Spring Ball Preview: Utah’s Quarterback Position
Feb 13, 2025, 3:35 PM | Updated: 4:11 pm
SALT LAKE CITY—With the start of spring ball just around the corner, it’s a good time to start previewing each position group for Utah football.
These five weeks of spring camp will provide Kyle Whittingham’s staff the opportunity to integrate all the newcomers into the culture of Utah football.
Utah’s quarterback position has undergone a drastic overhaul. The program will enter spring ball without Cam Rising on the roster for the first time in six years (he joined the program for 2019 spring ball).
Not only that but there are many new faces—five, to be exact—which means there is plenty to sort out within the group. The good news, Utah does have a good idea of who its starting quarterback will be under Jason Beck.
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Utah’s Quarterback Room
- Who Left: Cam Rising, Brandon Rose, Sam Huard
- Who’s Back: Isaac Wilson
- Who’s New: Devon Dampier, Brendan Zurbrugg, Nate Johnson, Wyatt Becker, Jamari Ficklin
Utah has nearly an entirely new collection of signal callers. Five players who weren’t with Utah this past season joined the program at the mid-year point. The most important addition was obviously Dampier, however, each of the other four provide interesting dynamics and value.
The only returner is Wilson, who even entered the transfer portal briefly before withdrawing.
Rose and Huard entered the portal, each finding new destinations to call home. As for Rising, it’s not entirely clear what he will be doing. It was previously reported that Rising intended to enter the portal. However, sources around the program have indicated that he is more likely to enter the draft process.
However, it is clear that he is no longer on the roster and that Utah seems content to move forward with who they have.
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Keys For Projected Starting Quarterback
Devon Dampier
Dampier was a big win for Utah in the portal window. Dampier accounted for 31 touchdowns, 19 of his own accord, while throwing for 2,768 yards and running for 1,166. That alone is reason to be optimistic about what sort of impact Dampier can make on Utah’s offense.
As Beck’s starting quarterback at New Mexico, he comes to Utah with a full grasp of the offense. That allows him to hit the ground running in Salt Lake City. He’ll serve as an extension of Beck as the team works through the installation of the new offense. He’ll play an important role in ensuring everyone is on the same page with the offense, as he develops chemistry with his pass catchers and trust with his offensive line and running backs.
More importantly, though, Dampier needs to leave an imprint on everyone around him as a leader. He came to Utah to be the starting quarterback, and as such, his teammates will look to him in crucial moments this fall. He’s been named to the leadership council, and according to a source, there have also been encouraging signs during the winter workouts. But spring ball is where he needs to cement his leadership brand and chemistry with his new teammates.
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Spring Battle For QB2
Brendan Zurbrugg, Nate Johnson, Isaac Wilson
With a completely new room of signal callers, Utah needs to figure out what the depth looks like behind Dampier. As important as it is for Dampier to establish chemistry with other starters, it’s just as vital that Utah gets its backup situation sorted out as well.
Utah brought in Zurbrugg from Oklahoma and welcomed back Johnson from Vanderbilt. These two will be the primary focus of the backup battle. Beck recruited Zurbrugg while he was at Syracuse, so there is familiarity between the two. He showed promise as a passer in high school and competed as a track hurdler. He’s also the son of Michigan quarterback Chris Zurbrugg.
Meanwhile, Johnson returns to Utah for an opportunity to work with Beck for the first time. Johnson’s role will be a little more unique, but he’ll still contribute to the depth at quarterback. His athleticism is well-suited for this offense, but Johnson needs to show development as a passer, which Beck may be able to draw out of him.
Wilson’s return to the program is significant. He had to step up to an unexpected extent this past season. The bright spots were few and far between but they were there. He is still a talent who gained valuable experience. He needs to further his understanding of the defenses he will face, while learning a new offense. Though Wilson will likely redshirt, having him in the room is a major positive.
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The Freshmen Quarterbacks
Wyatt Becker, Jamari Ficklin
To round out the quarterback position, Utah’s two freshmen have enrolled early and are working through their first offseason.
Both Becker and Ficklin proved to be winners with their respective schools. Becker led Sierra Canyon (CA) and Ficklin led Muskogee (OK) to deep playoff runs in their respective states.
The two also possess promising dual-threat ability as Ficklin played safety, while Becker competed in track. The expectations and process for these two will likely be different than the rest, but getting a feel for what these two bring to the table will still be a key for Utah this spring.
