Spring Ball Review: Utah Football’s Quarterback Position
May 21, 2025, 11:30 AM | Updated: May 22, 2025, 10:51 am
SALT LAKE CITY—With spring ball in the rearview, it’s a good time to start reviewing each position group for Utah football. Kyle Whittingham’s program had a lot of work to do and made progress throughout the five weeks of work.
Utah’s quarterback position has undergone a drastic makeover, but there is reason to be optimistic about the current QB room.
Utah’s Quarterback Room
- Starter: Devon Dampier
- Backup Battle: Isaac Wilson, Jamari Ficklin
- Depth: Brendan Zurbrugg, Nate Johnson
Only Isaac Wilson returned from last season; the other four all joined the program in January. The Utes have placed their bets on dynamic quarterback Devon Dampier as the signal caller to get them back on track. Given his experience under Jason Beck, Utah’s new offensive coordinator, he’s also the pragmatic choice.
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Devon Dampier is QB1
Dampier was a big win for Utah in the winter portal window. He accounted for 31 touchdowns, 19 of which were on the ground, 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.
Throughout spring ball, Dampier displayed excellent command of the offense. It was a work in progress, but the passing game made strides. After a rough start, the development of chemistry and trust was evident. Over the final two weeks of spring ball, the passing game seemed to find a good rhythm.
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“Devon is like that extra coach on the field—or even on the sideline,” receivers coach Micah Simon said. “He’s right there commanding the offense and leading them the right way. When you have a guy like that, it’s huge. With a quarterback like Devon, you bring the entire playbook because he can handle it all. And when your quarterback is handling everything, it makes everyone else’s job easier.”
Dampier looked comfortable operating from the pocket behind the Utah offensive line. That benefited him as a passer, as Dampier displayed more consistent accuracy throughout spring ball. There were still some erratic misses, but Dampier seemed improved.
That played out in his time at New Mexico, too. In the 337 dropbacks he was kept clean, Dampier completed 198-of-312 passes (63.5%) for 2,282 yards, nine touchdowns to five interceptions. Contrasted against the 98 snaps he was pressured, Dampier’s passing fell off. He threw 27-of-79 completions (34.2%) for 479 yards, three touchdowns, and seven interceptions when pressured.
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“I think that’s been the easiest part of coming here, they kind of handle a lot of stuff up front,” Dampier said of his offensive line. “They’re all on the same page, and when you’ve got all five guys locked in, it makes my job super easy.”
“Devon came in and earned the trust of the offensive line,” offensive line coach Jim Harding said. “He’s a strong leader and a dynamic playmaker; that combination goes a long way in this system.”
Starting right tackle Spencer Fano added, “Every day, he just makes better and better decisions. He’s built a lot of trust with the O-line and receivers. He’s in control, and he’s fun to play with—it’s just so much fun being out there with him.”
More important than anything else was Dampier’s leadership throughout the spring ball. His confidence and charisma buoyed those around him and is just what the program needed.
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Isaac Wilson, Jamari Ficklin in a backup battle
Despite a rough ride in 2024, Wilson’s return for 2025 was significant. He has valuable game experience, and that is hard to top. Wilson is learning an entirely new offense, which will require time to increase his command of the X’s and O’s. The arm talent is still evident, and Wilson should benefit with time to learn from Beck.
One of the more positive developments of spring ball was the emergence of freshman quarterback Jamari Ficklin. The lefty looked like a tremendous fit in the offense thanks to his dynamic dual-threat ability. He surprised as a passer, showcasing a live arm and solid accuracy.
As Utah learned last season, it’s a long process for freshmen quarterbacks to acclimate to this level. Beck seems to have a good plan for Ficklin, who has much to learn, but the first impression was quite strong.
It’s not too often you have a backup with a near-full season of playing experience. Wilson has to improve his command of the offense, but Utah’s quarterback situation isn’t so bad if he makes progress on that front.
Nate Johnson, Brandon Zurburgg provide depth
Utah brought in Zurbrugg from Oklahoma and welcomed back Johnson from Vanderbilt to provide depth at the position. These two will provide depth in the quarterback room.
However, Johnson’s role extends beyond that of signal caller. As a versatile athlete, Johnson will contribute in many ways. He will give and take handoffs, catch passes, and throw them, too.
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