www.thestar.com - RSS Results of type article
· collected 2026-08-21 · by John Coon The Associated Press
Utah football coach Morgan Scalley is looking to build on the team's 11-2 record in 2025, despite losing several key players and assistants due to longtime coach Kyle Whittingham leaving for Michigan. Scalley led the Utes to a 44-22 victory over Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl after taking over as interim coach. Utah's offense will be led by quarterback Devon Dampier and running back Wayshawn Parker, who accounted for 81.5% of the team's total offensive yardage last season. The Utes' defense is expected to rely on a mix of unproven transfers and freshmen, with linebacker Johnathan Hall emerging as a key leader after recording 67 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2025.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Utah football team, led by coach Morgan Scalley, is looking to build on its past successes after a 11-2 record in 2024. However, they face a new challenge with the departure of longtime coach Kyle Whittingham, who left for Michigan and took several key assistants and players with him. Despite losing some starters to graduation or the transfer portal, Utah retains quarterbacks Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin, as well as running back Wayshawn Parker, who accounted for 81.5% of Utah's total offensive yardage last season. The team's playmaking abilities will be tested behind an untested offensive line that lost two starters to the NFL. Defensive leader Johnathan Hall returns with 67 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season**.
Written for “Utah Football Coach” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 1838 · logged 2026-08-28
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — 2025 record: 11-2
Expectations
Utah won 11 games a year ago to bounce back from a tough Big 12 debut a year earlier.
asserted
Utah → win → debut
A new challenge awaits the Utes after longtime coach Kyle Whittingham left for Michigan and took several key assistants and players with him.
asserted
Whittingham → await → him
Morgan Scalley made his coaching debut in the Las Vegas Bowl, leading the Utes to a 44-22 victory over Nebraska.
asserted
Scalley → make → Nebraska
Retaining quarterbacks Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin, along with running back Wayshawn Parker, ensures the Utes won’t face a total rebuild on offense.
asserted
Utes → retain → offense
The trio accounted for 81.5% of Utah’s total offensive yardage last season.
asserted
trio → account → yardage
Their playmaking abilities will be tested while operating behind an untested offensive line that lost two starters to the NFL.
asserted
that → test → NFL
Utah lost several defensive starters to graduation or the transfer portal and will rely heavily on a mix of unproven transfers and freshmen to emerge as playmakers.
asserted
Utah → lose → playmakers
Strengths include the skill positions, linebackers, and the secondary
Dampier was effective while playing through a sports hernia last season.
asserted
Dampier → include → hernia
He totaled 3,325 yards on offense, including 835 rushing yards.
asserted
He → total → yards
Dampier was an accurate passer, tossing 24 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 63.5% of his pass attempts.
asserted
Dampier → toss → attempts
Ficklin showed flashes of stardom as a freshman, averaging 8.5 yards per play.
asserted
Ficklin → show → play
Parker will anchor the backfield again after leading Utah with 981 rushing yards in 2025.
asserted
Parker → anchor → 2025
Jackson Bennee and Scooby Davis are both ball hawks in the secondary who combined for six interceptions and three pick-sixes last season.
asserted
who → combine → interceptions
Davis led the Big 12 with 162 interception return yards.
asserted
Davis → lead → yards
Weaknesses in the trenches and at receiver
Attrition from graduation and transfers left Utah thin and inexperienced along both sides of the line of scrimmage.
asserted
Attrition → leave → scrimmage
Cedric Jefferson, a Montana State transfer, could make an immediate impact at offensive tackle.
uncertain
Jefferson → make → tackle
Jefferson started every game for the Bobcats in 2025 while helping them win an FCS title.
asserted
them → start → title
Ethan Day, a North Texas transfer, will be counted on to help fill the void John Henry Daley and Logan Fano left on the defensive line.
asserted
Daley → count → line
Day had 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks a year ago.
asserted
Day → have → loss
Utah needs to replace its top three receivers from last season.
asserted
Utah → need → season
Larry Simmons may step into a bigger role after tallying 280 yards and six touchdowns on 15 catches in 2025.
uncertain
Simmons → step → 2025
Braden Pegan, a Utah State transfer, was the Aggies’ top receiver last season before following McGiven to Salt Lake City and will likely be Dampier’s top target early.
asserted
Pegan → follow → City
