Utah Football Spring 2025 Preview: Quarterbacks
The University of Utah heads into their 2025 spring camp without a familiar name on the quarterback depth chart. The storied Utah career of Cam Rising is over after leading Utah to back-to-back Pac-12 championships, but then being cursed by the injury bug, thereafter.
With his departure, there are big shoes to fill, something the quarterback room has struggled with when his injuries struck. Fortunately for Utah, they landed New Mexico’s Devon Dampier, one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 NCAA transfer portal. Dampier followed his offensive coordinator, Jason Beck, to Utah, so the familiarity with each other is already there. Now, spring ball is important to get the rest of the offense on the same page.
After Dampier, that’s where questions arise. However, the talent is there. Utah brought in an Oklahoma transfer and welcomed back a familiar face after a year away. They also bring back last year’s part-time starter, and welcome some intriguing freshmen.
Let’s take a look at the quarterbacks:
Projected Starter
Devon Dampier
Junior, 5-foot-11 and 204 pounds
Dampier was Utah’s most crucial addition to the roster during this year’s transfer portal. Last season, the 2024 First-Team All-Mountain West quarterback went off for 3,934 total yards, including 2,768 passing yards and 1,166 rushing yards. Dampier has proven to be a dynamic dual-threat in Beck’s offense.
His 57.9% completion rate can improve, along with his 12:12 touchdown to interception ratio, but this is expected due to his own improvement and the increase in talent and playmakers around him.
Dampier’s elusiveness and ability to extend plays — making something out of nothing —
is his calling card. Utah expects this to be a big headache for their opponents. Dampier has adapted well to the Utah program and has a swagger and leadership style much like Cam Rising.
The Backups
Brendan Zurbrugg
Redshirt Freshman, 6-foot-3 and 197 pounds
The transfer from Oklahoma is currently viewed as the early favorite to backup Dampier. He redshirted in 2024 and before that he was a talented dual-threat quarterback at Alliance High School in Ohio. During his senior season, Zurbrugg threw for 2,322 yards and 26 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,038 yards and another 13 touchdowns.
Zurbrugg’s father, Chris, played quarterback and briefly started for Michigan in the 1980s.
Nate Johnson
Junior, 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds
He’s back. The dynamic playmaker who started off at Utah but transferred to Vanderbilt for the 2024 season, has returned for an offense that is much more friendly to his dual-threat skillset. While Johnson is listed as a quarterback, you might as well call him a slash. He’s going to see a lot of time on the field in either a receiver or a running back role. Beck is also sure to be drawing up schemes that would have both Johnson and Dampier on the field at the same time as a guessing game for opposing defenses.
Isaac Wilson
Sophomore, 6-foot and 212 pounds
After entering his name into the transfer portal, Wilson asked Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham if he could return to Utah — a subpar season and late injury didn’t help his market. To Wilson’s credit, he was thrown into a difficult situation in 2024 after the fluke injury to Rising. However, even as the season progressed, Wilson regressed and struggled making decisions in former Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig’s offense which was known to be difficult to immediately learn. It would have been a great benefit to him to redshirt as a true freshman.
Wilson played in nine games and started seven, passing for 1,510 yards and 10 touchdowns. He completed 127-of-225 of his passes. Wilson didn’t show much rushing capabilities last season, but the potential is there, as he showed it in high school as a four-star recruit.
The hope is to redshirt Wilson in 2025. The potential is there, and taking mental reps while learning a more simplistic offense could be a great benefit to Wilson.
The Freshmen
Utah signees Byrd Ficklin and Wyatt Becker have enrolled early for valuable spring ball reps. Ficklin is known for his dual-threat capabilities as he passed for 3,249 yards, 32 touchdowns, and just six interceptions to go along with 947 rushing yards and 20 scores in 2024. In 2024, Becker threw for 2,423 yards, 29 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. Becker was used as more of a pocket passer, but he’s also a more than capable runner.
