SALT LAKE CITY — Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig acknowledged it’s a situation that may be a sign of the times. The Utes enter spring ball with transfers from South Carolina (Jake Bentley) and Texas (Cam Rising) competing for the starting quarterback job.
“It’s a little different but it’s the day and age that we’re in,” Ludwig said. “I’m glad they’re here. I know that.”
After Monday’s camp opener, Ludwig noted it was good to see the quarterbacks throw the ball. Rising and senior returnee Drew Lisk were able to get reps in during Alamo Bowl preparations, but it was Ludwig’s first opportunity to see Bentley in action since opposing him during his coaching days in the Southeastern Conference at Vanderbilt.
“They did a good job,” Ludwig said. “They all spin it real well.”
The battle to replace the graduated Tyler Huntley as Utah’s starter could be quite interesting. Rising and Lisk may have head starts since they worked with Ludwig the past year, but Bentley is a veteran with 33 career starts for the Gamecocks. He once passed for 510 yards in a game at Clemson.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said the Utes won’t get a more accurate read on the quarterbacks until they are under fire with a pass rush coming after them. The Utes begin wearing pads Thursday.
“That’s where you really start to see decision-making and repetitive accuracy and those type of things show up,” Whittingham added.
When Bentley opted to enter the portal as a graduate transfer he was greeted on his official visit to Utah by Rising.
“We just got to know each other and it’s been a good relationship ever since,” said Rising, who enrolled at Utah in spring 2019 and had to establish a year in residency before playing in any games. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Bentley’s official arrival — along with all those starts at South Carolina — hasn’t altered Rising’s resolve. He insists it’s all good.
“Of course I welcome competition,” Rising said. “That’s all I want to do. I was a big fan of Kobe Bryant — Mamba mentality — just always trying to achieve and be great every chance you get.”
Bentley, who hasn’t played since injuring his foot in South Carolina’s 2019 opener, acknowledged he’s working to get back into things this spring. It’s been a while since he’s played and the first practice with Utah on Monday went well. His aim is to continually progress and get a full grasp of the offense with live reps.
The offense, Bentley admitted, is a little different than anything he’s run before.
“That’s kind of one of the reasons why I wanted to come here,” said Bentley, who noted that Ludwig’s offenses have been prolific in the past and provide good preparation for the next level.
Bentley added that the experience and knowledge he gained in the SEC, facing many different defenses, is something he’s using to his advantage.
As for the competition with Rising, Bentley sees everything as a positive. Any rivalry associated, thereof, is unfounded.
“I think that’s a very common misperception about any college football team, NFL, high school, whatever, of guys that are competing that they don’t have to be friends or whatever,” Bentley said. “I think that’s kind of one of the first things I noticed about the quarterback room is it’s really close.”
“I just want to win and get it done however I can ... whatever that is. As long as we have more points on the scoreboard than the other team then I’ve done my job. So that’s what I want to do for Utah.” — Utah quarterback Jake Bentley
Bentley added that it’s been really fun getting to know the guys and to really get close with them. His ultimate goal is team success.
“I just want to win and get it done however I can ... whatever that is,” Bentley said. “As long as we have more points on the scoreboard than the other team then I’ve done my job. So that’s what I want to do for Utah.”
Despite a collegiate resume that includes 7,527 passing yards and 55 touchdowns, Bentley said he wasn’t promised anything. He joined the Utes as a graduate transfer to experience something different in terms of culture and environment.
“I told coach Whittingham when I came here, I said: ‘I wanted to grow as a person and grow as a football player.’ And so I really think that Utah was the best place for that,” Bentley explained.
Bentley said Ludwig made it clear — as did a lot of other coaches — that nothing would be handed to him. He was told to come in, compete and go earn the job.
“I think that’s what all three of us are trying to do,” Bentley said.