in 19 games.
He was in a talented tight end room at UCLA, but this group in Utah is particularly notable, according to Ryan.
“This is a room with a lot of great talent and great guys, future NFL draft picks in my opinion,” Ryan said. “We’re here to make each other better and this is a great place to grow, especially as a tight end.”
And it’s not just about the talent and competition in the room, the camaraderie is what makes the group special.
“It’s great to be in the room because there’s a lot of competition, but we’re all good friends and brothers,” Ryan said. “We all hang out together, encourage each other, and want to see each of us do our best.”
Isaac Wilson impresses
Isaac Wilson was named Cameron Rising’s backup quarterback on Monday, and according to Ryan, the rookie has really made an impression.
“I’m really excited about Isaac, he’s shown a lot of talent here,” Ryan said. “A lot of times you get a young quarterback and you expect a lot of those rookie mistakes, but I don’t feel like I see that with Isaac. He’s very smart, has a good head on his shoulders and reads the situation correctly a lot of times. I’m excited about the future with Isaac, I think he’s going to be a really good quarterback.”
Utah football team schedule
Utah opens the season on August 29 against Southern Utah. The Utah football team’s conference schedule can be found here.
Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts the Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to analyze the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.
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