The Morgan Scalley era officially has a heartbeat. Utah opened fall camp on August 3, less than a month out from the September 3 opener against Idaho, and this roster looks very different from the one that went 11-2 and rolled Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Kyle Whittingham is gone after 21 seasons. Both offensive tackles went in the first round. The entire starting offensive line needs replacing. And yet, thanks to Devon Dampier coming back and one of the best portal hauls in the Big 12, the expectations on the Hill have not budged an inch.
So we're launching a series here at Top Tier Utes: over the coming weeks we'll break down every position group on this roster, one deep dive at a time. Depth charts, camp battles, breakout candidates, the works. To set the table, here's our ranking of all ten groups, from the ones keeping us calm to the ones keeping us up at night.
1. Quarterback
The easiest call on the list. Devon Dampier threw for 2,490 yards with 24 touchdowns against just 5 picks in year one at Utah, and added 835 rushing yards and 10 more scores on the ground. He spent the summer running player-led practices and calling plays himself, which tells you everything about who owns this locker room now. Behind him, Byrd Ficklin gives Utah one of the most talented backup situations in the league. Vegas has Utah's win total at 8.5, and if you think that number is disrespectful with Dampier back under center, our partner Underdog is the place to put your football opinions to work. New users get a deposit bonus through our link at the bottom of this article.
2. Wide Receiver
When is the last time a Utah receiver room felt like a strength in August? Braden Pegan arrives from Utah State after a 60-catch, 926-yard season, and Kyri Shoels brings 768 receiving yards over from San Jose State. Larry Simmons flashed serious juice late last year with 6 touchdowns on only 15 catches, and converted quarterback Nate Johnson might be the fastest player on the roster. This group has proven production, speed, and actual depth. Different feeling entirely.
3. Running Back
Wayshawn Parker is the unquestioned RB1, and the battle behind him is the fun kind of problem: Daniel Bray, who torched BYU for 121 yards as a freshman, San Jose State transfer Steve Chavez-Soto, and Mateaki Helu. There's even chatter that NaQuari Rogers, who scored 11 touchdowns last season, could return under the new eligibility ruling. Utah rushed for 3,462 yards a year ago. The backs are not the reason that number would dip.
4. Linebacker
Johnathan Hall is the anchor after posting 67 tackles, 6 TFLs, and 2.5 sacks in 2025. Trey Reynolds brings starting experience and a nose for the ball with 2 interceptions, and Cyrus Polu is the name camp insiders keep circling as a breakout. The floor here is high, the leadership is established, and this is quietly a very Utah room: physical, deep, and unbothered.
5. Safety
Utah develops safeties the way other schools develop excuses. Rabbit Evans and Nate Ritchie lead a two-deep that also features Oklahoma transfer Marcus Wimberly, Jackson Bennee, Nathan Tilmon, and Davis Andrews. Scalley made his name coaching this defense, and the back-end depth is a big reason the defense should stay stingy through the front-seven turnover.
6. Tight End
Nobody here is Brant Kuithe, but the room is deep in an interesting way. Hunter Andrews is back healthy and might be the best pure athlete of the bunch, Noah Bennee is the traditional in-line option, Oklahoma State transfer Will Monney adds experience, and 317-pound Semi Taulanga lets Utah get heavy without subbing in a lineman. Expect roles by committee rather than one alpha.
7. Defensive Tackle
Talented, young, and unproven. Sophomores Karson Kaufusi and Pupu Sepulona both flashed as freshmen, and the staff surrounded them with a small army of transfers: Jireh Moe, Lucas Samsula, Jamal Wallace, and Dilan Battle. Somebody from that group has to become a dependable interior presence, because the rotation as it stands is all projection.
8. Defensive End
Lance Holtzclaw and Kash Dillon combined for 5 sacks last season and both return, with North Texas transfer Ethan Day and his 4.5 sacks joining the rotation. The talent is real, but Utah lost serious edge production and needs three or four reliable bodies rather than hoping one guy turns into a star. Camp will tell us a lot.
9. Cornerback
The biggest question mark on defense. The projected starters are all new: James Chenault from South Florida, Elijah Reed from Akron, and JC Hart competing for the top spots. Transfers can absolutely hit, but until we see this group live against Big 12 receivers, corner is the position where one injury changes the whole defensive outlook.
10. Offensive Line
Shakiest is relative, because there's actual talent here, but replacing all five starters, including Outland Trophy winner Spencer Fano and fellow first-rounder Caleb Lomu, is the single biggest storyline of camp. Zereoue Williams, Solatoa Moea'i, Alex Harrison, and Keith Olson bring real career snaps, Montana State transfer Cedric Jefferson didn't allow a sack for the FCS national champs, and five-star freshman Kelvin Obot looms. New line coach Jordan Gross has pieces. He just has to build a wall out of them by September 3, and the right tackle battle between Jefferson and Ike Garcia is the one to watch.
What's Next
First deep dive in the series drops soon, and we're starting where the season will be won or lost: the offensive line rebuild. Follow @toptierutes so you don't miss it.
One more thing: if you like having a little skin in the game on Utes season, sign up with Underdog through our link and you'll get a deposit bonus while supporting Top Tier Utes at the same time. Win-win: play.underdogsports.com/vgwg/p-ttutes
Go Utes