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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Utah

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03/02/23 - Cameron Rising, rSr/2024, Utah + More +

Kyle Whittingham expects that the next time you see Cam Rising, he will be starting for the University of Utah in the season-opener vs. the University of Florida. The Utes' head coach has been steadfast in that belief in the weeks since Rising exited the Rose Bowl in the third quarter on Jan. 2 with what was later revealed to be a torn left ACL. The opener will be played on either Aug. 31 or Sept. 2, roughly nine months since the injury, which falls in line with what is the general recovery timeline. Whittingham told The Salt Lake Tribune last week in a wide-ranging interview that Rising is on, if not ahead of schedule in his recovery, but there is another factor as far as the timeline goes that isn't being talked about enough.

Is Rising going to be ready for fall camp? If yes, will he be there for all of it? Some of it? Either way, how much of camp does Rising need to participate in for Whittingham to be comfortable putting him out there against the Gators? "To be ready for the opener, he has to get some reps in camp," Whittingham told The Tribune. "Maybe not necessarily the onset of camp, but by midway through camp, so we'll see how things progress. If he's not ready until a few days before the game, it's unlikely he would play in that game because he just wouldn't be completely sharp in all other areas." Utah has not announced a start date for fall camp, but FBS programs can practice 25 times over 29 days leading up to the opener, which would put the Utes' first practice on or about Aug. 2, eight months after the injury occurred. - Salt Lake Tribune

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QB Cameron Rising, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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02/08/23 - Cameron Rising, rSr/2024, Utah + More +

Utah announced its four captains for spring ball on Monday, naming quarterback Cameron Rising and tight end Brant Kuithe as the offensive captains, and safety Cole Bishop and linebacker Karene Reid as the defensive captains. Rising returns for his third full season as Utah's starting quarterback. He's led the Utes to back-to-back Pac-12 championships as a starter. He threw for 3,034 and 26 touchdowns last season. - Deseret News

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QB Cameron Rising, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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01/31/23 - Miles Battle, rSr/2024, Utah + More +

While Utah is losing All-America cornerback Clark Phillips III, who has declared for the NFL draft, the Utes have some talented newcomers joining the secondary. Cornerbacks coach Sharrieff Shah welcomes a pair of four-star corners in Smith Snowden and C.J. Blocker as well as Ole Miss grad transfer Miles Battle. Battle was a four-star wide receiver out of Cy Creek High in Houston before moving over to the defensive side of the ball. In 2022, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Battle recorded 22 tackles, four pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble.

Shah likes Battle's size, length and athletic ability. "When you have long-levered corners, it just makes it more difficult for a quarterback to fit a ball in a small window. We play incredibly good quarterbacks over and over again," he said. "We have a tremendous amount of speed coming in with C.J. Blocker and Smith Snowden. These kids have signed and they're unbelievably fast. "It's a good complement to have longer corners so offensive coordinators can't always simply think they can back-shoulder you in the red zone. We have people that can jump for the ball, too." - Deseret News

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CB Miles Battle, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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01/30/23 - Emery Simmons, rSr/2024, Utah + More +

Former Indiana and North Carolina wide receiver Emery Simmons announced his commitment to the Utes on Sunday via social media. Simmons will have one year of eligibility remaining - the former four-star prospect transferred to Indiana last year, and played three seasons at North Carolina prior to that. Simmons had 30 receptions for 516 yards and three touchdowns during his time in the Tar Heels program, with 14 starts. Last year, he made 37 catches for 408 yards (both second-best on the team) with one touchdown for the Hoosiers. Simmons also had two carries for 54 yards. - Deseret News

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WR Emery Simmons, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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01/30/23 - Micah Bernard, rJr/2025, Utah + More +

Less than a month after entering the NCAA transfer portal, Utah running back Micah Bernard is reportedly returning to the Utah Utes' football program. UteZone's Steve Bartle first reported Friday that the 6-foot, 202-pound Bernard will withdraw from the portal and return to Utah, and KSL Sports later reported the same, saying that "things are moving in a positive direction" for Bernard to stick with the Utes.

While Bernard did not officially make a statement regarding any decision, he later appeared to confirm the news when on his Instagram story he shared a headline from a Utah fan page that read, "Micah Bernard is returning to Utah for the 2023 season." Bernard has started 12 games over the past two seasons for Utah, including one at cornerback in the 2022 Rose Bowl when Utah had injury limitations at the position. In four seasons with the Utes' program, Bernard has rushed for 1,136 yards and six touchdowns, while also catching 64 passes for 590 yards and three touchdowns. - Deseret News

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RB Micah Bernard, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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01/22/23 - Jordan Noyes, Jr/2025, Utah + More +

