SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 Sports) - Perhaps nobody was happier to see the start of Utes training camp today than Matt Asiata. After suffering a second season-ending injury last year, Asiata is back for his 6th year of college football. He's older and wiser, but Asiata is still having a blast, and he says he hasn't changed much over the years.
"I think I'm nicer," said Asiata. "Just getting to know all these players coming up. It' still fun, messing with these little guys. Now it's my turn to mess with them."
But at 23 years old, Asiata is the old man on the team, and his teammates mess with him, too.
"It's great to have him back. I never would have thought he'd be here that long," joked offensive lineman Zane Taylor. "He has like eight kids or something, so we look to him for that paternal advice."
Asked if anybody on the team calls him "grandpa," Asiata replied, "Oh no, no. I'm not that nice."
Asiata was off to a torrid start to the 2009 season, gaining 330 yards in Utah's first four games. But he tore his ACL against Louisville and once again was out for the season. Asiata says he's fine and isn't worried about his knee at all.
But after gaining 1,069 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns last year, Eddie Wide is the starter at running back right now. Asiata isn't worried about that either.
"Whatever the coaches need me to do," said Asiata. "I'm a team player. I'm coming back just to win some ballgames."
"He weighs 230 and he's not fat," said head coach Kyle Whittingham. "He looks real good. Eddie is about 200 pounds and is a good change of pace between him and Matt. Two different types of backs we can throw at a defense."
"It's running back by committee, pretty much," said quarterback Jordan Wynn. "Whether it's Matt, Eddie, Shak or Downey, I think all of them can get the job done, honestly."
"Ya, we got a lot of weapons in the backfield," added Asiata. "We expect the run the ball and run it hard."
And that's something that never gets old.
