Devon Dampier arrived at Utah with a reputation that made Kyle Whittingham sit up and take notice. The former New Mexico quarterback came in before last season carrying the kind of skill set Utah’s coach has always trusted: a player who can hurt a defense in more than one way.
The questions were obvious enough. Could Dampier do it against stronger competition?
Could he take the hits that come with running in the Big 12, where bigger and quicker defenders are waiting to drive him into the turf? Could he be efficient enough as a passer to make the whole operation work?
Whittingham believed he could. So did one close associate of the coach, though that person still had one lingering doubt at the time: “When the game is on the line, when a score is necessary, can this kid lead an offense down the field for a win?”
That question has been answered in loud fashion.
Dampier has not only become one of the Big 12’s best and most versatile quarterbacks, he has pushed himself into the conversation as one of the top quarterbacks in college football. More than that, he has become the kind of leader teammates rally around without hesitation.
Morgan Scalley understood the trouble Dampier could cause long before this season took off. The defensive-minded coach had already seen enough to appreciate the quarterback’s impact, especially after Dampier’s performance in the Vegas Bowl against Nebraska.
In that 44-22 win, Dampier produced 458 yards of offense and accounted for five touchdowns. He threw for 310 yards and ran for 148, with three touchdowns coming on the ground and two through the air.
That’s the same formula he’s using now: damage on the ground, damage through the air, and a presence that reaches well beyond the stat sheet. He can be reckless at times, floating a throw into trouble and giving the defense a chance at a pick.
He is not Joe Burrow with his accuracy, and he is not Josh Allen with his arm strength. But perfection isn’t the point.
Dampier keeps putting his team in position to win.
The record says plenty. Utah is 9-and-oh.
And if you want to know how his teammates view him, the reaction after the win over BYU said it all. They talked about Dampier like he was the commander of the whole operation - confident, selfless, and trusted by everyone around him.
Offensive players praised him. Defensive players did too.
Scalley called him “a warrior.”
“All he cares about is winning,” said safety Nate Ritchie.
Dampier’s own words after that game matched the mood in the locker room, even if they came with a little perspective. He said the BYU win was “a game,” not “the game.” There was still more ahead, and Scalley agreed.
That rivalry game also brought the old question back to mind. Utah went into halftime trailing 20-14, and the pressure was real. But while the defense did its job in the second half, Dampier guided the offense to two decisive touchdowns.
Some believe he belongs in the Heisman Trophy race, and as a voter, I’d seriously consider him depending on what happens next. There is still work to do, including a potentially stiff challenge at Arizona this weekend.
Still, there’s something special about watching a college quarterback answer every doubt, then bind himself to his team so completely that the team binds itself right back. Dampier has done exactly that.
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