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College Football Nation Blog - ESPN
Utah starting quarterback Jordan Wynn didn’t have the easiest introduction to college football.
He started his first game against TCU, which had the nation’s top defense, and was on the losing end of a thrilling and emotional game at BYU. But four games of starting experience were enough for Wynn to earn the respect of his coaches and teammates and be the undisputed starter this spring.
Wynn, who put on 45 pounds from last spring to last fall, is hoping for a similar transformation.
Wynn took a couple minutes to answer some questions about last year’s experience, his relationship with teammates and his goals for 2010.
Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesUtah quarterback Jordan Wynn is trying to put on weight in the offseason.
How much easier is it going into this spring that it was a year ago?
Jordan Wynn: It’s definitely night and day. Last year I came in and being at 150 pounds and not knowing the offense it was just all a blur. And now, being bigger and having command of the offense, it just makes practice fun. I know what I’m doing out there. I’m getting the reps and just trying to get better.
I’ve been reading everywhere that you’re trying to put on more weight. How’s that going?
JW: I’m actually the same right now. I’m still around the 190 range, but my goal and coach Whit’s [Kyle Whittingham] goal for me is to be at 205 going into fall camp. So, that’s what I’m shooting for. I still have another 15 pounds to go.
Do you think your body is rejecting the weight now since you put on so many pounds when you first got to campus?
JW: It’s definitely hard. I’ve kind of hit a block right now. I’m just going to keep trying to fight through it. I know I’m going to get it. I’m determined. It’s just how long it’s going to take me.
I know you got thrown into the fire there against some pretty tough teams, but do you look back on that thankful that you got the experience to go against some of those top teams that you played?
JW: Yeah, definitely. Especially the TCU game, playing a defense like that. And going into BYU and going into overtime in that environment. Both were just huge growing and learning experiences for me. It almost made me feel like I played a whole year just off of those two games and the bowl game. Just based off of that experience.
What have you done this offseason to assert yourself as a leader and really take control of this team?
JW: I just continue to be vocal. That’s something I did last year even when I was behind Terrance. Just be vocal, be a leader and I just try to lead by example. I just try to do the right things on and off the field and just continue to grow and continue to lead this team.
What do the coaches want to see out of you this spring? What changes are we going to see in your game?
JW: I’m definitely going to keep taking ownership of the offense. I’ll continue to grow and just continue to get bigger and stronger. Those two things are big for me and that’s what we’ve been talking about.
When you look at your film, what do you feel like you needed to work on from last year?
JW: It’s kind of tough to sum it up into one thing. My footwork can always get better and that’s something I noticed right off the bat. And just continue to make better decisions. You can never be perfect, but you can strive for perfection and so that’s something that, when I watch film, I look for.
How huge was ending the season the way you did with the big win over Cal, especially considering the schedule you went through leading up to that?
JW: It was definitely huge continuing our bowl winning streak. It gives you that confidence in the spring. Going into this offseason, we don’t have that loss looming over our heads and that’s something I’m definitely going to continue to grow off of.
How quickly do you think this team started following you and really started believing in you?
JW: Honestly, I really think I had their respect from all the way back in fall camp. They really saw my transformation going from little skinny 150 to 190, 195. I think that opened a lot of their eyes. It’s just a matter of going out there and managing the game and showing them that I could do it.
Honestly, did you think all of this would happen this quickly? That you be able to come in and be the starter for Utah this quickly?
JW: That was always the plan. When I went through recruiting, me and my dad always talked about what was the school where I was going to get a chance to go in early. That’s always really been my goal, so it didn’t come as a huge shock.
What are your goals this year, not just in spring but heading into the fall?
JW: Right now, it’s just beat Pitt. They’re coming in here on that Thursday night and that’s going to be a huge game. That’s all I’m focusing on, game one. I’m just trying to take it day-by-day in practice and get better.
He started his first game against TCU, which had the nation’s top defense, and was on the losing end of a thrilling and emotional game at BYU. But four games of starting experience were enough for Wynn to earn the respect of his coaches and teammates and be the undisputed starter this spring.
Wynn, who put on 45 pounds from last spring to last fall, is hoping for a similar transformation.
Wynn took a couple minutes to answer some questions about last year’s experience, his relationship with teammates and his goals for 2010.
Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesUtah quarterback Jordan Wynn is trying to put on weight in the offseason.
How much easier is it going into this spring that it was a year ago?
Jordan Wynn: It’s definitely night and day. Last year I came in and being at 150 pounds and not knowing the offense it was just all a blur. And now, being bigger and having command of the offense, it just makes practice fun. I know what I’m doing out there. I’m getting the reps and just trying to get better.
I’ve been reading everywhere that you’re trying to put on more weight. How’s that going?
JW: I’m actually the same right now. I’m still around the 190 range, but my goal and coach Whit’s [Kyle Whittingham] goal for me is to be at 205 going into fall camp. So, that’s what I’m shooting for. I still have another 15 pounds to go.
Do you think your body is rejecting the weight now since you put on so many pounds when you first got to campus?
JW: It’s definitely hard. I’ve kind of hit a block right now. I’m just going to keep trying to fight through it. I know I’m going to get it. I’m determined. It’s just how long it’s going to take me.
I know you got thrown into the fire there against some pretty tough teams, but do you look back on that thankful that you got the experience to go against some of those top teams that you played?
JW: Yeah, definitely. Especially the TCU game, playing a defense like that. And going into BYU and going into overtime in that environment. Both were just huge growing and learning experiences for me. It almost made me feel like I played a whole year just off of those two games and the bowl game. Just based off of that experience.
What have you done this offseason to assert yourself as a leader and really take control of this team?
JW: I just continue to be vocal. That’s something I did last year even when I was behind Terrance. Just be vocal, be a leader and I just try to lead by example. I just try to do the right things on and off the field and just continue to grow and continue to lead this team.
What do the coaches want to see out of you this spring? What changes are we going to see in your game?
JW: I’m definitely going to keep taking ownership of the offense. I’ll continue to grow and just continue to get bigger and stronger. Those two things are big for me and that’s what we’ve been talking about.
When you look at your film, what do you feel like you needed to work on from last year?
JW: It’s kind of tough to sum it up into one thing. My footwork can always get better and that’s something I noticed right off the bat. And just continue to make better decisions. You can never be perfect, but you can strive for perfection and so that’s something that, when I watch film, I look for.
How huge was ending the season the way you did with the big win over Cal, especially considering the schedule you went through leading up to that?
JW: It was definitely huge continuing our bowl winning streak. It gives you that confidence in the spring. Going into this offseason, we don’t have that loss looming over our heads and that’s something I’m definitely going to continue to grow off of.
How quickly do you think this team started following you and really started believing in you?
JW: Honestly, I really think I had their respect from all the way back in fall camp. They really saw my transformation going from little skinny 150 to 190, 195. I think that opened a lot of their eyes. It’s just a matter of going out there and managing the game and showing them that I could do it.
Honestly, did you think all of this would happen this quickly? That you be able to come in and be the starter for Utah this quickly?
JW: That was always the plan. When I went through recruiting, me and my dad always talked about what was the school where I was going to get a chance to go in early. That’s always really been my goal, so it didn’t come as a huge shock.
What are your goals this year, not just in spring but heading into the fall?
JW: Right now, it’s just beat Pitt. They’re coming in here on that Thursday night and that’s going to be a huge game. That’s all I’m focusing on, game one. I’m just trying to take it day-by-day in practice and get better.
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