‘Guys Have Been Emerging’ According To Utah OC Jason Beck
Aug 20, 2025, 9:41 AM
Utah football fall camp in Salt Lake City, UT on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Anna Fuder/Utah Athletics
SALT LAKE CITY—As Utah’s offensive coordinator, Jason Beck, has navigated fall camp, he’s been focused on ‘finding the trustworthy guys’ to construct his offense around.
That’s centered around identifying who those pass catchers are going to be for quarterback Devon Dampier to throw to.
“That’s been what we’re looking at every day,” Beck said. “You know, who’s consistently day in, day out making those plays.”
Beck arrived in Salt Lake City after leading New Mexico’s offense to one of the most efficient offenses last season. He’ll have his quarterback, Devon Dampier, at the helm, and it seems he’s found some answers at the skill positions.
Receivers ‘doing a good job’ according to Jason Beck
The receiving corps has been a major focus of camp. Kyle Whittingham provided generally positive updates about the group the past couple of weeks, while Beck provided a little more detail on Monday.
Among the influx of new players, Ryan Davis is a familiar one for Beck and quarterback Devon Dampier, who has been a bright spot for the receiver room.
“The most consistent is RD,” Beck said. “He kind of maybe had a leg up coming from New Mexico, with being consistent, having chemistry with Dev.”
Utah also brought in a couple of transfers this summer to play fairly important roles in the offense. Beck acknowledged that it was a bit of a process, but that he seems encouraged by what he’s seen in Tobias Merriweather and Larry Simmons.
“They were so new when they got here, it was just about getting everything going,” Beck said of Merriweather and Simmons. “They both have played and done stuff in the past. They’re comfortable stepping in and playing right off the bat.”
“They’ve done a good job; we were just trying to get them up to speed as fast as possible,” he continued. “They’re both doing a nice job coming along and will help us this year.”
For a unit integrating a lot of new faces at different stages of their careers, progression has come at different rates, but Beck is encouraged by it all.
“Some guys have been emerging in that way and doing a nice job,” he shared. “Some guys are close, and we’re just trying to keep forcing that issue of what we’re asking them to do, so that we can count on them in critical situations. But they’ve all been doing a nice job.”
Utah will certainly need them and others in the room to prove capable this season.
The tight end room continues to be a strength for Utah
One of Utah’s stronger position groups in recent history has been tight end. Beck, who didn’t utilize the tight end position at New Mexico, has found that group to be one of the more reliable positions.
“That’s been one of our more consistent rooms with that mix of guys showing up every day, and that includes a young guy like JJ,” he shared.
Playing for the guy next to you🤝#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/80Rd0QVYBp
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 20, 2025
“JJ” is true freshman JJ Buchanan, who signed with Utah as its top-rated prospect last year. However, he was a diamond-in-the-rough type of find, as Buchanan wasn’t even rated 10 months earlier in the year. Now, he seems to have not only made a good first impression but has solidified the tight end spot.
“He came in as a young kid, and he’s done a really nice job as he’s been in there, and improving each week,” Beck shared. “So, they’ve been a strength of the (offense) in terms of their consistency and what they’re getting done.”
To round out the group, Dallen Bentley has had a strong offseason, Otto Tia made the move from receiver, and Hunter Andrews is another dynamic option as well.
With camp concluded, focus has shifted towards game planning for the UCLA Bruins. As Utah gears up for the 2025 opener in Pasadena, fans will soon learn who those ‘trustworthy guys’ really are.
