‘Continues to get better each day’: Why Isaac Wilson was named Utah’s backup quarterback

At some point this season, perhaps during Utah’s home opener against Southern Utah after the starters have been pulled, quarterback Isaac Wilson will walk onto the field at Rice-Eccles Stadium for his first game action as a Ute.

The former Corner Canyon star is no stranger to playing at Rice-Eccles Stadium, where he led his team to the 6A state title with a 447-all-purpose-yard performance (255 yards and two touchdowns through the air, 192 yards and three scores on the ground) that capped off a 13-1 season for the Chargers.

The championship game at Rice-Eccles Stadium also helped him break the Utah state record for total offense in a season — Wilson had 5,901 all-purpose yards, beating out former teammate Jaxson Dart’s 5,867 — which was the cherry on top of a sensational high school career.

As he hoisted the 6A trophy with his Corner Canyon teammates, he knew the next time he was in this stadium for a game, he would be wearing red and white.

Monday’s announcement by Utah coach Kyle Whittingham that the four-star true freshman is currently the primary backup quarterback for Cam Rising makes Wilson one step closer to his dream.

“I’ve always been a Utah fan since I was little and just being on that field, that experience is truly everything to me,” Wilson said.

Last week, Whittingham said he wanted to have the backup quarterback depth chart “pretty well determined” after a key Thursday scrimmage, and that’s exactly what happened.

Though coaches started seeing some separation last week, Wilson impressed enough in that scrimmage — and throughout fall camp — for Whittingham to slot Wilson at QB2 with less than three weeks to go until Utah’s opener.

Wilson graduated high school early and enrolled at the University of Utah in January, which was a key factor in winning the backup job. Not only did he get a jumpstart learning Andy Ludwig’s offense over someone like Sam Huard, who transferred from Cal Poly after spring football, but he also made a good impression on Utah’s staff early on.

“Coach Lud’s offense, this is very complicated, but it’s needed. This offense is everything you need and just coming here early, learning everything, X’s and O’s, has really pushed me forward,” Wilson said.

Ludwig’s pro-style offense was one of the driving factors in Wilson selecting Utah, with the Utes’ offense checking all the boxes when Wilson talked to his older brother Zach, who is now with the Denver Broncos. Zach was at some of Utah’s spring practices, watching his brother, and Isaac is in contact with him every day.

In part due to the help from Zach, his father Mike — who played at Utah in the 1990s — and playing at Corner Canyon High, where coach Eric Kjar’s offense shares some concepts with Utah, Wilson was well prepared to make the jump to college football.

“I felt like I was put in a good position by my family and my coaches in high school. Having my older brother, Zach, of course, he’s been helping me throughout this whole journey and I mean, he’s been going through his own journey too, so we’re working through this together,” Wilson said.

The physical traits were already there for Wilson — the arm strength and talent, accuracy and scrambling and running ability — but he had to study the playbook, learn the intricacies of Ludwig’s offense, and adjust to the college game.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, but by the end of spring, Wilson was seemingly ahead of Brandon Rose. That was on display during Utah’s spring game, where Wilson was 8 for 12 for 165 yards and two touchdowns, including a deep touchdown to Luca Caldarella and another touchdown pass up the seam to Landen King.

Wilson built on his spring performance throughout fall camp and earned the backup job over sophomore Rose and senior Huard.

The one refrain you hear when talking about Isaac Wilson is that he’s ahead of where a true freshman usually is, especially when it comes to the kind of passes he’s able to make. His poise under pressure and the way he carries himself is different than a typical freshman, too.

“Isaac continues to get better each day. He’s seeing the field better, he’s making better decisions. He’s got a live arm. The ball comes out of his hand like it’s supposed to,” Whittingham said. “Very mobile, and that’s another facet that is really a strength of his, is being able to have escapability in the pocket and senses the rush very well and was able to get himself out of jams and still make a play on the move.”

Whittingham and Utah were always going to put the best quarterback not named Rising at the QB2 spot, and it works out nicely that it’s Wilson.

Wilson was recruited as the future of the program, and knew that he’d have to be behind Rising during the 2024 season, but told the Deseret News last December that he was “excited to learn” from him.

That enthusiasm hasn’t changed, and Rising has taken him under his wing and mentored him.

“Oh my gosh. He’s the man. He is the man. Anything I could ask from him, he helps me out on the field, off the field, gives me little tips and tricks, things to remember. He has everything I’ve ever needed,” Wilson said.

While Wilson may see the field this year — Utah hopes that it’s just in blowouts as Rising has a healthy season — he could be running the show next year.

That’s what makes his appointment as QB2 so meaningful. In just eight months since joining the program, Utah feels like he’s already the best option to back up Rising, and that experience will pay dividends. He’ll get some snaps in practices throughout the season and could gain valuable game experience, which could put him in pole position to become Utah’s 2025 starting quarterback.

Wilson is not thinking that far ahead yet, though, focusing on becoming the best quarterback that he can be and helping the Utes in his freshman season.

“I mean, it’s just a great opportunity for me to even be here. The offensive staff, everyone’s been doing so much for me and I’m just trying to give back by being on top of my plays, helping around. But I mean, of course it’s a good feeling, but I got to keep working,” Wilson said.