Utah’s offense has a different look heading into 2025, but the ceiling still feels high after what the Utes put on tape last season. They averaged 41.3 points per game, good for the third-best mark in program history and their highest output since Alex Smith was on the team. Even with key players and staff members gone, the additions and hires Utah made this offseason have the group positioned for another productive year.
Quarterback is the clearest place to start. Dampier sits atop the chart as one of the league’s best at the position, and Ficklin is right there behind him as what may be the best backup in the league.
Ficklin should be on the field often again, because his playmaking is too good to keep parked on the sideline. Brand Rose looks like the third quarterback, and his experience gives Utah another reliable option in reserve.
At running back, Parker is lined up for a big season. He finished just shy of 1,000 rushing yards a year ago and now has a real shot to hit his 1,200-yard goal.
Bray appears set to keep the No. 2 job after standing out the most in spring ball, and his speed should fit this offense well. Steve Chavez Soto is still the likely third back, though Mataeki Helu has turned in a strong camp and could force his way into the mix for carries.
The receiver room gives Utah plenty of choices. Pegan remains the name at the top, and he’s been flashing in camp.
Whittemore looks like the breakout candidate, taking a clear step forward from spring to fall and pushing toward the top slot role, which was Dampier’s favorite spot last season. The final starting spot is a close call, but Sholes gets the edge over Simmons for now because of his speed.
Simmons still has a major role ahead of him and remains one of the group’s best red zone options. Merriweather and Johnson both bring field-stretching ability and should see meaningful snaps, while Nate Johnson is the wild card and a player to watch in how Kevin McGiven chooses to deploy him.
Tight end could become another useful piece of the offense if Andrews delivers on the breakout buzz. He was trending up last fall before the season-ending injury, and the plan seems to be using him in a lot of different ways.
Luke Wells said Andrews can stretch the field, and Utah also wants to give him touches on the ground. Bennee should also be heavily involved after improving as both a route runner and blocker since returning.
Those two are expected to handle most of the snaps, with Will Monney as a possible factor if injuries hit.
The Rhinos were a major part of Utah’s offense last season, and Jason Beck used Taulanga often enough that the rushing game benefited. Taulanga functioned more like an extra lineman than a receiver, but that should change some this year, with more passes coming his way. Sione Motuapuaka is also in the picture, and Taulanga said he is going to have a very good year for the Utes.
Up front, the offensive line is the hardest group to pin down. The coaches have made that clear, too.
The projected starters listed are Alex Harrison at center, Isaiah Garcia at right guard and Keith Olson at right tackle, with Reece Parmenter at left tackle, Isaiah Kema at center and Cedric Jefferson at right tackle in the second group. Williams, Moea’i, Harrison and Olson would all be surprising omissions from the starting lineup unless injuries change things, and each has game experience plus a standout nod from Jordan Gross.
Garcia looks like the final piece, and after dealing with injuries the past few years, the former four-star has put together a solid finish to spring ball and a strong camp. Scalley said earlier in the week that the O-Block will rotate different interior linemen because of injuries and because the starters still haven’t been fully settled, so plenty of these players should see game action.
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Behind him sits Isaac Wilson, a name Utah followers know well from his time in Salt Lake City before his transfer to Colorado. Wilson, the younger brother of NFL quarterback Zach Wilson, is listed as the backup, giving the Buffaloes an experienced insurance policy while Lewis steps into a much bigger role and the program continues its reset. [Read more 🡒]
Utah Enters The Scalley Era With One Huge Question
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Utahs New Offensive Line Has Everything To Prove In The Opener
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The first real measuring stick comes Thursday against Idaho, and it should tell plenty about how far the unit has come. With expectations still modest outside the program, Utah is looking for a clean, physical start and a showing that keeps the penalties down while the line begins to build the kind of chemistry it will need deeper into the season. [Read more 🡒]