Utes Spring Ball Recap: Encouraging Practices as Rising Rounds into Form

Being able to look good doing drills without pads during Spring practices is one thing, but being able to make a strong impression when the pads are on in a simulated game is a whole different beast. For the Utes, they were able to do just that in a scrimmage last Saturday, and head coach Kyle Whittingham likes what he sees up to this point.

"(It was a) really good scrimmage, I think that's the most encouraging thing is how we looked in the scrimmage on Saturday,” Whittingham said. “A lot of really good execution by the offense, clean, very few penalties, ball security was good. The defense tackled well and made plays on both sides of the ball. That was an outstanding scrimmage that we had.”

A major factor in the offense clicking so well has been the return of QB Cam Rising. While it takes most athletes a while to return to form following a major injury, Rising has been actively participating in every practice this spring, and he’s already starting to look like his old self. That has provided a lift for the team.

“He brings a swagger to the offense, and that’s what we were missing last year,” Whittingham said. “His arm strength is getting better. He's shaken pretty much all the rust off. He was a little rusty at the beginning, but through ten practices, he's really polished up his game."

Behind Rising, the competition for the backup QB spot between Brandon Rose and Isaac Wilson continues to be a fierce one.

“It's as dead a heat as it could be right now, but they're both getting better and that’s the key,” Whittingham said. “Both are moving forward and we feel good about both of them. We're pretty sure that this competition will carry into fall camp. We don't expect to have anyone named after spring ball unless there’s a great disparity in the last five practices."

With 10 practices in the books, the Utes have had relatively good luck escaping the injury bug, but they were hit with their first significant injury of the 2024 season during Saturday’s scrimmage.

"We’ve had some guys that have missed chunks of practice here and there. A couple surgeries, but nothing that, we hope, is going to impact the fall, with one exception, Levani Damuni suffered a lower leg injury that will impact things."

The injury is significant enough that it puts the starting linebacker’s entire 2024 season in doubt.