In Tradon Bessinger’s first-ever start at quarterback for Davis, the sophomore threw a staggering 60 pass attempts — completing 39 — in a wild 28-14 season-opening loss to Lehi.
Fast forward two years and three months in what would be Bessinger’s last game in a Davis uniform, he finally one-upped those 39 completions with 40 in a remarkable performance against Lone Peak in a heartbreaking 6A quarterfinal loss.
He completed 83% of his passes that evening (40 of 48), and though Bessinger couldn’t break the Darts’ quarterfinal hex, he walked off the field head held high knowing it was the most fun he’d had on a football field during his three years starting for Davis High.
“It was the stakes. It was the quarterfinal stakes for Davis. Obviously, couldn’t break the curse, but I just felt like the fact that it was such a good team that we were playing in Lone Peak, all credit to them,” said Bessinger.
In between those two games, Bessinger — who signed with Iowa earlier this month — etched his name as one of the most prolific passers in state history.
He finished his career completing 838 of 1,198 passes for 10,901 yards, 127 touchdowns and only 19 interceptions. His senior season he tallied a personal best 4,305 yards, 53 TDs and just three interceptions, and those exploits earned him the Deseret News Mr. Football award as the top player in Utah in the 29th anniversary of the award.
“It’s crazy. Just looking back on the people who have won it, those are the people I’ve always looked up to my whole entire life. And now it’s like living the dream now. I’m really grateful for it,” said Bessinger.
Bessinger is a four-star recruit who had originally committed to Boise State prior to his senior season. After terrorizing defenses early this season, putting him on pace to chase Jaxson Darts’s single-season passing TDs record of 67, interest from other colleges inevitably followed.
He eventually de-committed from Boise State and signed with Iowa during the early signing period in early December.
Many high school quarterbacks in his situation aim to graduate early so they can compete in spring ball and give themselves the best shot at playing time in the fall. Bessinger, however, has proven throughout his high school career that he’s not most guys though.
He was a key member on Davis’s 6A state championship basketball team last season, and defending that title with his friends is important to Bessinger. Through seven games this season for the 5-2 Darts, he’s fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 11.1 ppg while the 6-foot-5 forward leads the team in rebounding at 6.7 rpg.
Finishing up his senior year with his classmates is important to Bessinger as well, and he doesn’t believe he’s sacrificing too much on the Iowa front because of it.
“Realistically, I have the weight trainings, I have the meal preps, I have all the plans, the game plan, the plays and everything. I’m studying it every single day,” said Bessinger, who confidently added. “I’m not gonna go out there thinking like I’m better than every single one of them, but I want to start my freshman year. I know what the coaches kind of want to do with the spot and I think I can (be the) best the guy for it.”
He proved himself to be that guy everyday with Davis, and so much of it was his leadership qualities.
“His leadership, it’s contagious. He has a quality about him that people want to be around him. He makes you feel good, he just enjoys the moment. He loses track of time because he’s just having fun,” said Davis coach Scott Peery.
Peery said Bessinger also gets the bigger picture of how important every facet of the team is, he always has. Peery likes to recall that in that first-ever game where Bessinger completed 39 passes, the completions weren’t what stood out the most to him, but rather that after his only touchdown pass in the game, he ran straight to his offensive linemen to celebrate.
As confident as Bessinger looked taking over that starting role as a sophomore, it took him a while to grow into that confidence.
As a freshman, even though he led Davis’ sophomore team to the Weber State 7-on-7 title in the summer, Bessinger said, “I was not comfortable at all.”
He was just trying to do what his dad — a Davis second team all-state wide receiver back in 1994 — told him, prove to the coach you’re a good player every single day. Bessinger tried to avoid letting his mind wander to playing varsity football, or earning a college scholarship, but rather, he just focused on the day in front of him.
It wasn’t long though until he was tearing up Davis’ varsity defense with the scout team offense, and he was promoted to varsity backup as a freshman.
The starter that year was junior Jackson Stevens, which meant Bessinger likely would be serving as the backup again his sophomore year. Stevens, however, transferred to Skyridge that winter, which opened the door for Bessinger.
“I was in a basketball practice and coach Peery, pulled me out and was like, ‘Tradon, you’re our new starting quarterback.’ And I was freaking out, ‘Oh my gosh, let’s freaking go,’” recalls Bessinger.
Until high school, Bessinger didn’t really know which sport he liked more — football or basketball. He played them both growing up, excelling in both as well. He loved the competition they brought out in him.
“That’s the thing that I do the best, I compete whenever I can. You don’t want to play a board game against me,” said Bessinger.
During that freshman season as he started to take on a larger role with the scout team offense and playing JV, he started to become more passionate about football.
Once he took over the reins as the starting quarterback his sophomore season, Bessinger passed for 2,922 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 INTs, while being voted a 6A all-state honorable mention.
The next season, Peery challenged Bessinger to be more of an “it factor” on the field and cut down on the turnovers. He did just that with 3,674 passing yards, 42 TDs and only five interceptions and was voted first-team all-state.
Heading into his senior season and with a Boise State offer already in his back pocket, he believed there was unlimited potential for the Darts.
“I was excited to show people I could do even more,” he said.
He did that in a big way leading Davis to a 10-2 record and another 6A quarterfinal appearance. Two of the things he’s most proud of how his game evolved this season was reading defenses and showing that he’s more than just a tall pocket passer.
“For me, I would say either being able to extend a play or just knowing what they’re going to do onto the defensive end, and being able to read what they’re going to do. I don’t like to say I’m a pocket passer quite much. I think I had a lot of yards outside of the pocket,” said Bessinger.
Parry said that coaching Bessinger’s unique talents the past four years has been a real joy, and he’s fully confident that more success awaits Bessinger in Iowa.
Past Deseret News Mr. Football recipients
- 2024 — Robert Young, Roy
- 2023 — Isaac Wilson, Corner Canyon
- 2022 — Smith Snowden, Skyridge
- 2021 — Cody Hagen, Corner Canyon
- 2020 — Jaxson Dart, Corner Canyon
- 2019 — Noah Sewell, Orem
- 2018 — Puka Nacua, Orem
- 2017 — Cammon Cooper, Lehi
- 2016 — Jaylen Warren, East
- 2015 — Semi Fehoko, Brighton
- 2014 — Britain Covey, Timpview
- 2013 — Ula Tolutau, East
- 2012 — Austin Kafentzis, Jordan
- 2011 — Chase Hansen, Lone Peak
- 2010 — Alex Kuresa, Mountain Crest
- 2009 — Tuni Kanuch, Bingham
- 2008 — Craig Bills, Timpview
- 2007 — Boo Andersen, Alta
- 2006 — Sausan Shakerin, Alta
- 2005 — Riley Nelson, Logan
- 2004 — Jason Zundel, Bear River
- 2003 — Ray Feinga, Hunter
- 2002 — Kyle Brady, Tooele
- 2001 — Daniel Coats, Northridge
- 2000 — Steve Tate, Skyline
- 1999 — Bo Nagahi, Skyline
- 1998 — David Fiefia, Hunter
- 1997 — Morgan Scalley, Highland