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The Utah Utes kicked off fall camp in Salt Lake City with some noticeable differences. Morgan Scalley is putting his stamp on the team and it's starting to show. One of the players who will play a big role this season is Devon Dampier.
The Utes quarterback looked comfortable back out on the field. Mostly because this is the first time in nearly a year he has been fully healthy. A stark difference from last season as he dealt with a sports hernia and an ankle injury. But now, Dampier is ready to ride.
With the craziness of the offseason shuffle behind him, the focus was on football. Staying at Utah was being able to fully trust Morgan Scalley's vision will be key. Dampier had options, but chose to be in Salt Lake City.
“Coming back to Utah after everything that went on and just being so welcoming, for one, my coaches meeting me in the airport (after surgery), just starting from there, that builds a lot of respect for me and a lot of loyalty,” Dampier said.
The coaches are just one part of the equation. Dampier wanted to be a leader for the Utes going into what's expected to be his final year before jumping to the NFL. He wanted to build chemistry with his teammates and fully see the process from beginning to end. “We’ve been working hard without the coaches here a lot, building culture without them. So for finally the coaches to be back and see how far we’ve come together as a team first practice, I thought it went well."
The bar is set high for Dampier this season. After playing through injuries last year and throwing for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns with just five interceptions, he'll look to repeat what he started. He added 835 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Dampier is one of the best pure dual-threat passers in the nation. If he can see a receiver down the field, he'll burn defenders with his speed.
Dampier will play a huge factor in Utah's success this season. The goal of winning the Big 12 championship in Scalley’s first year is realistic. When you look at the conference, BYU and Texas Tech are the frontrunners because they played for the title last year. What has changed since 2025 is Scalley taking over and boosting the Utes all the way around.
Utah was at No. 21 in the coaches poll this week. It's proof the rest of the nation believes Scalley has put the right system in place with the right players and personnel. Utah’s offense will show why the team might be underrated heading into the 2026 season.
Utah football position preview: Quarterbacks and running backs entering 2026 fall camp
Utah QB Byrd Ficklin offered considerable package by Big Ten powerhouse
Utah football is all over social media after film session catches attention of NFL veteran
Joe D'Orazio sends strong message to recruits: 'Utah puts people in the NFL
Continue reading...
The Utes quarterback looked comfortable back out on the field. Mostly because this is the first time in nearly a year he has been fully healthy. A stark difference from last season as he dealt with a sports hernia and an ankle injury. But now, Dampier is ready to ride.
With the craziness of the offseason shuffle behind him, the focus was on football. Staying at Utah was being able to fully trust Morgan Scalley's vision will be key. Dampier had options, but chose to be in Salt Lake City.
“Coming back to Utah after everything that went on and just being so welcoming, for one, my coaches meeting me in the airport (after surgery), just starting from there, that builds a lot of respect for me and a lot of loyalty,” Dampier said.
The coaches are just one part of the equation. Dampier wanted to be a leader for the Utes going into what's expected to be his final year before jumping to the NFL. He wanted to build chemistry with his teammates and fully see the process from beginning to end. “We’ve been working hard without the coaches here a lot, building culture without them. So for finally the coaches to be back and see how far we’ve come together as a team first practice, I thought it went well."
The bar is set high for Dampier this season. After playing through injuries last year and throwing for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns with just five interceptions, he'll look to repeat what he started. He added 835 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Dampier is one of the best pure dual-threat passers in the nation. If he can see a receiver down the field, he'll burn defenders with his speed.
Dampier will play a huge factor in Utah's success this season. The goal of winning the Big 12 championship in Scalley’s first year is realistic. When you look at the conference, BYU and Texas Tech are the frontrunners because they played for the title last year. What has changed since 2025 is Scalley taking over and boosting the Utes all the way around.
Utah was at No. 21 in the coaches poll this week. It's proof the rest of the nation believes Scalley has put the right system in place with the right players and personnel. Utah’s offense will show why the team might be underrated heading into the 2026 season.
More Utah Utes News:
Utah football position preview: Quarterbacks and running backs entering 2026 fall camp
Utah QB Byrd Ficklin offered considerable package by Big Ten powerhouse
Utah football is all over social media after film session catches attention of NFL veteran
Joe D'Orazio sends strong message to recruits: 'Utah puts people in the NFL
Continue reading...
