Quarterback, offensive line named biggest question marks for No. 9 Utah

Utah might have an ace in the hole with the return of seventh-year quarterback Cam Rising in 2024 after Rising missed all of 2023 with injuries but was an All-Pac-12 Conference selection in 2021 and the Pac-12 Championship Game MVP in 2022.

If you’ve familiar with Rising’s game — the word kamikaze comes to mind — then you understand the inherent risks with him coming back off an injury and it impacting his ability to run the ball after he rushed for over 400 yards in each of his two seasons as Utah’s full-time starter.

That’s why ESPN listed quarterback and offensive line as the two biggest concerns for No. 9 Utah headed into the season.

From ESPN: “It's far too early to say this is a weakness for the Utes, but the combination of how Cam Rising returns after a year off due to an injury and an offensive line that lost two of its best players from last year, including its center, could be a question mark heading into the season.”

Utah is in its first year in the Big 12 Conference after coming over from the Pac-12 alongside Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado. The Utes open the season on Aug. 29 at home against Southern Utah.