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Depth and Experience: 2019 Quarterbacks Preview
7/26/2019 8:29 AM | Football
Hall of Famer Vince Lombardi once said, "the difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." The Utah quarterbacks showed the will to win last season, and with two returning starters and an electric newcomer waiting in the wings, it is primed to be an exciting season under center.
The Utah football program was no stranger to hardships last season, making the phrase "next man up" become a quick reality. At quarterback, that statement became true when starter and dual-threat quarterback Tyler Huntley went down with a broken collarbone against Arizona State on Nov. 3.
Huntley already had over 1,700 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, was the team's second-leading rusher with over 300 yards, and had led the team to a 6-2 start and the lead in the South Division race, but the injury would sideline him for the remaining five games. It was time for Jason Shelley to take the reins.
Shelley ended up taking the Utes on a three-game winning streak after the heartbreaking loss at Arizona State that included a comeback and eighth straight win over BYU. He played in both the Pac-12 Championship game and the Holiday Bowl, finishing the season with 1,162 passing yards with five touchdowns along with 192 rushing yards and three rushing scores.
With returning starters mixed with dynamic newcomers that are waiting for their time to shine, the Utah quarterbacks have developed a level of depth that will last for years to come.
Returning Lettermen (3)
Newcomers (3)
Quick Hits & Highlights on Select 2019 Quarterbacks
Tyler Huntley | SR | Dania, Fla.
Has played in 23 career games with 19 starts … was 150-of-234 passing for 1,788 yards (12 TD) with 108 carries for 304 yards (4 TD) in nine starts in 2018 … four 200-yard passing games that included one 300-yard game in 2018 … tied his career-high with 341 yards against USC … two games with four touchdown passes last season to tie his career-high … ranked in the top-25 in the nation in completion percentage (63.8) and total offense (294.8 ypg) in 2017.
Jason Shelley | SO | Little Elm, Texas
Started five games in 2018 … was 98-of-168 passing for 1,162 yards (5 TD) along with 63 rushes for 192 yards (3 TD) … had two 200-yard passing games and one 300-yard game … career-high 302 passing yards and two touchdowns against Northwestern in the Holiday Bowl … 18-of-31 passing for 262 yards and 22 yards rushing with two touchdowns in his first career start against Oregon last season.
Cameron Rising | SO | Ventura, Calif.
Will have to sit during the 2019 season due to NCAA transfer rules … redshirted at Texas in 2018 … was the No. 8 pro-style quarterback in the nation by Rivals out of high school … two-time first-team All-CIF at Newbury Park HS … All-Camino League Offensive Back of the Year … was a sophomore All-American and Cal-Hi Sports Sophomore of the Year in 2015 … set a county record for attempts without an interception (324).
Tyler Huntley did NOT put the ball in danger very much last season. pic.twitter.com/iTWtSqqieg— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 23, 2019
The Utah football program was no stranger to hardships last season, making the phrase "next man up" become a quick reality. At quarterback, that statement became true when starter and dual-threat quarterback Tyler Huntley went down with a broken collarbone against Arizona State on Nov. 3.
Huntley already had over 1,700 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, was the team's second-leading rusher with over 300 yards, and had led the team to a 6-2 start and the lead in the South Division race, but the injury would sideline him for the remaining five games. It was time for Jason Shelley to take the reins.
Shelley ended up taking the Utes on a three-game winning streak after the heartbreaking loss at Arizona State that included a comeback and eighth straight win over BYU. He played in both the Pac-12 Championship game and the Holiday Bowl, finishing the season with 1,162 passing yards with five touchdowns along with 192 rushing yards and three rushing scores.
With returning starters mixed with dynamic newcomers that are waiting for their time to shine, the Utah quarterbacks have developed a level of depth that will last for years to come.
Returning Lettermen (3)
| Tyler Huntley | Sr. | 6-1, 205 (Dania, Fla.) |
| Jason Shelley | So. | 5-11, 200 (Little Elm, Texas) |
| Drew Lisk | Jr. | 6-1, 205 (Draper, Utah) |
Newcomers (3)
| Jayden Clemons | Fr. | 6-1, 188 (Lehi, Utah) |
| Zach Hymas | So. (TR) | 6-2, 205 (Logandale, Nev.) |
| Cameron Rising | So. (TR) | 6-1, 220 (Ventura, Calif.) |
.@Utah_Football's Tyler Huntley (@_SNOOP1) ranks high among college football's starting quarterback rankings for 2019 https://t.co/hycKwQGAzN pic.twitter.com/ZPAQoXMjhi— Athlon Sports (@AthlonSports) June 11, 2019
Quick Hits & Highlights on Select 2019 Quarterbacks
Tyler Huntley | SR | Dania, Fla.
Has played in 23 career games with 19 starts … was 150-of-234 passing for 1,788 yards (12 TD) with 108 carries for 304 yards (4 TD) in nine starts in 2018 … four 200-yard passing games that included one 300-yard game in 2018 … tied his career-high with 341 yards against USC … two games with four touchdown passes last season to tie his career-high … ranked in the top-25 in the nation in completion percentage (63.8) and total offense (294.8 ypg) in 2017.
Jason Shelley | SO | Little Elm, Texas
Started five games in 2018 … was 98-of-168 passing for 1,162 yards (5 TD) along with 63 rushes for 192 yards (3 TD) … had two 200-yard passing games and one 300-yard game … career-high 302 passing yards and two touchdowns against Northwestern in the Holiday Bowl … 18-of-31 passing for 262 yards and 22 yards rushing with two touchdowns in his first career start against Oregon last season.
Cameron Rising | SO | Ventura, Calif.
Will have to sit during the 2019 season due to NCAA transfer rules … redshirted at Texas in 2018 … was the No. 8 pro-style quarterback in the nation by Rivals out of high school … two-time first-team All-CIF at Newbury Park HS … All-Camino League Offensive Back of the Year … was a sophomore All-American and Cal-Hi Sports Sophomore of the Year in 2015 … set a county record for attempts without an interception (324).
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