If not Cam Rising, who would start for the Utah Utes against Florida?

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•08/24/23•

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — We’re just one week from kickoff and the Utah Utes’ quarterback situation is as clear as mud. Will Cam Rising, seven months off of ACL surgery, be ready to play? Head coach Kyle Whittingham isn’t say much.

“He’s progressing, he’s progressing through practice,” Whittingham told reporters in Salt Lake City. “It’s a day-by-day thing right now, and that’s as good as I can tell you.”

Thursday, spoke on ESPN700 in Utah but wasn’t asked about his health. Can Rising play? At Pac 12 Media Days Whittingham said he would need Rising to be cleared fro practice 10-14 days if he was going to play him. Whittingham has clearly changed stances there, not ruling Whittingham out when Rising hasn’t been cleared. He told local reporters this week that the decision could come down to “10 minutes before kickoff.”

“We’re truly unsettled,” Whittingham said. “There’s really no deception at this point, it’s just we’ll see how things progress.”

Even if Rising is available, a truly remarkable return from ACL surgery even in this day and age, what will he look like? Is he the same quaretrback that can get 91 yards on the ground like he did a year ago? Can Rising move around in the pocket if the Gators get pressure? Is he mobile enough to protect himself? You’d have an easier time getting state secrets out of the pentagon than getting Whittingham to talk about his quarterbacks.

If not Cam Rising, then who?

Backup quarterback Brandon Rose sustained an injury that will keep him out of the season opener. Details of the injury, outside of rumor, have not been made available. Rose was hospitalized briefly, but a timetable for his return is not available, outside of this from reporter Josh Newman.

Behind them are Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson, neither with much experience but both have been getting more reps with Rising both out in the spring and limited in the fall.

“Those two, Bryson and Nate, have gotten considerably better at almost every aspect of quarterback play,” Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig told local reporters. “Have they arrived yet? Absolutely not, but it is as much an improved position group as anywhere on the football field.

“Unfortunately, we lost Brandon to an injury a week ago, and Nate Johnson was a huge benefactor of that, getting more reps and he’s really responded well. Bryson, obviously, as I’ve said many times, has a great mastery of the offensive system. Those two young guys have really made the most of this opportunity.”

Johnson is an elite athlete. He posted this workout video showcasing his speed, hitting 22.4 MPH on a treadmill.

Ludwig did express comfortability with his system and how the two backups are performing.

“I believe the system has enough flexibility and versatility that we can shift emphasis based on personnel available,” Ludwig said, noting that while the scheme would not change under Barnes or Johnson, the play-calling would. “We saw a lot of that last year with the roster, there was some rollover week to week, just what we’re going to focus on and who we’re going to feature.”

Whittingham said the two backups are in a dead heat to start, if Rising is unable.

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