Top 10 Utah Utes Quarterbacks Of All-Time

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Utah football program has showcased some of the best quarterbacks on the west coast.

These signal callers have led the Utes to big wins that have transformed the program into what it is today.

They have also cemented their names and legacies as the greatest to have ever played the position at the university.

Here is the top 10 (plus one honorable mention) list from the Crimson Corner of the best quarterbacks to ever play for Utah.

The criteria is based off of college career only and time with Utah. Wins, stats and impact on the team is part of the criteria as well.

HM: Larry Egger, 1985-86

In two seasons with the Utes, Egger completed 469 of his 799 pass attempts with a 58 percent completion rating. He averaged 7.2 yards per attempt for 5,749 career passing yards, 39 touchdowns and 31 interceptions in 23 games played.

Utah went 10-13 in those two seasons with Egger as the quarterback. The Redondo Beach, California native holds two school records including the most 200-yard passing games in a career with 11 and the most interceptions in a single season with 22.

10. Frank Dolce, 1991-92

Dolce was a junior college transfer from El Camino College. The Utes had a 13-11 record over the two seasons with Dolce as the primary quarterback including a trip to the Copper Bowl where Utah lost to Washington State 31-28.

During his two seasons as a Ute, Dolce went 365-of-636 passing (57.4% completion), averaged 7.6 yards per attempt for 4,813 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in 20 games played. Dolce also ran in 12 rushing touchdowns.

9. Jordan Wynn, 2009-12

Jordan Wynn was Utah’s first starting quarterback in the Pac-12 era. The Oceanside, California native dealt with injuries and splitting time during his career with Terrance Cain.

During his career at Utah, Wynn threw for 4,637 yards, completing 60.3 percent of his passes on 381-632. He posted 7.3 yards per attempt for 4,637 yards, 33 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 22 games played.

In 2009, Utah went 10-3 and won the Poinsetta Bowl where Wynn was named Offensive MVP. One year later, Wynn led the Utes to a 10-3 record and an appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl. Their first year in the Pac-12, the Utes finished with an 8-5 record and a berth in the Sun Bowl.

8. Brett Ratliff, 2005-06

Brett Ratliff wasn’t even supposed to be Brian Johnson’s backup but he came in and salvaged the end of the 2005 season and was the starter in 2006 for the Utes. Utah posted a 15-10 record in those two seasons after Alex Smith left for the NFL following the Fiesta Bowl undefeated season. Also, it was the first two seasons under head coach Kyle Whittingham.

In Ratliff’s brief stint with the Utes, he was very productive. He threw for 3,438 yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Ratliff completed 276 of his 468 pass attempts which is 59 percent completions and 7.3 yards per attempt average in just 18 games played. The Chico, California native ran for 361 yards and two scores.

7. Mike Fouts, 1995-96

Fouts spent the 1995 and 96 seasons with the Utes after transferring from Saddleback junior college. The Solana Beach, California native led Utah to a first place finish in the WAC in 1995 and second place in 1996. Through those two seasons, Utah compiled a 15-8 record.

During his tenure with the Utes, Fouts completed 57 percent of his passes on 356 completions and 625 attempts. He averaged 8.2 yards per attempt for 5,107 yards, 39 touchdowns and 19 interceptions in 23 games played while adding 2 rushing touchdowns. Fouts held a 15-6 record as the starting quarterback and holds the school record for the most yards per pass completion in a single game when he averaged 22.67 yards per pass completion in 1996 against Kansas.

6. Travis Wilson, 2012-15

Wilson made the transition for Utah from the Mountain West to the Pac-12 after taking the reigns from Jordan Wynn. “Baby Giraffe” had some outstanding performances during his time at Utah not only with his arm but with his legs. The San Clemente, California native dealt with injuries and issues with a certain offensive coordinator during his time at Utah but that didn’t stop him from shining in big moments.

