For the University of Utah, the release of their season-opening depth chart had a particular sense of importance for the quarterback position — not as much for the starting quarterback spot, but for the backup.
With Cam Rising coming off an ACL injury that cost him the entire 2023 season and the Utes being the prohibitive favorite in the Big 12, one of the bigger questions facing Kyle Whittingham and his squad is the makeup of the Utah QB depth chart.
And now, following an apparent hand injury to starting QB Cam Rising, the focus has shifted to No. 2 on that depth chart: Isaac Wilson.
Who Is Isaac Wilson? The Newest Member of the Utah QB Depth Chart Forging His Own Path
Enter Issac Wilson, the true freshman four-star recruit out of Corner Canyon High School in Draper. Wilson follows a long line of elite quarterbacks to come from the school, including his older brother Zach, Devin Brown at Ohio State, and Jaxson Dart at Ole Miss.
Wilson was officially named the backup by Kyle Whittingham earlier in camp, and the release of the depth chart confirmed the decision.
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Backing up Rising may be one of the most important non-starter positions in football.
Rising has been nothing short of fantastic in his time at Utah. He’s led the Utes to two Rose Bowl appearances and back-to-back Pac-12 championships in 2021 and 2022. His stats in 2022 help showcase what truly makes him special: 3,034 yards passing with 26 TDs and 8 interceptions while rushing for 465 yards and six TDs.
But his health his been his lone bugaboo.
A key statistic from Utah’s 2023 season was their record without Rising at the helm.
After back-to-back 10-win seasons, the team finished 8-5, relying on three different quarterbacks throughout the year. Bryson Barnes, who eventually became the starter, secured a thrilling win over USC in 2023 but transferred to Utah State during the December transfer window.
Wilson’s arrival certainly drew attention for several reasons. At Corner Canyon, he was electric, throwing for 4,595 yards with a 66.5% completion rate, 49 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions. He also rushed for 1,304 yards and 13 touchdowns, setting a Utah state record for total yards in a season with 5,901.
It should also be noted that Isaac is the brother of former BYU QB Zach Wilson, a notable state of Utah alumnus at quarterback.
What’s perhaps even more impressive is that Wilson beat out transfer Sam Huard, formerly of Washington and Cal Poly, for the backup quarterback role. Huard, who joined Utah in the summer, was outperformed by Wilson in spring practices, showcasing the young QB’s command of the offense and earning him the role as Rising’s understudy.
It was likely that Utah fans would see the second-string quarterback more than they’d like. The injury bug reared its ugly head in Week 2 when Rising left their game against Baylor in the second quarter. Given the team’s high expectations, finding the right player to step in if Rising misses time is crucial.
Utah fans and players alike hoped Wilson would be up to the task. And now, he’s been thrust directly into action already.
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