Utah kicker Jordan Noyes is transferring, announcing the move on his Instagram Thursday. The Australian walked on to the team in 2020, handling the majority of kickoffs in 2021 and making two field goals and 21 PATs. Noyes handled field goal duties through the first seven games of the 2022 season, but the job went to Jadon Redding after Noyes missed a kick in both the UCLA and USC games in October. Redding kicked field goals through the Pac-12 championship, but left the team ahead of the Rose Bowl. Noyes was a perfect 4 for 4 on PATs against Penn State. Noyes finished his career at Utah 8 for 12 on field goals and a perfect 55 for 55 on PATs. - Deseret News

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K Jordan Noyes, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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01/11/23 - Brant Kuithe, rSr/2024, Utah + More +

Utah Utes tight end Brant Kuithe will be returning once again. Kuithe announced on social media Monday morning that he will play for the Utes in 2023 instead of entering his name in April's NFL draft. The news comes as Kuithe, Utah's most important receiving target, played in just four games in 2022 after he tore his ACL Sept. 24 against Arizona State.

Kuithe returned to the Utes in 2022 after it appeared he could have been a relatively high draft pick last spring. The 2023 season will be Kuithe's fifth as a Ute. A native of Katy, Texas, the 6-foot-2, 219-pounder was named to the All-Pac-12 second team for three consecutive seasons from 2019-2021 before getting hurt this fall. In his career, Kuithe has tallied 148 receptions for 1,882 yards with 16 touchdowns. - Deseret News

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FB Brant Kuithe, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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01/11/23 - Devaughn Vele, rJr/2025, Utah + More +

No matter what sort of roster turnover the University of Utah has next season, it will return two of its top pass-catching options. Brant Kuithe, a fifth-year senior tight end who was lost for the season on Sept. 24 due to a torn right ACL, announced on Monday that he will return for a sixth season in 2023.

Wide receiver Devaughn Vele will follow Kuithe's lead, the program also announced Monday. A fourth-year sophomore wide receiver in 2022, Vele at one point late in the regular season indicated he was leaning towards leaving, but later did a 180-degree turn to indicate he was leaning towards staying. Vele led all Utes wide receivers last season in catches (55), yards (695) and touchdowns (5). - Salt Lake Tribune

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WR Devaughn Vele, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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01/09/23 - Cameron Rising, rSr/2024, Utah + More +

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising is returning after considering a jump to the NFL. The school announced Monday that Rising will be back as a sixth-year senior in 2023 after leading the Utes to consecutive Pac-12 titles. Rising was a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien and Maxwell awards after throwing for 3,034 yards and 26 touchdowns with eight interceptions. The Ventura, California, native was named MVP of the Pac-12 Championship game after leading the Utes to a 47-24 win that knocked USC out of the College Football Playoff.

Utah played in the Rose Bowl the past two seasons, falling short in both after Rising went down with injuries. He suffered a left leg injury and had to leave in the third quarter of this year's game, which the Utes lost 35-21 to Penn State. Rising's return adds to a strong list of Pac-12 quarterbacks who will be back in 2023, including Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams of USC, Oregon's Bo Nix and Washington State's Michael Penix Jr. Former Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei also transferred to Oregon State. - AP College Football

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QB Cameron Rising, Utah
News Source: AP College Football
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01/08/23 - Ricky Parks, rSo/2026, Utah + More +

Just days after Utah fell to Penn State in the Rose Bowl, the Utes' running back room is thinning. Former four-star prospect Ricky Parks has reportedly entered the NCAA transfer portal, according to multiple reports Thursday, news that was initially broken by 247 Sports' Steve Bartle. That comes one day after reports about another running back, the versatile Micah Bernard, entering the transfer portal. Unlike Bernard, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards over the past two seasons, Parks did not play a down over the past two years after signing with the Utes' 2021 recruiting class.

The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Parks redshirted the 2021 season after enrolling early at Utah. He didn't see action this season in a crowded running backs group where four backs ran for 350 or more yards. Parks was rated a four-star recruit coming out of Gaither High in Tampa, Florida, and the No. 19 running back in that year's class, according to 247 Sports' composite rankings. He also held scholarship offers from Power Five schools like Florida State, Penn State, South Carolina, Louisville and Pittsburgh, among others, per 247 Sports. - Deseret News

rSo/2026

RB Ricky Parks, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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01/08/23 - Cole Becker, Jr/2025, Utah + More +

Utah didn't have to look too far to reel in a kicker from the transfer portal. Former Colorado kicker Cole Becker announced Friday he has committed to the Utes, three days after entering the NCAA transfer portal. Becker, who was the Buffaloes' kicker the past two seasons, will have two years of eligibility remaining.

