Jake Bentley, South Alabama Football News: Draft Scout Player News

05/13/20 - QB Jake Bentley, rSr/2022, South Alabama

A 33-game starter across parts of four seasons at the University of South Carolina, Bentley committed to the Utes on Dec. 9, then arrived in Salt Lake City on Jan. 3, three days before the start of the spring semester. Bentley went through the offseason program, then opened a three-way quarterback competition with redshirt sophomore Cam Rising and redshirt junior Drew Lisk. Utah's three spring practices gave way to a week off for spring break. The Utes never returned after the COVID-19 pandemic struck, indefinitely postponing all in-person team-related activities. At the end of the day, I think we all would've shown what we can do on the football field," Bentley said Tuesday on a conference call with beat reporters from his family's home in Lexington, S.C. "Spring practice would've allowed us to do that. It would have been clear who it was, but I think it goes back to my point that each day is an opportunity to compete.

"It would've definitely been a fun situation to have those scrimmages and those game-like reps, but the situation we're in will take us to fall camp, whenever that is, so I guess it'll shake out then. That's why this time is so important, to not take any steps back and to keep getting better." Bentley suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury to his right foot on the final play of the 2019 season-opener. He was a full participant once spring ball started at Utah, but still had a plate in the injured foot. Once Bentley was home in South Carolina and it was clear spring practice would not be resuming for the foreseeable future, Utes head football athletic trainer Joe McBeth advised Bentley to have the plate removed. - Salt Lake Tribune

rSr/2022