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Red All Over: Ex-Ute quarterback Jack Tuttle can play for Indiana in 2019. Is that a good sign for current QB Cameron Rising?

NCAA waiver would allow Rising to compete for the No. 2 job in the coming season.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) University of Utah quarterback Cameron Rising at the first day of spring football practice in Salt Lake City on Monday March 4, 2019.

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Having transferred to Indiana in January, former Utah quarterback Jack Tuttle this week won his NCAA appeal to become eligible to play in 2019, without having to sit out during a year of residency.

What does that mean for current Ute quarterback Cameron Rising, formerly of Texas? That’s difficult to say. Tuttle has not publicized his reasons for deserving a waiver; Rising has based his hopes on Utah’s offering a criminology major that Texas doesn’t have, and being closer to his home in California for the sake of family health issues.

The value of Rising’s being eligible in 2019 has more to do with 2020. No matter what happens this year, 2022 will be his final season, based on his NCAA clock that started in 2018. But if he can play in 2019, competing with Jason Shelley and Drew Lisk for backup opportunities in practices and games, that will keep him more engaged in the program. And he’ll be better prepared for next spring’s competition for the No. 1 job, after Tyler Huntley graduates.

Huntley looked good last Saturday in the first of Utah’s two major scrimmages of the spring — more of of test for most starters than the April 13 Red-White Game. Huntley’s second pass was intercepted by linebacker Manny Bowen, but he went 9 of 10 the rest of the morning (TRIB). Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig likes Huntley’s football study habits. Ludwig himself has made a good impression on his assistants and his scheme received the endorsement of defensive end Bradlee Anae (TRIB).

The Utes will stage another scrimmage at 4 p.m. Friday at Rice-Eccles Stadium, again open to the public.

The biggest news from Utah’s Pro Day last week was linebacker Chase Hansen’s detailing what he went through physically last season, causing him to miss NFL workout opportunities (TRIB). Hansen hopes NFL teams will judge his body of work. Mitch Wishnowsky’s Pro Day punting display apparently increased his stock, while he also disclosed medical issues from the Pac-12 championship game (TRIB).

The suspension of the Alliance of American Football’s season hit home for some former Utes. Tribune columnist Gordon Monson’s farewell to the Salt Lake Stallions featured linebackers Gionni Paul and Trevor Reilly, each well remembered in Utah’s program (TRIB).

Postseason competition begins this week for the Utah gymnastics team, with a two-day regional event in Baton Rouge, La. The Utes profess to like the NCAA’s new format, as Lya Wodraska explained (TRIB).

The late Rick Majerus was selected for induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in November. Majerus won 323 games as Utah’s coach from 1989-2004. Past honorees include former Ute coach Jack Gardner and player Arnie Ferrin (TRIB).

Ute basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak and his staff are attending the Final Four in Minneapolis, an annual gathering for coaches. After playing one season as a junior college transfer, guard Charles Jones Jr. has entered the NCAA transfer portal (TRIB). The Utes needed a better outside shooter, anyway. Various reports say the staff is targeting several potential graduate transfers, partly as a fallback option to JC transfer Tajzmel Sherman, who has visited Utah and is making other trips. Brandon Haddock, a guard from Southlake, Texas, is joining the program as a preferred walk-on.

The Ute women’s basketball program is losing forward Dre’Una Edwards, the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year (TRIB). Edwards is transferring, leaving Utah with two returning starters. All-conference forward Megan Huff is projected by ESPN to be taken No. 30 overall in Wednesday’s WNBA draft.

Utah’s baseball team broke a nine-game losing streak with an 8-6 win over BYU on Tuesday at Smith’s Ballpark (TRIB). The Utes (8-15, 1-8 Pac-12) needed that win, as they resume the demanding conference schedule Friday at No. 6 Oregon State.

Other voices

Utah’s alumni magazine featured the lacrosse team’s inaugural season (CON). The Utes will host Mount St. Mary’s at noon Saturday at Judge Memorial.

Pac-12 expert Jon Wilner examines the conference’s plan to sell equity in the Pac-12 Networks, among other issues (MERC).

Washington State introduced basketball coach Kyle Smith (SPOKESMAN).

And California welcomed basketball coach Mark Fox (CHRON).

Athletic department news

• The Utah men’s golf team staged an impressive performance at Chambers Bay, a former U.S. Open venue near Seattle. The Utes posted the best final-round team score, highlighted by Tristan Mandur’s 8-under-par 63, and finished sixth among 18 teams in Seattle University’s Redhawk Invitational. Kyle Dunkle continued his outstanding year with a closing 68 and a tie for seventh place.

• Utah’s softball team (13-21, 2-4 Pac-12) opens a three-game series vs. No. 5 Arizona at 6 p.m. Friday at Dumke Family Softball Stadium. The other games are scheduled at noon Saturday and Sunday. The Utes had a break from conference play last week, but their ambitious scheduled brought No. 2 Oklahoma to town for two games. The Sooners won 11-2 and 13-3. Utah then lost 5-2 to Utah Valley on Tuesday and will take an eight-game losing streak into the Arizona series.