Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Former Utes QB Huard Lands at USC

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Terrance Biggs | Last updated Jan 7, 2025 12:27 PM ET

As the playoff teams continue to roll on, the other 129 teams start to piece together the moving parts for the upcoming season.

Their stadium lights may be off for the winter, but teams diligently work to build. In the midst of what appears to resemble a massive offensive overhaul, the University of Utah saw quarterback Sam Huard land at USC, after entering the transfer portal. On3 Sports reported the news earlier in the afternoon. While Huard did not play a down for the Utes, he does add to an interesting college career that lands him at the University of Southern California.

If a football pedigree exists, Huard is an example of it. His father, Damon, starred at the University of Washington before heading to the NFL, winning two Super Bowls in the process, as a backup quarterback. His uncle, Brock played the same position at UW, before a six-year NFL stint. Like his predecessors, the younger Huard profiles as a dropback, pro-style quarterback who thrives on a solid pocket.

Huard started his career at Washington, playing five games, throwing for 265 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. Also, he completed 54.5 percent of his passes, averaging exactly six yards per attempt. In mostly mop-up duty, he decided to transfer to Cal Poly (FBS), going 3-6, throwing for 2,205 yards. After the 2023 season, the quarterback transferred to Utah, using a medical redshirt, never playing a single down of football. Huard heads to Los Angeles with two years of remaining eligibility. With former starter Miller Moss heading to Louisville, Huard could conceivably challenge for the USC starting spot.

In the big picture, Sam Huard's departure neither hurts nor helps the University of Utah. Plus, it serves as another example of the offensive scheme change in Salt Lake City. With an offense that shifted from a pro-style approach to an athletic spread, the Utes could no longer use a classic dropback passer. Now, opponents will see a dual-threat approach that looks to press the boundary and fatigue. Utah left their old offense in the past.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: