Utah quarterback Devon Dampier was less than normal in a 34-10 loss to Texas Tech this previous Saturday, throwing two interceptions and averaging simply 2.5 yards per carry — a profession low. There was a purpose for the tough outing: Coach Kyle Whittingham revealed Monday that Dampier had been coping with an damage, regardless of not being listed on the supply stories final week.
“He was doing the perfect he may,” Whittingham mentioned. “Wasn’t in a position to apply Tuesday or Wednesday, somewhat bit Thursday. I’ll inform you it undoubtedly impacted Devon, however should you’re on the market, you bought to get it achieved. So we by no means use that as an excuse.”
Dampier sustained an ankle damage throughout Utah’s Week 3 highway sport at Wyoming, analyst Joel Klatt famous on Saturday’s broadcast. He was additionally reportedly seen limping after that contest. The damage saved him from totally taking part in Utah’s regular padded practices, limiting his preparation for the Large 12 opener in opposition to the Crimson Raiders.
The 2025 season marks the primary yr of formal Large 12 participant availability stories, following the lead of the ACC, Large Ten and SEC. Below the brand new guidelines, packages should submit every day stories beginning three days earlier than every sport, with a ultimate replace 90 minutes earlier than kickoff, itemizing gamers as out there, possible, questionable, uncertain or out.
Large 12 to mandate participant availability stories for soccer, basketball beginning in 2025-26
Cody Nagel
Though Dampier missed a number of practices, he was not listed on Utah’s availability report final week earlier than making his fourth begin for the Utes.
Regardless of the setback, Whittingham emphasised that Dampier’s present situation is enhancing when requested if the damage could possibly be a long-term concern.
“We hope not,” Whittingham mentioned. “However once more, we by no means focus on accidents right here apart from the damage report, so we’ll simply should see the way it goes. I believe he is in a greater place. Nicely, I do know he is in a greater place proper now on Monday than he was final Monday, in order that bodes effectively.”
Dampier accomplished 25 of 38 passes for 162 yards within the loss. Utah’s lone massive play got here on the primary snap of their solely landing drive, when Dampier linked with Dallen Bentley for a 44-yard achieve. That rating introduced the Utes inside 13-10 with 10:22 remaining within the fourth quarter, earlier than Texas Tech pulled away with three unanswered touchdowns to shut out the sport.
Via the primary three video games of the season, Dampier had accomplished 73% of his passes for 628 yards and 7 touchdowns with out an interception. He had additionally added 198 dashing yards and a landing on the bottom, exhibiting the dual-threat capability that makes him Utah’s centerpiece on offense.
“(We) consider in him fully and he is for sure our quarterback and you may’t panic off one sport that was less than par,” Whittingham mentioned. “And once more, we already talked about another excuse why that will have been. … I do not assume one subpar sport is honest to evaluate him off that. The primary three video games he was fairly darn good.”
Utah is on the highway at West Virginia this Saturday.
