Devon Dampier Provides Big Advantage For Jason Beck, Utah Football
Jan 14, 2025, 1:33 PM | Updated: Jan 15, 2025, 2:59 pm
SALT LAKE CITY—After hiring offensive coordinator Jason Beck, the focus swiftly turned to Utah’s quarterback situation. Given the connection, all eyes were on Devon Dampier.
It didn’t take long for Dampier to make the move, as he committed to Utah on December 11, just six days after Beck was officially hired.
However, his commitment was not guaranteed, but given his production and chemistry with Beck, the addition of Dampier is a significant one.
Recruiting Devon Dampier to Utah
Utah landing Dampier was a big win for the program and not something to be taken for granted. Dampier received interest from other Power Conference programs and they were genuine threats to landing him. The obvious connections benefitted the Utes but Whittingham, Beck, and his staff had to genuinely recruit Dampier to Utah.
“It was not guaranteed, I knew him and his family appreciated what we did and how we used him and that relationship, but in this world (transfer portal, NIL, etc), you never know,” Beck said of recruiting Dampier to Utah. “So it was obviously great that it worked out the way that it did, and we feel good about that.”
BREAKING: Utah has landed top QB target @Devonddampier! This is key to the Utes offensive makeover, Dampier will play a big role in bringing talent to SLC. #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/6ujQ0DcrHi
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) December 11, 2024
Devon Dampier provides a big advantage for Jason Beck
With Dampier following him to Utah, the quarterback will provide a valuable presence in the offseason’s installation of the new offense.
“It is very positive, just in terms of he knows the offense -we’ll tweak some things and adapt some things- but he’s already up and running in the offense,” Beck described. “He’s been in it for a year, and his example will help other guys; he’ll show what it’s supposed to look like at a high level for the other guys.”
Not only will Dampier provide a reliable presence in the installation process, but Beck is coming to Utah with a quarterback he knows quite well. That’s a significant advantage, given that Beck already knows his quarterback’s strengths and weaknesses.
“I’m going to really need to get to know the other quarterbacks and what their strengths are and how to help them,” Beck said. “With him (Dampier), I have that already, I know him at a really high level, so we’re already starting from that point. I’m starting from a year in with him, which is a huge advantage.”
What is Utah getting in Devon Dampier?
Dampier finished the 2024 campaign with 2,768 passing yards and 12 touchdowns to 12 interceptions and rushed for another 1,166 yards and 19 more touchdowns. He was easily one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks of the season and one of the best in recent years.
As a passer, Dampier is a little rough around the edges, but the talent is there. His completion percentage is just 57.5%, so there is work to be done. However, there are good indicators of his potential. And coach Beck knows that Dampier has to improve.
“Yeah, definitely, those numbers need to improve, and with a young guy, they should, as he continues to grow and improve, they should improve,” he shared.
More importantly, Beck also knows where, specifically, he can improve moving into 2025.
“There are certain reads and throws that we’ll look to complete and do at a higher level,” Beck said. “That’s not just Devon, that’s every quarterback in the room, it’s my job to get improvement from every quarterback.”
