Utah Wants Devon Dampier, Byrd Ficklin Back In 2026, But Will NIL Be Enough?
Nov 19, 2025, 7:59 PM | Updated: 8:11 pm
University of Utah Utes vs. Colorado Buffaloes, College Football at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah on Oct 25, 2025. (Photo: Joel A. Davidson)
(Photo: Joel A. Davidson)
SALT LAKE CITY— In the midst of a promising 2025 season for the Utah Utes, two quarterbacks—Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin—have quietly built one of the most compelling relationships on campus.
Their chemistry is genuine, rooted in friendship and mutual respect: “It’s a really loving relationship between me and my best friend,” Ficklin said recently of his bond with Dampier.
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But there’s a catch: how Utah navigates keeping this tandem together in the evolving world of NIL opportunities could decide whether both stay in Salt Lake City for 2026.
The Utes want both but making it happen means doing more than just winning games.
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Players At Two Different Stages, Share One Mission
Dampier arrived via transfer with a resumé built on dual-threat production. From his time at New Mexico Lobos he threw for nearly 2,800 yards and rushed for more than 1,100 in 2024.
In nine games, Dampier has been as advertised. He’s thrown for 1,668 yards, 17 touchdowns, and a vastly improved interception ratio with just five of them on the season. He’s also ran for 543 yards and five more touchdowns.
More importantly, he’s re-instilled a confidence and swagger throughout the offense that had been lost after last season.
Ficklin, joined the program as an early enrollee true freshman eager to become the pupil to a proven dual-threat danger at the helm.
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“I came into the season looking to be, you know, just that backup guy, be behind Dev, learn from Dev, get better from Dev,” Ficklin said of his mindset joining the program.
Together, they represented the present and the future: Dampier, the now-starter who understands the system, the grind, the leadership; Ficklin, the lightning-rod freshman with play-making ability, raw talent, and the kind of upside that can energize a program.
“With what’s been happening, I’ve created a bigger role from that,” Ficklin shared. “I’m taking advantage of every opportunity that I’m given, and I’m hoping to keep extending that and keep getting better.”
Now, in nine appearances and one start, Ficklin has provided exciting flashes of brilliance. He’s completed 21-of-34 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns. More valuably though, has been the running threat he’s added to the offense to supplement Dampier at times.
He’s totaled 442 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, which includes two games of at least 150 yards: Colorado – 151 yards and one score, Baylor 166 yards and two scores.
More Than Just Teammates
Dampier, the upperclassman who’s battled through injury and transition, genuinely respects the spark Ficklin provides. In turn, Ficklin, appreciates the example and stability Dampier provides.
“It’s the best feeling ever, you know, we wish nothing but success for each other,” Dampier said of watching Ficklin’s success. “He’s such a talented kid, the future’s very bright for him.”
“We talk about this especially all the time in our hotel room. What are we going to do whenever we’re both in and we score? … it’s just something that we both love, we both have fun with and it’s a really loving relationship between me and my best friend,” Ficklin said.
Their synergy gives Utah a rare advantage: two dynamic quarterbacks, both invested in the team’s success.
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“I think that’s the best thing about our locker room, honestly,” Dampier said. “Whether we run the ball more or pass the ball more, obviously one side doesn’t get the touches they like, but as long as we leave 1-0, that’s most important to everyone.”
When asked what he takes most pride in, Ficklin didn’t hesitate.
“The biggest stat, winning the game,” he said. “I’ve always lived by ‘winners know how to win,’ and I feel like that’s what we know how to do, and it’s something that can keep us driven to keep going into the future.”
Why Bringing Back Both Dampier, Ficklin Matters
A veteran to guide and lead, a rising talent to eventually take over down the road. The two-man plan checks multiple boxes: leadership, competition, depth, recruiting leverage.
A stable quarterback room gives the offense a consistent focal point. When the signal-caller knows the playbook, the coaches know his tendencies, and the players know his cadence, it reduces errors, mis-communication and inefficiency. In other words, it promotes chemistry.
Need proof that that matters, look no further than the connection between Dampier and Ryan Davis. Keeping the quarterbacks and skill position groups together allows that chemistry to flourish.
These aren’t just two quarterbacks in the traditional sense of one on the field and the other holding the clipboard on the sideline. These two have combined for 985 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. As we’ve seen the last few weeks, a growing trend is seeing both Dampier and Ficklin on the field together, so there is return on investment.
The Looming NIL Tug-of-War
Here’s where things get tricky: the financial and branding reality of college football today isn’t an abstract concern for Utah—it’s the central tension hovering over its emerging quarterback duo.
Unfortunately, there is a very real chance that Utah may only be able to secure one for 2026. And that could be a very difficult decision.
For as much as the two are similar, there are enough differences to distinguish them.
Dampier, the experienced signal caller, with two seasons of experience in the same offense, under the same coordinator. Where Dampier may not have the elite physical traits, his leadership qualities shine. He’s a proven commodity that may not have the ceiling, but his floor has played a big role in Utah’s 8-2 record.
Ficklin is the young bright spot, who lacks a significant body of work, however, the flashes of potential are quite promising. Is there enough to truly judge his game, his trajectory and place a significantly valuable wager on? Utah saw “QB” in him as a recruit when no one else did but this is significantly more expensive decision.
If Utah does end up needing to pick between the two, the decision— regardless of who, it will be met with questions and criticism.
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There is hope but Whittingham didn’t dance around it this week, he laid out their desire to bring both back plainly.
“We sure hope so,” he said of their desire to bring both back. “We’re going to have to really step up to hang on to those guys, and that’s really an administrative thing. It’s not in my court. That’s what kind of resources we can come up with to keep the roster together.”
NIL opportunities. Retention packages. Local business partnerships. Merchandising. A collective power (not that collective) could help Utah hang onto both passers. Utah has to present not just a program worth playing for—but an investment worth investing in.
According to Whittingham, the desire is absolutely there. Everyone inside the building wants both quarterbacks back.
There is increased motivation and work being done outside the program to generate improved NIL opportunities. A season like Utah’s tends to lead to greater interest and publicity, but will it be enough?
