Isaac Wilson has been named Utah’s backup quarterback, Ute coach Kyle Whittingham announced on Monday night.
Wilson will be backing up New Mexico transfer Devon Dampier, who has been the undisputed starter since arriving in Salt Lake City, and freshman Byrd Ficklin will be QB3.
It was a tight QB2 competition between Wilson and Ficklin, one that ran until the conclusion of fall camp, but in the end, Wilson — and his prior experience — won out.
“Really all those game reps he had last year are paying dividends now and there’s really no substitute for game reps,” Whittingham said on Monday.
“And that’s the big thing he had going for him in that battle against Byrd Ficklin is he’s had (game) reps at this level and Byrd did not.”
Last season, Wilson unexpectedly received significant playing time after 2024 starting quarterback Cam Rising missed all but 2.5 games.
As a true freshman, Wilson played in nine games, starting seven. He threw for 1,510 yards and 10 touchdowns with 11 interceptions on 56.4% accuracy in 2024.
Wilson helped lead Utah to a 4-0 record, but the Utes lost the next five contests he started as the offense — especially the passing game — struggled.
Wilson was benched during Utah’s loss to Houston, and Brandon Rose would start the next two games, but after Rose sustained a season-ending injury, Wilson was back as the team’s starter against Colorado and Iowa State before suffering a season-ending injury in the loss to the Cyclones.
There were a some bright spots in Wilson’s play, like a 40-yard touchdown pass to Dorian Singer with Heisman-winner Travis Hunter in coverage, his play against Utah State and his rushing ability against Oklahoma State but those moments were too few and far between.
Wilson held onto the ball too long, his completion percentage was too low and he turned the ball over too much (something Dampier also needs to improve on) and needed to improve his decision-making — all typical things for a lot of freshmen quarterbacks.
There were factors working against Wilson — Andy Ludwig’s complex offense, the true freshman’s inexperience at the college level and splitting practice reps with Rising until Week 7, often learning he was going to play in the day leading up to the game or sooner.
But Wilson made no excuses for his play last fall.
“I mean, I shot myself in the foot last year. I definitely had an opportunity, I needed to capitalize on that. I mean, I was just young, but everyone uses that excuse. That’s not a good excuse,” Wilson said this spring. “I had to be ready at the time and I feel like I’m getting to that point, to get to that point of being ready, being prepared, anything could happen, kind of deal.”
After the 2024 season, Wilson entered the transfer portal, but decided to return to Utah to compete for the backup job.
Coaches have seen improvement in his game since the 2024 season, especially in his decision-making and ability to read the defense. The arm talent has been there since his high school days, and so making progress on the mental side is what Utah has wanted to see.
“Decision-making, his clock in head, getting the ball out quicker, not holding onto it as long, accuracy. Virtually (improved) across the board,” Whittingham said on Monday.
Another positive is that new OC Jason Beck’s offense is more in line with what Corner Canyon ran when Wilson was starring in Draper.
“It suits me a lot better. I like Coach Lud’s offense, pro style, but I mean they’re just completely different. Completely different. I love what Coach Beck’s doing,” Wilson said this spring. “A little bit of run game with the quarterback, it kind of changes it up, making it harder on the defense.”
Utah’s hope is that Wilson won’t have to play this season, expect in blowouts, but if he does have to take the reins, the coaching staff has confidence in him.