Editor’s note: Sixteenth in a series previewing every team in the Big 12.
Last year’s 5-7 season, just the third losing campaign in the 20-year Kyle Whttingham era, was pretty easily explained.
The loss of starting quarterback Cam Rising for much of last year proved too much for the Utes to overcome.
Opponents, not fearing Utah’s passing attack, which generated just 199.4 yards per game, keyed in on the run, stacking the box early and often.
Running back Micah Bernard tried valiantly, rushing for over 1,000 yards, but too often the offense just could not put up enough points to win, despite a defense that played commendably given the circumstances.
Only two of Utah’s seven losses were by more than a score. With a better quarterback situation, the Utes would have assuredly made a bowl game, and could have even been in the mix for the Big 12 title.
With Rising officially retired from football, it’s a new era in Salt Lake City.
With that comes a new offensive coordinator (New Mexico’s Jason Beck), a new quarterback (New Mexico’s Devon Dampier), a new running back room, a new tight end room and a new wide receiver room.
The only constant on offense is the line, which returns all five starters from a season ago — Spencer Fano, Michael Mokofisi, Tanoa Togiai, Jaren Kump and Caleb Lomu. Led by tackles Fano and Lomu — potential first-round NFL draft choices — the offensive line should be one of the best in the Big 12, if not the nation.
Behind them will be Dampier, who is a high-ceiling quarterback. He totaled 3,933 yards and 31 touchdowns through the air and on the ground last season and Utah’s quarterback situation should be much improved from last year if he can stay healthy, which he did in 2024.
He’s not perfect — he had a 12/12 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio and a 58% completion rate — but if he can improve on those aspects while getting close to his previous production, Utah could be in for a solid year.
“Devon and the offense at New Mexico finished fourth in the nation last year in total offense,” Whittingham said. “Not to be disparaging, but he was pretty much a one-man show and did most of it on his own. And so I’m sure he’s excited to be able to operate behind our offensive line.”
Dampier gets the benefit of working with his previous offensive coordinator, who engineered one of the nation’s most-productive offenses a season ago.
“Offensively, we’re going to be almost a carbon copy of what New Mexico was in philosophy,” Whittingham said. “He does a great job, Jason does, of utilizing personnel, getting guys in position to be successful.
“And so you’ll see some different twists on what you saw last year, but that’s just because he’s making the most of the players that he has available.”
Ground game and receivers
All of Utah’s previous scholarship running backs are no longer on the roster, and the Utes now have a new running backs coach in Mark Atuaia, who comes to Salt Lake from Washington State. Utah’s RB1 should be sophomore Wayshawn Parker, who ran for 735 yards and four touchdowns for Washington State.
“Wayshawn’s got a special ability,” Whittingham said. “He’s got great contact balance. He rushed for what, 700 or 800 yards last year as a true freshman at Washington State. And so with that offensive line that we got, we think he’s going to be more productive for us.”
The biggest question mark, by far, is the wide receiver group. There’s not a truly proven WR1 at the Power Four level in the bunch, but there will be plenty of competition for time at the position.
Cal transfer Tobias Merriweather (125 yards on 11 receptions after missing time due to injury); New Mexico transfer Ryan Davis (747 yards and three scores on 54 receptions); Larry Simmons (27 receptions for 421 yards and a touchdown at Southern Miss); Justin Stevenson (17 receptions for 204 yards and three touchdowns at Wyoming); and Creed Whittemore (four catches for 65 yards and 41 rushing yards before choosing to redshirt) are all new to the program.
Add in returner Daidren Zipperer (eight catches for 122 yards), for good measure.
“As far as the wide receiver position, that’s probably the biggest question mark on the football team right now,” Whittingham said. “As far as the hierarchy, who’s going to be wide receiver one, two and three, et cetera? We didn’t come out of spring with any true pecking order”
Tight ends
Similarly, at tight end, there’s not a proven face.
Utah is counting on Hunter Andrews, the versatile redshirt freshman, to have a breakout season at tight end. The Utes will need more out of Dallen Bentley (two receptions for 15 yards) and moved Otto Tia (434 yards, seven TDs on 44 receptions) to the position. Linebacker Lander Barton, who starred at tight end in high school could even get reps.
Even with the uncertainty at the pass-catching positions, with Beck and Dampier running the offense, combined with a good offensive line, it should be improved from last season, that should be enough to get Utah back on a winning track.
Defensive outlook
On defense, the biggest question is up front after defensive tackle Junior Tafuna graduated and defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa left for BYU. Aliki Vimahi (seven tackles in injury-hampered season) and Dallas Vakalahi (16 tackles, two sacks) are talented and have starting experience, and redshirt sophomore Jonah Lea’ea has put on substantial weight and is expected to have a breakout season.
Beyond them, however, are a trio of freshmen — Sione Motuapuaka, LSU transfer Dilan Battle and Karson Kaufusi — who should also see time in the rotation.
“We got three defensive tackles who have some experience that are proven commodities, but we’ve got three young guys and we got to decide which one or two of those guys are the most ready to contribute this year because they’re going to have to,” Whittingham said.
At defensive end, Utah loses Connor O’Toole and Van Fillinger, but brings back Logan Fano (35 tackles, 2.5 sacks, forced fumble).
One of BYU transfer John Henry Daly, Paul Fitzgerald or Washington transfer Lance Holtzclaw should take the other starting DE spot.
Linebacker should be Utah’s best defensive position, even with the loss of Karene Reid, with Lander Barton (72 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, forced fumble), Levani Damuni (back after missing all of 2024 due to injury) and Jonathan Hall (38 tackles, one sack, one interception) returning.
At cornerback, Smith Snowden (48 tackles, a forced fumble, two interceptions and eight pass breakups) has the nickel position locked up and should still remain on the field even in two-corner looks. At one outside cornerback is Elijah Davis (29 tackles, two interceptions), with the other up for grabs between UC Davis transfer Blake Cotton, Texas A&M transfer Don Saunders and Garden City Community College transfer Rock Caldwell.
At safety, Utah has two rock-solid starters in Tao Johnson (70 tackles, one forced fumble, one interception, four pass deflections) and Rabbit Evans (34 tackles, one pass deflection), with veteran Nate Ritchie (19 tackles) in the rotation, plus sophomore spring standout Jackson Bennee.
Once again, Utah’s defense should be good, as it often is under Morgan Scalley. Now, can the offense take a step forward and get the Utes back on a winning track?
Utah Utes 2025 preview
2024 record: 5-7 (2-7 Big 12)
2025 Schedule
- Aug. 30 — at UCLA
- Sept. 6 — vs. Cal Poly
- Sept. 13 — at Wyoming
- Sept. 20 — vs. Texas Tech
- Sept. 27 — at West Virginia
- Oct. 11 — vs. Arizona State
- Oct. 18 — at BYU
- Oct. 25 — vs. Colorado
- Nov. 1 — vs. Cincinnati
- Nov. 15 — at Baylor
- Nov. 22 — vs. Kansas State
- Nov. 28 — at Kansas