Who Will Emerge As Utah’s Trustworthy Pass Catchers?
Aug 26, 2025, 12:25 PM | Updated: 2:20 pm
Utah QB Devon Dampier leading the offense. Photo courtesy by Utah Athletics
SALT LAKE CITY—As Kyle Whittingham’s Utah football program prepares for its season opener against the UCLA Bruins, there’s a lot of intrigue around what this new-look offense will actually look like.
Jason Beck had to identify players they could trust in the passing game. To maximize Devon Dampier’s and the offense’s potential, consistent pass catchers have to emerge.
“Some guys have been emerging in that way and doing a nice job,” Beck shared in the final week of camp. “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.”
𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊‼️🚨
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In Saturday night’s contest against the UCLA Bruins, the receiver and tight end rooms will need to provide answers for the Utah offense. Who is going to emerge and step up as one of the ‘trustworthy guys’?
Looking to make a difference, can Tobias Merriweather become a real difference maker?
Though somewhat limited, Merriweather brings 24 games’ worth of experience to Utah’s receiver room. He arrived from Cal—where he nabbed 11 catches for 125 yards and one touchdown over five games in 2024—and spent two seasons at Notre Dame before that. Across his career, he’s racked up 26 receptions, 450 yards (an impressive 17.3 yards per catch), and four touchdowns.
Merriweather’s production doesn’t scream elite; however, it’s enough to feel optimistic about what he could potentially produce this season when considering his elite traits. Receivers coach Micah Simon put it rather plainly when fall camp started.
“You got a kid in Tobias who’s 6‑5, 200 pounds, runs a 4.4; prototypical type of guy you like,” Simon stated. “Now it’s just about how quickly they can grasp the offense and how quickly they can gel with the quarterback.”
Throughout camp, Utah’s head man continually praised the receiver room for the progress they made. Arriving at Utah in June, Merriweather dove headfirst into summer work with Devon Dampier and the other receivers.
That allowed him and others to hit the ground running in fall camp, which in turn has seemingly established a good level of belief and trust with Utah’s quarterback.
“Tobias is a dog; he’s an all-around kind of receiver,” Dampier stated. “He goes out there, he runs any route, and I believe he’s going to win. To have that as a quarterback, it makes me a lot more comfortable.”
Larry Simmons and Ryan Davis could be big factors as well
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 at the conclusion of camp. “He kind of maybe had a leg up coming from New Mexico, with being consistent, having chemistry with Dev.”
Last season, Davis was the second-leading receiver for the Lobos. He finished the year with 54 receptions for 747 yards and three touchdowns.
More importantly, he finished with just three drops on 87 targets, making him a rather reliable target. At 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Davis has the makings of being a consistent chain mover.
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Simmons joined the program this summer with Merriweather. He proved rather productive last season at Southern Miss, where he led the team with 27 receptions for 421 yards and a touchdown.
“They’ve done a good job; we were just trying to get them up to speed as fast as possible,” Beck previously said of Simmons and Merriweather. “They’re both doing a nice job coming along and will help us this year.”
At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Simmons has the frame and athletic qualities to find success on the outside.
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.
“I think when you have the guys, he planned the offense around that, maybe in New Mexico, they didn’t have a well-stocked room,” Freddie Whittingham said.
With players like Dallen Bentley, Hunter Andrews, Otto Tia, and JJ Buchanan in the room, it’s a fairly promising collection of talent.
“I think you’ll see on the field who we believe in, based on who’s out there and what they’re doing,” he continued.
With the UCLA game fast approaching, Whittingham acknowledged they still have plenty of work to do.
“I feel like we’ll be prepared on Saturday,” he said. “But we still need this week of practice. We get 25 practices before the first game for a reason, and we need every single one of them.”
Utah will certainly need them and others in the receiver and tight end rooms to prove capable this season. As Utah gears up for the 2025 opener in Pasadena, fans will soon learn who the pass catchers are that Utah will entrust to lead the offense.
