Carrington enjoys career night in Utah debut: 'You can always come back'

Darren Carrington II's first game at Utah was undeniably a smashing success, and the senior receiver made sure to relish every part of it afterward.

"I just want to show that it's never over," Carrington told the Pac-12 Network following the Utes' 37-16 season-opening win Thursday over North Dakota. "Don't let nobody talk you down. You can always come back and fight back."

Carrington was dismissed from Oregon over the summer after a DUII charge - the latest off-field incident to set back his once-promising career. He joined the Utes in August as a graduate transfer, though, and racked up a career-high 10 receptions in his debut less than a month later.

"I just want to take full advantage of every opportunity I get to step back on this field because you never know when it could be gone," Carrington told reporters on the field, courtesy of Aaron Falk from the Salt Lake Tribune.

Carrington notched 127 receiving yards against the Fighting Hawks, the second-highest output of his career. He also hauled in a touchdown from first-year starting quarterback Tyler Huntley to top off a brilliant debut.

"It's just such a family that every time you step on the field you just want to go your hardest, without a doubt," he said.

Carrington hopes to be just as effective when Utah take a shiny 1-0 record into a Sept. 9 encounter with BYU. Regardless, he's certain the Utes will be "a force to be reckoned with" in 2017.