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For two freshmen from the same high school, the hardest on-field adjustment this spring has been their wardrobes.
Tyler Huntley and Demari Simpkins knew it would be chilly in Utah, so the native Floridians loaded up on what they figured were the essentials: sweatshirts, long pants, boots. When they arrived in Salt Lake City, they found out they hadn't packed enough.
"It was real cold," Simpkins said, with a shiver. "We didn't know how cold it would be."
But everything else — scheme, conditioning, practice — has been fairly natural to the newcomers from Hallandale High School. Passing on their final semester of high school, both enrolled early to get a head start on their college careers and perhaps get a crack at some playing time.
Through their first week and a half in spring, Huntley is an increasingly convincing contender to start at quarterback this fall, while Simpkins is a bit down the depth chart but still is an option at receiver and perhaps special teams.
The learning curve hasn't seemed so steep for these two.
"I'm really amazed at how well they've adjusted, at how well they've adjusted in school, in our offseason program and now playing," said running backs coach Dennis Erickson, who played a heavy role in recruiting both. "Tyler has done some unbelievable things and he's got an unbelievable future, as does Demari. They're both good kids."
For those paying attention, Huntley's and Simpkins' bright futures have been evident for a long time.
For former Hallandale coach Dameon Jones, he was a believer almost from the moment Huntley walked into the Chargers' locker room fresh out of middle school. Even then, Huntley carried himself in a way that won upperclassmen over. And when he got the starting job as a freshman, he did the most important thing: He played well.
"If you come in and perform, you're going to win everybody's trust," Jones said. "He's a great leader. At the end of the day, his performance is going to win his coaches over."
Huntley didn't always win the attention he wanted when it came to college coaches. At a position where height is valued, Huntley started out as a 5-foot-7 runt passing the ball. Even as he grew to 6-foot-1, he didn't have the prototypical look of others in his class, and even others in his state.
But the perception started to change after Huntley last fall almost powered the Chargers to an upset over national No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas. Huntley threw for 468 yards and four touchdowns with only one interception, which came on a desperation heave at the end of the game.
"On the big stage, in the big game, he was lights out," Jones said. "He put on a show. Coaches knew after what he did against one of the top high school teams in the nation. Miami tried to come in, a whole bunch of SEC schools tried to come in, but he was already going to Utah."
Huntley has been one of the hot topics of spring camp, with uncanny accuracy, even on long passes downfield. He's shown composure, impressing coaches by stepping up into the pocket and giving himself second chances at throws.
Jones said he's talked to both Huntley and Simpkins, who said the Utah playbook bears many similarities to Hallandale's — the biggest difference is terminology.
Not to say Huntley isn't sweating some of the adjustments to the college level.
"Toughest thing is our defensive rush," he said after a sack-filled Tuesday practice. "Our defensive pass rush is great, so it's tough to get anything off on them and make plays."
But given the time to operate, Huntley is doing many of the same things that made him a freshman starter for a Florida prep powerhouse. He can make good throws. He can run when necessary. He doesn't seem to waver in the face of competing with a pair of upperclassmen to be Utah's signal-caller.
Similarly, Simpkins is looking for a chance at receiver, where the Utes have been underachieving the past few years. He hasn't cracked the two-deep yet, and he admits the altitude smacked him in the middle of the first week of practice, hunching him over with fits of dry coughs.
But at the same time, he and Huntley are getting what they wanted out of the experience. They talk often with Hallandale teammate and running back Moss, who wishes he were in Salt Lake City himself.
"Yeah, we trying to tell him what to look out for, and it's not going to be easy at all," Simpkins said. "I'm just trying to get through it mentally, learn the plays. Try to get bigger, more faster, so I can get ready for the season."
Coach Kyle Whittingham has casually compared Huntley to former Utah quarterback Brian Johnson, who played as a freshman. Simpkins is arguably one of the team's quickest players, and Erickson likes his sure hands.
The Hallandale duo — soon to be trio when Moss arrives — are the first of Utah's five Florida signees in the latest recruiting class, and the Utes are expected to have 11 total players from the Sunshine State this fall.
Jones is coming to Utah's spring game on April 23. He hopes to come back this fall — but he's warned his former players he'll only visit if they're playing. The way things have gone for Huntley and Simpkins so far, he'll keep the flights bookmarked.
"To be honest, I think Utah thought they got them some good ballplayers," Jones said. "To have kids who can come in and compete for a spot, I don't know if those coaches thought it was on the horizon."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Hallandale giving richly to Utah
The Utes have brought in a pair of recruits from Hallandale High School in Florida, and another will arrive in June. How one school has give the Utes a lot to work with:
QB Tyler Huntley • Florida Gatorade player of the year as a senior; threw for 9,053 career yards and 106 TDs while gaining a 34-10 record as a starter.
WR Demari Simpkins • Had 38 receptions as a junior for 506 yards and seven TDs in first year playing the position; started career as QB at Miramar High in Florida.
RB Zack Moss • Had 1,098 rushing yards and 17 TDs on 145 carries as a senior; also caught 25 passes for 425 yards and 4 TDs.