What did Cole Becker do at Colorado? The 6-foot-3 kicker out of Roseville, California, made 11 of 13 field goals during the 2022 season, with a long of 49 yards, while connecting on 20 of 21 extra points. He made 25 of 33 field goals at Colorado, with a long of 56, and 45 of 46 extra points over the past two years. Becker had touchbacks on 67% of his 94 kickoffs over the past two seasons, though that improved to 73.9% during the 2022 season. He was also flagged for kickoffs out of bounds just twice. Becker entered the transfer portal not long after Jackson State kicker Alejandro Mata followed new Colorado coach Deion Sanders to Boulder. - Deseret News

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K Cole Becker, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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01/08/23 - Micah Bernard, rJr/2025, Utah + More +

Utah running back Micah Bernard is reportedly entering the NCAA transfer portal, according to multiple reports Wednesday afternoon. The Athletic's Max Olson, who first reported the news, said Bernard will enter the portal as a graduate transfer. Later Wednesday, Bernard shared a message on social media, thanking the Utah football community. Bernard finished second on the team in 2022 with 533 rushing yards and had four rushing touchdowns. He added 34 catches for 314 yards and another score.

Bernard, who also played cornerback for the Utes last year in the Rose Bowl when injuries limited Utah at the position, rushed for 1,136 yards and six touchdowns in four years in Utah's program. He caught 64 passes for 590 yards and three touchdowns at Utah. It's the second expected departure for the Utes' running backs group, after leading rusher Tavion Thomas declared for the NFL draft. - Deseret News

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RB Micah Bernard, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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01/01/23 - Brant Kuithe, rSr/2024, Utah + More +

When Brant Kuithe tore his right ACL on Sept. 25 at Arizona State, the assumption was the three-time All-Pac-12 tight end's college career was over. After all, he is a fifth-year senior who has already flirted with leaving for the NFL twice, but the fact that Kuithe only played four games this season and has never used a redshirt in his career left the door open for a return in 2023. Kuithe is with the Utes this week at the Rose Bowl, and on Saturday morning at media day, the door for his return remained open. "I still have a little bit of time, no rush right now," Kuithe said with a smile.

Pressed on whether or not he has made a decision and just isn't ready to announce it publicly, the Katy, Texas, native indicated that was indeed the case. Kuithe, Cam Rising, Devaughn Vele, Micah Bernard, and Thomas Yassmin are among the key Utes whose decisions on their respective futures will help shape what the 2023 season could look like. If, at a minimum, Rising and Kuithe return, the Utes would likely be looked upon as a top-15 team to open the season and among the favorites to win the Pac-12 for a third consecutive season. College underclassmen have until Jan. 16 to file declaration papers with the NFL seeking special eligibility for the draft, which is scheduled for April 27-29. - Salt Lake Tribune

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FB Brant Kuithe, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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01/01/23 - Braeden Daniels, rJr/2023, Utah + More +

A fifth-year junior with one season of eligibility remaining, Braeden Daniels accepted a Senior Bowl invitation on Nov. 15, usually a clear indication that a player intends to leave school. The All-Pac-12 first-team offensive lineman didn't deny that on Friday morning. "I will most likely be declaring for the NFL, but it's been great here," Daniels said. "I didn't want to leave, but it's time." Working in his favor as he begins the NFL draft process is the fact Daniels is versatile, having started 18 times at left guard, 13 at left tackle, and 11 at right tackle.

All 13 starts at left tackle have come this season as the anchor to a Utah offensive line that has allowed only nine sacks. Multiple mock draft and scouting sites have Daniels projected inside as a guard at the pro level. "I want to enter the NFL draft as the most versatile offensive lineman," Daniels said. "That's something I have to embrace and after playing all the different positions, having that film, it's going to help me excel within the draft." - Salt Lake Tribune

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OG Braeden Daniels, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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12/19/22 - Zemaiah Vaughn, rJr/2025, Utah + More +

Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III opted out of this year's Rose Bowl and declared for the NFL draft, so the Utes will be without their top defensive player in their biggest game of the season. Phillips III will be among the top cornerbacks available in the 2023 NFL draft. This season, he has six interceptions, which ranks second in the country. Two of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns. The 5-foot-10, 183-pound cornerback also had 24 tackles and six pass breakups. He was a unanimous All-American this season, the first-ever for Utah on offense or defense. "Clark Phillips, he's one of a kind... He's a great leader, so being around him just makes you push himself more and go harder in everything you do," cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn said. The most likely candidate to fill in for Phillips III at right cornerback is Vaughn, a sophomore.

Listed behind Phillips III at right cornerback on the Utes' latest depth chart, Vaughn has played in all 13 games this season, and has started six games, including three at right cornerback. "We've all pretty much been rotating, so nothing different, just do it better," Vaughn said. The 6-foot-2, 178-pound Vaughn leads the team in pass breakups with nine this season and has 22 tackles. He's forced a fumble and recovered a fumble this year. "In (Phillip III's) absence, we have faith in the guys that are coming up, JT and Zemaiah, that that will play," Hubert said. In the Pac-12 championship win over USC, Vaughn had four tackles. In last season's Pac-12 championship game win over Oregon, Vaughn was injured and couldn't finish the rest of the game, also missing the 2022 Rose Bowl. - Deseret News

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