Isaac Wilson was ready to leave Utah.
Utah’s starting quarterback for much of last year, Wilson entered the transfer portal after the Utes and new offensive coordinator Jason Beck went after new starting quarterback Devon Dampier.
Ultimately, Wilson had a change of heart and returned to Utah before the portal closed.
So why did he stick around?
“I just love Coach [Kyle] Whittingham,” Wilson said this spring. “I couldn’t leave like that. I love being home in Utah, and Coach Whitt has a plan for me. I think he still believes in me. I’m sure he does. So, I couldn’t leave off that note.”
Wilson will be fighting to be Utah’s backup quarterback in 2025. He was slated to be former seventh-year quarterback Cam Rising’s insurance policy in 2024, but he was thrust into the starting role once Rising went down with several injuries.
As a freshman, Wilson struggled with turnovers in his seven starts, which led to Utah having, statistically, the second-worst total offense in the Big 12. Wilson finished with 1,510 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
He knows that — if he’s called into action once again next season — he’ll have to improve from a year ago.
Wilson said he’s poised to do just that.
“I shot myself in the foot last year,” Wilson said. “I definitely had an opportunity I needed to capitalize on.
“I was just young, but everyone uses that excuse. That’s not a good excuse. I had to be ready at the time, and I feel like I’m getting to that point of being ready and being prepared.”
The Big Thing: Rising’s legacy
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) on the sidelines as Utah State hosts the University of Utah during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Logan, Utah.
After months of silence and speculation, Cam Rising finally announced his future plans last week
The former star quarterback won’t be entering the transfer portal.
He won’t be playing in the NFL.
Instead … his playing days appear over. On May 7, Rising announced that he is medically retiring from football altogether.
“Due to a hand injury I suffered during the Baylor game, I’ve been advised by two orthopedic physicians that I will never be able to return to playing football,” Rising said in a statement on X. “I’ll be obtaining a third medical opinion and will undergo the recommended surgery. I will continue to rehab and do all I can to get healthy. In the meantime, I will unfortunately be forced to medically retire from the game I love.”
Where do you think Rising ranks among Utah’s quarterbacks all time?
4th Down: Ranking Utah’s top 4 players
Summer is almost here.
It’s time to pull out the sunscreen and jump into the pool.
You might even have plans for a getaway or vacation.
But that also means it’s the slowest time of the year, especially for college athletics.
So let’s start a little discussion.
I’ve ranked Utah’s top four players heading into the 2025 season. Disagree? Please feel free to let me know.
(Ryan Sun | AP) Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano celebrates after the team's win against Southern California in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Los Angeles.
Fano is undoubtedly one of the top offensive tackles in the nation. He’s poised to be a first-round draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, according to the latest round of mock drafts. He’ll be a key part of Utah’s offensive success in 2025.
If it wasn’t for Spencer Fano, Lomu easily would have been Utah’s top player heading into the 2025 season. The redshirt sophomore was one of the best offensive tackles in football last year, earning Freshman All-American honors.
Utah’s new starting quarterback hasn’t played a snap for the Utes yet — other than in the spring game, which doesn’t matter much — but he’ll likely be one of Utah’s best players in 2025. Dampier transferred from New Mexico this offseason after putting up 2,278 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was also a threat as a rusher, carrying the ball 155 times for 1,166 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Snowden will be one of Utah’s top defensive leaders next season. He also has a chance to be one of the Big 12’s best cornerbacks, as well, following last year’s campaign. He finished with two interceptions and eight pass deflections for Utah a season ago.
