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A report from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers team website indicates Kaelin Clay isn't wasting any time impressing his new team with his return abilities.

Utah knows how that is.

Four games into last season, Clay had four touchdowns, and opponents had learned the lesson, too: Kaelin Clay was to be feared.

Now, with Clay gone, the Utes are looking for another player in the vein of Clay, Reggie Dunn and Shaky Smithson who can punish teams that haven't done their homework.

It's just not clear yet who that might be.

The first depth chart of fall camp lists sophomore Boobie Hobbs as the No. 1 punt returner and senior Bubba Poole and sophomore Monte Seabrook as the top kick returners, but Kyle Whittingham mentioned two others Friday.

Freshman wideout Britain Covey — "a real natural catcher of punts and kickoffs" who was coached by Kyle's brother, Cary, as a standout quarterback at state champion Timpview, is one option. Covey told ESPN 700 on Friday that he still plans to take an LDS mission after this season, but Utah plans to use him while they've got him.

And junior college transfer Cory Butler is another, Whittingham said. Butler returned both punts and kicks at L.A. Harbor last season, averaging 24.7 yards on kickoffs and taking one to the house.

The early returns have been best for Covey, Butler, Poole and Hobbs, Whittingham said, but two or three others might still enter the fold.

A more muscular Marcus • One of the more eye-catching physical transformations between last season and this season is that of sophomore safety Marcus Williams, who was rail-thin while playing in all 13 games and starting six as a true freshman.

Williams, now listed at 190 pounds, is noticeably buffer, and that despite losing weight to illness two weeks before fall camp, said safeties coach Morgan Scalley.

There's a lot to like about Williams.

At 6-foot, he has a team-high 39.5-inch vertical. He was the team's fifth-leading tackler last year, forced two fumbles, had an interception, and returned another pick 99 yards for a touchdown in Utah's spring game.

And what Scalley likes most about Williams — listed as a backup to junior Jason Thompson, but in the mix to start — is the mental toughness he showed after a couple doses of humiliation in his first start against Washington State.

"The same thing happened with Eric Weddle," said Scalley, who played alongside the San Diego Chargers All-Pro in 2003 and 2004. "Eric Weddle's first game against Utah State, the sucker ... turns and looks over the top of him, and the guy runs right by him for a touchdown. He doesn't even chase him down."

When you're a safety, people notice your mistakes. But Scalley thinks Williams can handle that because "he puts more pressure on himself than anyone."

No turnovers • Friday's practice was better than Thursday's opener, Whittingham said.

"From start to finish it was really clean. I'm really pleased."

Through two days, defense hasn't forced a single turnover — or, alternately, the offense hasn't turned it over.

Whittingham said he's pleased with Utah's array of vertical threats, including Covey and Butler, freshmen George Wilson and Tyrone Smith, junior college transfer Kyle Fulks and a fully healthy Tim Patrick.

Asked why media hasn't observed many downfield passes, co-offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said that's because much of Utah's downfield passing attack is going to be set up by the rushing threat of senior Devontae Booker.

Without pads on — the first padded practice will be next Wednesday — "we're just mostly focusing on getting rid of the ball quickly," Roderick said.

Also • Travis Wilson is taking the majority of reps with the No. 1 offense, Roderick said, with Kendal Thompson taking most of the snaps with the twos and Chase Hansen getting more reps "than we would usually give a third guy." ... Defensive tackle Clint Shepard is not listed on the fall roster and has "some medical issues he's dealing with," Whittingham said. A comeback for Shepard might be "a reach," Whittingham said. They'll know more next week. ... Senior safety Tevin Carter is fully recovered from ankle and groin injuries that hampered him last season, but "he's too big," Whittingham said. Carter hopes to drop from about 220 pounds to 208 for the Sept. 3 opener. ... Utah is likely to throw deep more this season to senior Kenneth Scott. Said Roderick: "He doesn't outrun people, but he's a great competitor, he's got great ball skills, and he usually either comes down with it or gets a PI call."

mpiper@sltrib.com

Twitter: @matthew_piper