Florida vs. Utah: Whittingham Updates Utes QB Situation After Second Injury
Like Florida, Utah has dealt with a heavy dose of bumps and bruises over the course of a physical 14 days of fall practices.
However, as the Gators get healthier on the road to week one — as indicated by Sunday and Monday's practice participation reports — the Utes notably remain in limbo at the game's most crucial position.
On Tuesday, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham addressed local media for the last time before Aug. 28, three days before the season-opening bout against Florida, with all eyes and ears transfixed on an update on the quarterback position.
He couldn't provide much certainty, though.
The position still looms with uncertainty as Cameron Rising has yet to be cleared for full participation by the team's medical personnel. It's a concerning signal for Utah that the incumbent starter will not be able to suit up in week one against the Gators as he recovers from the ACL injury he suffered in January's Rose Bowl.
"No change. No change on Cam," Whittingham said frankly when asked about the status of Rising.
Following the injury to presumed fill-in at starter Brandon Rose last week, the Utes are down to junior Bryson Barnes and redshirt freshman Nate Johnson in the competition for starting quarterback.
In practice, Barnes has received a hefty portion of snaps with the first team unit, while Johnson controls the second team for Utah at this stage. That order will hold if Rising is unable to go for week one.
"Right now, if we had to play today, it would be Bryson Barnes," he said.
Playing in 13 games across three seasons at Utah, the former walk-on from Milford, Utah, has served as a viable backup for Rising at points throughout his career. Last year, Barnes saw action in ten contests for the Utes, accounting for 430 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions on 66% completion.
He's now preparing for his second career start against the Gators in the event Rising is unavailable.
Even with Barnes scheduled to suit up as the starter in the case of Rising's absence, Johnson will be deployed in specific packages as a rushing threat from behind center, similar to his usage during his true freshman season. He compiled 51 yards and two touchdowns on five attempts to present another dimension to Utah's rushing attack.
He'll likely assume a more prominent role in 2023, especially if Rising isn't in the fold for a period of time.
Given the varying levels of experience throughout the unit, Utah has operated on a case-by-case basis for their quarterback to participate in live reps without being deemed no-contact.
Whittingham views it as a necessary measure to produce a proper evaluation of the players he has at his disposal, namely in their ability to extend plays within a collapsing pocket.
"It depends; it goes both ways," Whittingham said. "If you're an established guy like Cam, you're not going to get hit at all. If you're a younger guy, then we need to find out what your ability is to extend plays, because you don't get a true flavor of that or a true read on that unless you make them live.
"You don't know what they could have gotten out of and what they couldn't have, so it's just a case-by-case basis and how much we need to find out about a certain individual."
However, after allowing the inexperienced passer to perform live in the first scrimmage, he will not further compromise the thin room's health by doing so again when they participate in scrimmage two on Thursday.
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