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After a 5-7 season that featured another year of poor offensive play , changes were incoming for the University of Utah football program.
Shortly after Utah's season-ending victory over UCF on Thanksgiving weekend, the offensive revamp started.
It began with the hiring of New Mexico offensive coordinator Jason Beck , the school's first new play-caller since 2019, when Andy Ludwig returned to Utah for his second stint with Utah. Ludwig resigned after a 13-7 loss to TCU in October — the third-straight game in which the offense failed to score more than 19 points — and while Mike Bajakian filled in as the interim OC the rest of the way, coach Kyle Whittingham and the Utes knew a nationwide search would be coming in the offseason.
Two of Utah's reported targets — Ben Arbuckle and Mack Leftwich — signed with Oklahoma and Texas Tech, respectively, and the Utes brought in Beck to remake the offense.
Beck's spread offense heavily utilizes the run-pass option, and is at its best when it has a running quarterback. Last year at New Mexico, quarterback Devon Dampier executed it well as the Lobos generated 484.2 yards per game, fourth-best in the nation, and scored 33.5 points per game, No. 27 in the nation. The Lobos were the fifth-most productive running team in the nation (253.6 yards per game).
With Beck installed as offensive coordinator, Utah went after Dampier when he entered the transfer portal. About a week after Beck's hiring, Dampier committed to Utah , bringing vast knowledge of Beck's offense that will make the transition easier for the offense.
Dampier totaled 3,934 yards of offense in 2024 — 2,768 passing and 1,166 rushing — and should inject new life into a Utah passing game that's been devoid of excitement over the last two years after Cam Rising 's injuries.
The 5-foot-10, 198-pound Dampier does have to improve his accuracy — he completed just 57.9% of his passes, and had a 1:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio (12 touchdowns, 12 interceptions) — but if Utah can enjoy anywhere near the offensive success that Beck and Dampier generated in Albuquerque, it'll be a significant step up from the doldrums of the past two seasons.
Washington State running backs coach Mark Atuaia stands on the field Mark Atuaia during a break in the game against Arizona State, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. Atuaia has joined Whittingham's staff at Utah. | Young Kwak, Associated Press
With the two most important pieces, offensive coordinator and quarterback, in place, the offensive renovation continued as Utah hired running backs coach Mark Atuaia and receivers coach Micah Simon .
Like Beck, both Atuaia and Simon are former BYU players and both have worked with Beck before — Atuaia at BYU and Virginia and Simon at Syracuse and New Mexico. Both coaches will provide Beck with continuity and familiarity at Utah.
Utah also hired Koy Detmer Jr. , a former BYU quarterback, as an offensive analyst. He'll be working with the quarterbacks in Salt Lake City and had the same position at New Mexico.
On the field, the Utes are getting a makeover as well. Besides the aforementioned addition of Dampier, pretty much every position group on the team is going to see changes heading into 2025.
The only position group that is staying pretty much intact is the offensive line, which saw All-American tackle Spencer Fano, tackle Caleb Lomu, center Jaren Kump and guards Tanoa Togiai reaffirm their commitments to Utah, and while Michael Mokofisi hasn't put anything out on social media, he hasn't entered the transfer portal.
Ideally, Utah will bring another quarterback into the room, potentially to back up Dampier, but it might be a tough sell with Dampier poised to win the starting job and Isaac Wilson back in the mix . The Utes also have freshmen quarterbacks Wyatt Becker and Jamarian Ficklin incoming.
Beyond that, there will be changes — and in some cases significant ones — to the other position groups.
The group most in need of an influx of talent is the running backs room, which saw Micah Bernard and Charlie Vincent graduate and Jaylon Glover, Dijon Stanley and Anthony Woods moved on. That leaves Mike Mitchell as pretty much the only scholarship running back, but Utah added New Mexico State's Mike Washington in the transfer portal this week.
Washington ran for 713 yards and eight touchdowns last season and added nine receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown; he could work well as a complimentary back. While either Washington or Mitchell could challenge for an RB1 spot, bringing in someone like Washington State's Wayshawn Parker would set up the room well .
Parker ran for 735 yards and four touchdowns in his true freshman year in Pullman and recently entered the transfer portal. He will decide between Utah and Arizona, per a report from 247 Sports' Brandon Huffman , and working with his running backs coach again would make a lot of sense. He'd also have a great shot at earning the lead running back role in his first year in Salt Lake City.
At wide receiver, Utah is losing its two most productive weapons — Dorian Singer and Money Parks — who both graduated. Munir McClain has also graduated, and Damien Alford entered the portal.
On Wednesday, Utah received a commitment from Tulsa's Joseph Williams, who had numerous Power Four offers. The true freshman won the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year with 30 receptions for 588 yards and five touchdowns in seven games and will challenge for a starting role right away.
New Mexico quarterback Devon Dampier looks to throw during game against Auburn, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. The dual-threat QB committed to the Utes via the transfer portal earlier this month. | Butch Dill, Associated Press
Utah also added Mississippi State's Creed Whittemore, who chose to redshirt after four games and had four receptions for 65 yards and 41 rushing yards this season. Whittemore fits into Utah's offense as a slot receiver.
The Utes also return freshmen Zacharyus Williams (who came on strong during the last four games and finished with 10 catches for 101 yards) and Dadrien Zipperer (eight catches for 122 yards), and could round out the room with one more transfer receiver.
Utah is losing Brant Kuithe (graduation) and Carsen Ryan (transfer to BYU), Miki Suguturaga (graduation) and Caleb Lohner (graduation) in the tight end room, but return Landen King and Dallen Bentley. An incoming transfer here certainly wouldn't hurt Utah.
The transfer portal is open for entries until Dec. 28, but schools can still sign players already in the portal at any time.
Utah quarterback Isaac Wilson is heading back to Salt Lake City. The Ute quarterback entered his name into the transfer portal when it opened, intending to explore his options, but the opportunity to return to Utah was always there. He decided to come back to Kyle Whittingham's program on Monday.
New Mexico quarterback Devon Dampier transferring to Utah ( Deseret News )
Legacy secure, Kyle Whittingham decides retirement can wait ( Deseret News )
Utah gymnastics: Are the Red Rocks underrated? ( Deseret News )
