He’s been through the ringer, has had a lot on his plate, a lot of uncertainty surrounding him and he’s bounced back just as we thought he would. With Travis Wilson, that’s something you never question, is his toughness. – Utah coach Kyle Whittingham

SALT LAKE CITY — Travis Wilson has already walked through graduation at the University of Utah. He’ll complete work on a bachelor’s degree in sociology this summer.

Athletically, though, Wilson is far from finished. The quarterback is determined to finish his collegiate career on a high note — making sure he stays strong and healthy while making his mark as a senior.

“Just play the best that I can,” Wilson said. “This summer will definitely be a lot of training towards that and a lot of work towards that.”

Wilson, who has played in 34 games for the Utes over the past three seasons, spent only one week at home in California after graduation. He returned to Salt Lake City for school, summer conditioning and to work out a lot with the receivers and get some stuff down.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham noted the importance of such things in the offseason.

“It’s important to the entire football team,” he said. “There is so much to get accomplished in the summer.”

Besides the obvious focus on strength and conditioning, it’s also a time for quarterbacks and receivers to get together and time out routes and improve there.

“Summer is a critical time frame for every guy in the program to maximize his efforts,” Whittingham said.

Wilson’s quest for improvement comes with the coach saying the 6-foot-7, 233-pound signal caller is playing his best football as a Ute. He was named Most Valuable Player in Utah’s 45-10 win over Colorado State in the Las Vegas Bowl and followed it up with a strong spring.

“It was good to end on a good note but this fall I’m definitely going to have to keep on improving my skills,” Wilson said. “I had a good spring and everything, but I’m definitely going to have to keep on improving and just make sure I’m getting better, make sure I kind of earn that starting spot.”

Despite being a senior with 5,308 career passing yards and 41 touchdown throws (plus 735 rushing yards and 14 TDs), Wilson faces competition for the job. Oklahoma transfer and fellow senior Kendal Thompson, who made a couple of starts last season, is the primary contender. Redshirt freshman Chase Hansen is also in the mix.

“That’s not to discount the other guys in the program because they’ve all got potential, but those are the three guys that are going to be getting all the reps this fall,” Whittingham said. “Kendal, he’s a heckuva player, and it's not anything that Travis is not doing because he was playing his best football in spring and was doing an excellent job.”

Even so, there will be a battle although Wilson is the acknowledged frontrunner.

“Competition, in my estimation, is always a good thing and we are fortunate to have competition at that position,” Whittingham said.

Wilson understands and even kind of appreciates the situation.

“It makes each other better. It definitely makes me better,” he said. “It makes me compete harder and I definitely like having someone compete against me.”

As the most experienced quarterback in the group, Wilson noted that he’s got to do his part and make sure he's a leader on the team.

It’s a role Wilson tried to maintain last season during difficult times that included Thompson, who had his season cut short by a knee injury, getting starts against Oregon State and Oregon. He also entered the UCLA game early.

“It was definitely frustrating, but I always made sure that I was ready at any moment, whenever my name was called, so nothing in my preparation was done differently,” Wilson said. “I just made sure I was always ready to play and everything. I think it’s definitely going to be a battle with me and Kendal again this fall.”

Wilson enters this year’s competition with an extra boost, the MVP award from the bowl game in Vegas. He rushed for 91 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. He also threw for a score.

“It definitely gave me a lot of confidence. It was great how I ended last season,” Wilson said. “But I’ve got to keep on building as well and just make sure I’m playing the best I can, just make sure I’m getting better and winning more games next year.”

The Utes are coming off a 9-4 campaign that included a 5-4 record in Pac-12 play. Wilson appeared in every game, completing 140 of 313 passes for 2,170 yards. He had 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. Thompson wound up playing in seven games. He completed 32 of 52 passes for 324 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

On the ground, Wilson had 309 yards rushing and five touchdowns. Thompson had 192 yards and one score.

Although offensive coordinator Dave Christensen moved on to Texas A&M after one season, the Utes are maintaining continuity on offense with quarterbacks coach Aaron Roderick and line coach Jim Harding now running the show as co-coordinators.

“It’s definitely nice having the same offense and having the same terminology year after year, so that’s definitely a positive,” Wilson said. “But I’ve just to make sure I keep on getting better and keep on playing with confidence, and just make sure I’m making the team better as well.”

Having a senior quarterback — make that two — should help Utah’s chances of reaching greater heights.

“I think it certainly helps. It’s the most important position on the field and to have a guy — or guys in our case — that have that experience and have been through your program, I think, that is definitely a benefit,” Whittingham said. “It’s no guarantee of anything, but it certainly is a plus if you’re able to have a senior quarterback.”

When it comes to Wilson, Whittingham added that he was a tough kid when he joined the Utes and has always had a great deal of toughness. Wilson came back from the discovery of an intracranial artery injury as a sophomore and a hard hit in last year’s win at Michigan.

“He’s been through the ringer, has had a lot on his plate, a lot of uncertainty surrounding him and he’s bounced back just as we thought he would,” Whittingham said. “With Travis Wilson, that’s something you never question, is his toughness.”

Utah opens fall camp Aug. 6. The Utes open the season Sept. 3 at Rice-Eccles Stadium against Michigan.

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