RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesUtah football 's fall camp begins on Monday, August 3rd. As first-year head coach Morgan Scalley prepares his team for a new beginning, what can be expected from the Utes in 2026?
Here are three storylines ahead of the upcoming season.
The offensive line will be flipped upside down
Perhaps the biggest story heading into fall camp for Utah is how to replace the entire offensive line. There will be big shoes to fill with Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu moving on to the NFL. So who's up next in the trenches for the Utes?
There will be a steady rotation built around Zereoue Williams, Solatoa Moea’i, Keith Olson, Alex Harrison and Roger Alderman. It's not like Utah is starting over with a bunch of underclassmen who need development from the start. All five linemen have experience under the guidance of former NFL All-Pro Jordan Gross.
Add five-star freshman Kelvin Obot into the mix, along with Isaiah Garcia, Cedric Jefferson and Isaiah Kema. This Utes group isn't bare in the slightest. All five starters are gone from last year. But if there was any coach who could make things better for Utah along the O-line, Gross is definitely the guy. He was one of the most underrated hires by Scalley, and we'll continue to prove his worth throughout the season.
Who will Devon Dampier be throwing to next season?
The Utes have one of the deepest quarterback rooms in the country, headlined by the multi-talented Devon Dampier and his backup Byrd Ficklin. The duo are expected to do big things this season with the help of a decent supporting cast.
Utah State transfer Braden Pegan will be looking to repeat his breakout season from last year. The original UCLA recruit returns to the Power Four level. After a brief hiatus in Logan last fall, he's ready to show his talent level. Don't be surprised if he becomes one of Dampier's favorite targets.
Utah's entire receiver room is a bit underrated heading into the season. Ricky Johnson received high praise from Scalley at Big 12 Media Days. He's joined by San Jose State transfer Kyrin Shoels, Larry Simmons, Tobias Merriweather, Nate Johnson and Creed Whittemore as the ones at the top of the depth chart.
How key will Wayshawn Parker be for the offensive attack?
We've heard a ton this offseason about how good Dampier will be leading the offense. What about Utah running back Wayshawn Parker and what he brings to the table?
After narrowly missing his 1,000-yard goal last season, the former Washington State transfer is ready to run it back in Salt Lake City. Parker will be a key factor for the Utes by taking some of the pressure off Dampier. He'll get the majority of the carries out of the backfield. However, there are also some excellent talents behind Parker waiting to bust out. Keep an eye on San Jose State transfer Steve Chavez-Soto, who could be another rusher in the rotation.
The Utes are riding into the season with some momentum. That's a rare factor when talking about a coach who waited for this opportunity and finally gets it. The focus will be on Idaho making the trip to Rice-Eccles Stadium in Week 1.
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