During his four-year career as a Ute, Wilson completed 60.5 percent of his passes on 646-1,068 pass. He averaged 6.9 yards per attempt on 7,401 yards, 54 touchdowns and 37 interceptions in 46 games played which is a school record for quarterbacks. Wilson was productive on the ground as well with 1,226 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. He also holds the school record for most total plays with 1,467 and most total touchdowns with 75. Wilson had a 24-15 record as the starting QB.

5. Mike McCoy, 1992-94

After transferring from Long Beach State, Mike McCoy had to wait his turn to shine for the Utes. He served as the backup to Frank Dolce but stepped in after an injury to Dolce and was the starting quarterback for the next two seasons. McCoy led Utah to a 17-8 record in two seasons with back-to-back trips to the Freedom Bowl. As the starting quarterback, McCoy had an 18-9 record in three seasons.

McCoy completed 571 of his 896 pass attempts for 7,404 yards, completed 66.7 percent of his passes and averaged 8.3 yards per attempt. He threw 49 touchdowns passes and 23 interceptions in 27 games played. McCoy holds the record for most 400-yard passing games in a single season with 3, most yards per play average in a single game with 11.14 against Colorado State and most 200-yard passing games in a season with 11.

4. Scott Mitchell, 1987-89

Mitchell had one of the best overall careers at the University of Utah. He holds 25 school records that currently stand today including career passing yards and touchdowns. Even though Mitchell led a prolific offense along with star running back Eddie Johnson, Utah had a 15-20 record. However, they did stop a long nine-game losing streak to BYU in 1988.

The Springville, Utah native threw for 8,981 yards, 69 touchdowns and 38 interceptions in 35 games  with the Utes. Mitchell completed 57.4 percent of his passes (669-1,165) and averaged 7.7 yards per attempt. After three seasons with the Utes, Mitchell skipped his senior season and entered the NFL Draft where he was taken in the fourth round by the Miami Dolphins. Mitchell went on to play 12 seasons in the NFL.

3. Tyler Huntley, 2016-19

It’s amazing how much of an impact Tyler Huntley had on Utah especially during his senior season. Huntley didn’t get to be the starter for four years but he did beat out Troy Williams during fall camp before his sophomore season.

Huntley had a 23-9 record as the starting quarterback with the Utes and now holds the record for highest completion percentage in a season (73%) and in a career (67.2%). The first team All-Pac-12 selection completed 574 of his 854 pass attempts, averaging 8.6 yards per attempt for 7,351 yards, 46 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in 37 games played. Huntley racked up 1,146 career rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground.

2. Brian Johnson, 2004-05, 07-08

Johnson and a long and successful career with the Utes. He helped the transition from Urban Meyer and Alex Smith to Kyle Whittingham and set the program up to join the Pac-12 three years after Johnson left Utah. The Baytown, Texas native ended his career at Utah with a bang as the program finished the season undefeated with an upset win over Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl.

During his four seasons at Utah, Johnson completed 672 of his 1,016 passes which is 66 percent completions and averaged 7.7 yards per attempt. Johnson threw for 7,838 yards, 57 touchdowns and 27 interceptions in 41 games played. He also rushed for 848 yards and 12 touchdowns.

His career was capped with a Sugar Bowl trophy, Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year and first team All-Mountain West. Johnson holds the record for most wins as a starting quarterback with 26 and lost just 7 games while also holding the record for the most pass completions in a career with 673.

1. Alex Smith, 2002-04

Alex Smith made the biggest impact on the program in the shortest amount of time on the team. He and head coach Urban Meyer led the Utes to their first undefeated season and busting the BCS for the first among non-power-5 teams when they beat Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl.

The La Mesa, California native completed 389 of his 587 passes (66.3%), an 8.9 yards per attempt average to go with 5,203 yards, 47 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in 25 games played. Smith was also productive in the run game with 1,072 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.

Smith’s trophy case has the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year award along with a first team All-American and was a Heisman Trophy Finalist. He holds 8 different school records before leaving after his junior season to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft to the San Francisco 49ers. Smith had an impressive 21-1 record as the starting quarterback at Utah.

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