Topics
-
Utah Football Spring 2025 Preview: Running Backs
Running backsAfter losing 1,000 yard rusher Micah Bernard to graduation, the University of Utah overhauled theirYahoo Sports - 9h -
Ohio State football projected 2025 offensive depth chart ahead of spring ball
Spring football is afoot for the Ohio State football program. We take a look at a projected two-deep depth chart for the Buckeyes offenseYahoo Sports - 19h -
Dan Lanning looking for young leaders to emerge during spring practice
Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning says young players need to step up into leadership roles during 2025 spring football.Yahoo Sports - 16h -
WATCH: Video from Arkansas' 4th spring practice
Watch 11 minutes of video from Arkansas football's fourth spring practice of 2025 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.Visit our homepage for more coverage of the Hogs' spring ...Yahoo Sports - 10h -
2025 NFL free agency: Steelers signing a veteran quarterback, but it's not Aaron Rodgers
Mason Rudolph is headed back to PittsburghCBS Sports - 2d -
WATCH: Video from Arkansas' 3rd spring practice
Watch 11 minutes of video from Arkansas football's third spring practice of 2025 on the outdoor practice fields at the Razorbacks' facilities in Fayetteville. NOT A SUBSCRIBER? SIGN UP TODAY FOR ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Watch these 5 top Yankees prospects play in MLB Spring Breakout game 2025
Top Yankees prospects George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones, who began spring training in big league camp, headline a group of a youngsters to watch.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Grand Canyon vs. Utah Valley prediction, odds, time: 2025 WAC Tournament final picks from proven model
SportsLine's model simulated Utah Valley Wolverines vs. Grand Canyon Antelopes in the 2025 WAC Tournament championship matchup on Saturday 10,000 timesCBS Sports - 3h -
The QB2 battle — and Devon Dampier’s offensive assimilation
One of the most intriguing storylines heading into spring camp centers on the quarterback position — how New Mexico transfer Devon Dampier will adjust to Power Four play and who his backup will be.Yahoo Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Chawinga and Current dominate early in 3-1 win over Thorns
Reigning MVP Temwa Chawinga scored on her first shot of the new National Women’s Soccer League season and the Kansas City Current defeated the Portland Thorns 3-1 on Saturday. The other three NWSL ...Yahoo Sports - 10m -
Onni Valakari scores first career goal in MLS for San Diego in 1-1 tie with Crew
Onni Valakari scored San Diego FC's first-ever goal at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday night in a 1-1 tie with the Columbus Crew. Valakari flicked a header off a corner kick played in by Luca de la ...Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Pettersson, Garland, Suter lead Canucks to 6-2 win over Blackhawks
Elias Pettersson had a goal and an assist as the Vancouver Canucks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-2 on Saturday night. Conor Garland and Pius Suter also each had a goal and an assist, and Quin ...Yahoo Sports - 16m -
F1 Australian GP LIVE: Race updates after Max Verstappen makes mistake and Lando Norris leads
Follow updates from the first race of the season as Hamilton starts down the order with Lando Norris on poleYahoo Sports - 18m -
Harris and Bassett each score a goal, Steffen has 12 saves as Rapids beat Earthquakes 2-1
Calvin Harris and Cole Bassett each scored a goal, Zack Steffen had a career-high 12 saves and the Colorado Rapids beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 on Saturday night. Harris and Omir Fernández ...Yahoo Sports - 25m
More in Sports
-
Knicks' frustration boils over as Tom Thibodeau and Josh Hart get into heated exchange during loss to Warriors
New York has lost four of six and has the third-worst offense since the All-Star breakCBS Sports - 2m -
2025 March Madness: Conference tournament scores, automatic bids, tickets punched to Big Dance, brackets
With Selection Sunday here, check out the the teams who have earned AQ bids to the NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 3m -
Chawinga and Current dominate early in 3-1 win over Thorns
Reigning MVP Temwa Chawinga scored on her first shot of the new National Women’s Soccer League season and the Kansas City Current defeated the Portland Thorns 3-1 on Saturday. The other three NWSL ...Yahoo Sports - 10m -
Onni Valakari scores first career goal in MLS for San Diego in 1-1 tie with Crew
Onni Valakari scored San Diego FC's first-ever goal at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday night in a 1-1 tie with the Columbus Crew. Valakari flicked a header off a corner kick played in by Luca de la ...Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Pettersson, Garland, Suter lead Canucks to 6-2 win over Blackhawks
Elias Pettersson had a goal and an assist as the Vancouver Canucks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-2 on Saturday night. Conor Garland and Pius Suter also each had a goal and an assist, and Quin ...Yahoo Sports - 16m