Utah Spring Camp: Three Takeaways From Week Two

With the 22 Forever Spring Game drawing near, here are three of the most notable takeaways from week two of spring camp:

Previously Injured Players Show Out

On offense, in particular, Utah was ripe with explosive playmaking from players coming off long-term injuries. The most obvious of which, Cam Rising, was far and away the best quarterback on the field, dotting up the defense all practice long.

Perhaps the best news to come out of camp is that Rising looks exactly like his former self. While not the most compelling take, its importance cannot be understated after the Utah signal-caller spent nearly 14 months rehabbing a gruesome knee injury from the Utes’ 2023 Rose Bowl loss to Penn State.

Rising wasn't the only offensive player who looked good post-injury. Micah Bernard and Mycah Pittman also looked like starting players at their respective positions, with multiple impressive plays during Tuesday's walkthrough.

Bernard, who played in the Las Vegas Bowl despite suffering a near-season-ending injury early on in the Utes 2023 campaign, took most of the first-team running back snaps during Tuesday’s practice. The senior from California looked explosive, having one run where a shifty juke move behind the line of scrimmage led to a long upfield gain.

Bernard seems to be the frontrunner to take Utah’s starting running back position. Earning the starting spot would be a fantastic storyline after the long-tenured Ute cited ‘falling out of love’ with football while injured. Despite almost not returning for another season, Bernard thankfully came back and seems to be on a crucial mission to prove his doubters wrong.

Wide receiver Mycah Pittman seemed to be playing with a similar chip on his shoulder. Much like Rising, Pittman looked like the best player on the field at his respective position.

The two-time transfer, who previously played at Oregon and Florida State, came to Utah last season, only to go down with a concussion in Utah’s week two game against Baylor and not play another snap in 2023.

During Tuesday’s walkthrough, a healthy Pittman caught every ball thrown his way. Whether it came by check down or a strike downfield, the sixth-year receiver’s hands looked magnetic, while his ability to get open was unmatched.

QB2 Battle Seems to be Close

Entering the new year, Utah’s backup quarterback situation seems to be a hot topic of discussion.

Currently, two players are engaged in a tight race for the position. The first, is Brandon Rose, the Utes 2022 three-star signee from California who has waited patiently behind Rising for his chance to lead Utah’s offense. Rose’s competitor, Utah’s younger option, true freshman four-star commit, Isaac Wilson from Corner Canyon HS.

Wilson and Rose each had impressive moments during Tuesday’s practice. Rose’s arm immediately jumps out as likely being the best on Utah’s roster. The sophomore from Murrieta Valley HS effortlessly whipped tight spirals all over the field during the walkthrough. Even then, Rose did miss a few throws over the middle, most thrown behind his target.

Wilson has been praised for his ability to learn Utah’s offense quickly.

“Isaac is looking really good,” Kyle Whittingham said. “He’s making the transition to Power Five football very well so far. He doesn’t get overwhelmed by the speed of the game or the complexity of the offense. He’s assimilated to the offense very well and he’s getting quality reps- him and Brandon Rose are splitting the number two reps right now and it’s a good battle going on.”

Both quarterbacks threw interceptions during the media viewing portion of Tuesday’s practice. Rose was picked off by Elijah Davis, a sophomore cornerback from Florida, while Isaac had a miscue with a receiver that resulted in a Nick Howe interception.

A ‘New’ Tight End In the Fold

During the offseason, the tight end trio of Brant Kuithe, Landen King, and UCLA transfer Carsen Ryan got most of the attention.

In the early weeks of spring practice, another Utah tight end has emerged as a leading option within Utah’s first-team offense.

Dallen Bentley, a reserve tight end in 2023, who caught his first-career pass against Northwestern in the Las Vegas Bowl, has earned a surprising amount of reps during practice. Listed at 6-foot-4, 258 pounds, Bentley is one of the bigger tight ends on Utah’s roster.

Bentley transferred from Snow College, where he played his freshman season in 2023. With Snow College, Bentley had eight catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

The second-year Ute had a great Tuesday practice, showcasing strong blocking and an impressive catch radius. After practice, when asked about Bentley’s development, Kyle Whittingham noted how far the tight end has come. Whittingham also went on to commend how quickly Bentley has learned the team's offense.