Quarterback Play Will Keep Utah From Being Pac-12 South Contender

The Utah Utes are coming off a strong 2014 season where they finished the year 9-4 and ranked in the top 25. Heading into 2015, they have some serious questions to answer if they hope to navigate a vicious Pac-12 South division. Their biggest question is at quarterback and if they can’t find an answer in fall camp, it will be the reason the Utes fall out of contention early this season.

Despite star running back Devontae Booker leading Utah to the No. 3 rushing attack in the conference last season, the Utes ranked dead last in the Pac-12 in total offense thanks to a pitiful 197.7 passing yards per game average, the lowest in the conference. The team needs more from the quarterback position and the passing game in 2015 to help keep defenses honest and allow Booker to be effective as the centerpiece of the Ute offense.

But that was a struggle in 2014 as Utah shuffled between Travis Wilson and Kendal Thompson under center. Wilson is penciled in as the No. 1 quarterback for the moment but Thompson is pressing him to try and take the job away. As a three-year starter, Wilson has the experience edge with the Utes, ranking fifth in school history for completions, attempts, passing yards, and touchdown passes, but was losing his starting job to Thompson, arguably the more athletic option at quarterback, before the former Oklahoma Sooners signal caller was lost for the season during his start against the Oregon Ducks.

This fall, both quarterbacks are healthy and battling back and forth but neither is distinguishing himself as the clear-cut front runner for the job. In a scrimmage last week, Wilson completed just 6-of-17 passes for 55 yards with an interception while Thompson managed just 8-of-20 completions for 85 yards and an interception as well. Both were able to score on quarterback runs during the scrimmage (though Thompson out-gained Wilson 55-18) but for the Utah offense to be effective in 2015, it needs the quarterback to make plays with their arm.

With just three weeks before Utah opens their season against the Michigan Wolverines, the pressure is on head coach Kyle Whittingham to find an answer to his quarterback problem. If he can’t get either Wilson or Thompson on track, the Utes’ offense will be doomed and their chances of contending in a hyper-competitive Pac-12 South will evaporate in an instant.

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