Heading into 2025, Devon Dampier is Utah’s clear-cut starter at quarterback.
The junior has already established his leadership and identity since landing in Salt Lake City. Just ask the guys behind him on the depth chart.
“Dev’s an athlete,” backup Isaac Wilson said last week. “He can make stuff happen if it’s in the air, on the ground. I feel like he does a really good job at taking it step by step.
“If his reads are not there … he’ll try to make a positive play happen. He’s not sitting in the pocket, not doing anything dumb, throwing up a dumb play and all that.”
Freshman Byrd Ficklin, a three-star recruit out of Oklahoma, said that he’s taken bits and pieces from Dampier’s approach off the field, particularly his leadership.
“His leadership is really good,” Ficklin said. “He can improvise on a play. If something breaks down, he can turn it into something. He’s able to scramble. He’s able to throw in the run, but he’s all around just a baller and a good person.”
While both are in the midst of a quarterback battle, Wilson and Ficklin are taking away pieces from Utah’s starting quarterback to apply to their own development.
And Dampier’s been quick to help them where he can, they said.
“Watching Dev has helped. I mean, he gets all the one reps, so we get to see what he’s doing and see what the process is,” Wilson said.
Ficklin added: “Coming from high school to college, everybody on the field is fast and everybody on the field is smart. Coach [Jason] Beck has really helped me and so has Devin. I may mess up here and there, but they’re quick to help me, rather than try to pull me down.”
The Big Thing: The Big 12 is adding injury reports
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham speaks during the Big 12 NCAA college football media day in Frisco, Texas, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Yes, you read that right, Utah fans.
Joining the ranks of the Big Ten, SEC and ACC, the Big 12 will now require all programs to provide availability reports before conference games for the 2025 season and beyond.
Last season, Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said he was supportive of the league moving toward the change.
“One hundred percent,” he said. “But since there is no mandate, why would you tip your hand in any way, shape or form with injuries?
“It doesn’t make sense to give the opponent any more knowledge than they have. That’s the only reason. It’s a competitive advantage. Even though it might be just slight, it’s still an advantage. The less they know, the more we know ... that type of deal.”
Now everyone will be on the same level.
And fans will be more informed.
4th Down: Responses from our latest poll
FILE - Utah linebacker Lander Barton (20) returns an interception for a touchdown as Weber State running back Kris Jackson, right, dives during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Salt Lake City. Family ties run deep within the Utah football program and have created recruiting pipelines that have shaped the no. 18 Utes into perennial Pac-12 title contenders. Key playmakers for Utah this season, like Jonah Elliss and Lander Barton, are following in the footsteps of relatives who were also standouts for the Utes during their own collegiate careers. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, FIle)
Last week, I asked you all if you think that Lander Barton and Smith Snowden will have success in a two-way role next season.
Here’s what you said ...
Will Smith Snowden and Lander Barton be impact players on offense?
Yes — 80%
No — 20%
Which of the two will have the better offensive season?
Snowden — 50%
Barton — 50%
Which other Utah players should be two-way players?
This question was more of an open forum. So here were some of the best responses.
One fan said: “Behind this O-Line? Get our DTs, like Taulanga, to run the ball in goal line scenarios, ‘Fridge’ style.”
That is a great idea — you should pitch it to the coaching staff.
Another added: “Tao Johnson or Rabbit Evans”
That’s it for me this week! Thanks, as always, for reading.
— Jason Batacao