'He Looked Good Today!' Utah Coach Kyle Whittingham Gives Cameron Rising Update
Like every other team ranked No. 11 and above in this week's AP poll, the Utah Utes are undefeated and looking to continue rolling this Saturday.
Last week, coach Kyle Whittingham's squad handled business against Weber State, cruising 31-7 victory to advance to 3-0, but "handing business" looked much different than most teams. That's what sets apart this season's Utes so far.
While every other top-10 team has its quarterback situation figured out and rolling, Utah is still without its starter, Cameron Rising, among many other injuries.
Luckily for the Utes, however, there could be positive news on the horizon.
During Tuesday's practice, Whittingham provided an update on the Utes' senior quarterback, stating that he "looked good" during practice and was fully mobile.
The news certainly sparks hope amongst Utah fans and within the team, but it is important to note that Whittingham also mentioned that there would be a 48-hour window before the team could make a final decision on Saturday's game.
Courtesy of Utah Athletics.
If Rising does end up being available — even in limited capacity — it would certainly help the Utes not only to move the ball, but to get their starter re-acclimated with the game and offense. Last season, Rising threw for 5,572 yards and 14 touchdowns en route to a New Year's Six appearance for the Utes.
This season has been a different story without Rising. Yes, Utah is 3-0 and has found ways to win its games without a multitude of players, but it also sits in last in the Pac-12 in total passing offense — a metric that will need to improve before conference play enters full swing.
Then again, there is the chance that the Utes keep rolling without their star, making use of the additional weapons on their roster while he continues recovering. And if that happens, it seems that Utah might have found itself a win-win.
