Rapid Reaction: Utah QB Cam Rising not expected to play vs. Florida
SALT LAKE CITY — The betting line for the Florida-Utah game has been moving down for the Gators, and that will continue ahead of kickoff. The No. 14 Utes could reportedly be without their starting quarterback.
Per Pete Thamel of ESPN, Cam Rising is doubtful to play against UF on Thursday night. After tearing his ACL in the Rose Bowl to end last season, Rising missed all of spring ball and was limited in fall training camp, sitting out the scrimmages and 11-on-11 portions of practice.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham listed Rising as the starting quarterback on Utah’s Week 1 depth chart, but wouldn’t say whether he had been cleared and described him as a game-time decision.
Now it appears that Rising will be unavailable for the season opener. With him sidelined, junior Bryson Barnes will make his second career start vs. Florida. Whittingham has also said that redshirt freshman QB Nate Johnson is going to play in this game.
In the video below, Gators Online’s Zach Abolverdi and Nick de la Torre give their reaction to the Rising news and how Barnes starting impacts the matchup.
Pete Thamel on Cam Rising
Barnes played in 10 games last season, completing 37 of 57 pass attempts (4 TDs, 2 INTs) for 430 yards along with 20 carries for 116 yards. He made his first start of his career at Washington State, setting career highs in completions (17-of-27), passing yards (175) and long pass (31 yards).
Barnes also stepped in for Rising following his injury in the Rose Bowl and threw for 112 yards with a touchdown and an interception on 10 of 19 passing against Penn State.
Johnson played in four games as a true freshman, throwing a 16-yard touchdown pass against Stanford and carrying the ball five times for 51 yards and two touchdowns.
“Cam Rising, the starting quarterback for Utah is doubtful for the game tomorrow night and not expected to play,” Thamel said on College Football Live. “Sources told me last night that Bryson Barnes the junior who had won start last year and victory at Washington State and then came in for Rising in the Rose Bowl after he tore his ACL, will get the look as a starting quarterback for the Utes. We will also see some of Nate Johnson.
“The one thing Kyle Whittingham was not vague about this week was that the young quarterback who gives them a Wildcat look … will play no matter who the starter is. But it looks like Barnes will be the primary quarterback with Nate Johnson filling in some snaps to give them some different looks from under center.”
