Where Things Stand With Cam Rising, Potentially Starting Against Cal
Oct 9, 2023, 12:58 PM | Updated: 3:38 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah football is coming off of their BYE week and turning their attention to Cal. A big part of that focus surrounds starting quarterback Cam Rising, and whether he will be able to start against the Golden Bears.
Last week, head coach Kyle Whittingham indicated the Utes planned to take a different approach to the uncertainty surrounding their star quarterback’s return by making a decision earlier in the week rather than later so as to give backup Nate Johnson ample time to prepare if he’s called upon.
Whittingham addressed where things stand with Rising in his Monday morning press conference.
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Will Cam Rising Start Against Cal?
It’s been the million dollar question every week for the Utes in 2023 and one that while Whittingham revealed they will be getting an answer to at some point today, is not something Utah football will be sharing ahead of Saturday.
“That is today,” Whittingham said. “We are there. If someone can give me one reason why it would help us win more to announce it then I’ll tell you. I can’t think of one thing.”
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How Practice Will Work With Nate Johnson, Cam Rising Depending On Availability
If Rising is unable to go again this week, Whittingham says the team will move forward with prep work for the guys who will be able to suit up against Cal.
“If he is unable to go then we would need to invest all of the snaps into guys who are able to go,” Whittingham said. “Now, I say all the snaps- there are still ways to work Cam into practice without diluting what the other guys are doing. There are different drills and things he can participate in when it comes to that.”
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What Utah’s Backup Quarterback Situation Looks Like
Rising’s availability to play or potential lack thereof also puts Utah in much more of a bind with the backups as well.
Nate Johnson is still the guy if Rising can’t go, but who is behind Johnson is a little murky to say the least. Bryson Barnes suffered a massive hit in Utah’s loss to Oregon State before their BYE that hospitalized him and Brandon Rose while now available has missed a lot of time that he may not be able to catchup on.
“We are still trying to figure out Brandon and Bryson’s situation as well,” Whittingham said. “That is two unknowns at this point.”
“Brandon is available,” Whittingham continued. “Like I said last week, he’s missed six, seven weeks. That is a big chunk of time to miss and try to get him back in and caught up.”
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on X, Instagram, and Threads: @BodkinKSLsports
