Utah Quarterback Devon Dampier Wasn’t 100% healthy against Baylor.
In the Utes’ 55-28 win at Baylor last week, Dampier didn’t have a great game — 6 of 13 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown and eight carries for 23 yards.
Advertisement
Offensive coordinator Jason Beck gave Dampier a break running the ball — a few of those eight carries came on scrambles — instead relying on running back Wayshawn Parker and backup quarterback Byrd Ficklin to carry most of the rushing load.
Although Dampier still played most of the game until the starters were pulled in the fourth quarter of the blowout, the break he got while running helped him, he said this week on the “Sean O’Connell Show.”
“I guess I won’t talk about specifics, but I just hit it for sure. To be honest, the last match kind of helped me with Byrd stepping up and Wayshawn having the match they did,” Dampier said. “I didn’t need to run as much, so to be honest it felt like another healing day.
“I wasn’t more injured coming out of the match. I practiced on Tuesday. It was the first time I’d done it in a long time, taking all the reps. So yeah, it kind of worked out for me in the end.”
Advertisement
Dampier being a physical participant in Tuesday’s practice is significant — there have been weeks where Utah’s starting quarterback was only doing “mental reps” in practice.
Although Dampier is still not at 100 percent health, he was not listed in Wednesday’s or Thursday’s availability report, meaning he should be available to start at quarterback for Utah.
“I guess I won’t talk about specifics, but I just broke down for sure. To be honest, the last match kind of helped me with Byrd stepping up and Wayshawn having the match they did. I didn’t have to run as much, so to be honest it was like another day of healing.”
Utah QB Devon Dampier
“Quarterback is one of those positions. You’re supposed to be the toughest guy on the team, and that’s just how I operate,” Dampier said. “I put my body on the line for my boys. I know they do the same for me, so just going there and the coaches believing in me, that’s why I’m there. So yeah, keep playing.”
The Utes have started just once this season Byrd Ficklin, first-year backupand that was partly because Dampier told the coaching staff he didn’t feel ready to start, even though he would have been available in an emergency.
Advertisement
Dampier has carried the Utes to an 8-2 record, and it appears Utah will continue to start him if he’s cleared to play by doctors — even if he’s not 100 percent.
“We just need him on game day to say, ‘I’m ready to go.’ He knows this offense inside and out, as I’ve said many times, as well as the reps for him, even if they’re just mental or even if they’re not moving, but just taking over and following his progression,” Whittingham said. “…He’s a veteran, and if he didn’t think he could help us win, then he’d let us know.”
If Dampier is unable to play, the Utes have a capable replacement in Ficklin, who totaled 442 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground and completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 301 yards and three scores.
Utah returns to Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday for Senior Day and its home finale against Kansas State, which has injury issues of its own.
Advertisement
The Wildcats’ leading receiver, Jayce Brown (712 yards, five touchdowns), is out for Saturday’s game, and Kansas State’s third receiver, Jerand Bradley, is questionable. Tight end Garrett Oakley (356 yards, five touchdowns) could be quarterback Avery Johnson’s top target.
Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson looks to pass during a game against Iowa State, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press
After a 1-4 start, Kansas State’s schedule eased up a bit and the Wildcats responded by winning four of their next six games, including a 42-17 win over rival Kansas.
Over the past two games, however, the Wildcats have been shaky, losing 43-20 to Texas Tech and escaping Stillwater with a 14-7 victory over winless Oklahoma State in Big-12 play.
Advertisement
At 5-5, the Wildcats are fighting for bowl eligibility after being dubbed one of the Big 12 favorites in the preseason. Starting running back Dylan Edwards, who had 546 yards and five touchdowns a season ago, suffered an injury that kept him out of most games this season and is now transferring. Joe Jackson stepped up his efforts with 476 yards and two touchdowns.
Johnson hasn’t been bad, but hasn’t lived up to preseason expectations. He has thrown for 2,168 yards and 17 touchdowns with five interceptions with 60.5 percent accuracy and is the Wildcats’ second-leading rusher with 369 yards and seven scores. That’s a step back from last season’s 605 rushing yards, but Johnson can still beat you on the ground.
“It comes down more to the kind of quarterbacks we’ve faced most weeks this year, where the quarterback running game is on the line,” Whittingham said. “They have a physical offensive line and they have a little more 12 players, two tight ends, than most of the teams we’ve seen this year. So that will be a bit of a change as well.”
Defensively, Kansas State gives up 376 yards per game (No. 10 in the Big 12), including 152.2 yards rushing (No. 10) and 223.8 passing yards (No. 11).
Advertisement
One aspect that Kansas State’s defense excels at is handing the ball over – the Wildcats have forced 24 turnovers, which ranks them 4th in the country. In the 14-6 win over Oklahoma State, Kansas State forced five turnovers, but its offense struggled to capitalize on those turnovers.
Kansas State’s defense will certainly be tougher than the one Utah just faced at Baylor, but Las Vegas likes the Utes in the game — Utah is a 17.5-point favorite against Kansas State.
Saturday’s home finale is Senior Day, with 19 players participating in the pregame ceremony.
The 16 seniors honored are linebacker Moroni Anae, linebacker Lander Barton, tight end Dallen Bentley, receiver Luca Caldarella, cornerback Blake Cotton, kicker Joey Cheek, linebacker Levani Damuni, receiver Ryan Davis, running back Bryce Duke, running back Frankie Goodson, center Jaren Kump, guard Michael Mokofisi, running back NaQuari Rogers, tight end Otto Tia, guard Tanoa Togiai and defensive tackle. Aliki Vimahi.
Advertisement
Three juniors – offensive tackle Spencer Fano, defensive end Logan Fano and offensive tackle Caleb Lomu – will also walk during the Senior Day festivities.
Saturday’s game will be the last time most of this group plays at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Will this be the last time Kyle Whittingham coaches at Rice-Eccles Stadium?
Whittingham – the current second-longest-tenured coach in college football – turned 66 on Friday and will have a decision to make regarding his future. According to his contract, revised last year, the Utah coach must “notify the university in writing if he intends to retire at the conclusion of the 2025 football season” by Dec. 5, if the Utes are not in the Big 12 championship game, or by Dec. 12 if the Utes are.
Advertisement
As expected, the longtime Utah coach gave no indication of his decision.
“I have no idea what the boss is going to do, but I think he’s set up some nice preparation for Coach Scalley to take over when the time comes. But man, we have no idea. We have no idea what’s going on up there,” Dampier said on ESPN 700.
Don’t expect any sort of decision – or announcement – from Whittingham before that deadline from the school. He’s in the middle of a season, with a spot in a Big 12 championship game or a College Football Playoff appearance still on the line.
Once the regular season is over, Whittingham will have more time to focus and make the big decision of whether it’s the right time to step away from football coaching for good.
Advertisement
“I’ll be here one day and I’ll be gone the next,” Whittingham said.
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham looks at the scoreboard during a game against Arizona State held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 11, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
