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2022 PRESEASON MAXWELL AWARD WATCH LIST: Cameron Rising, Utah,... In 2021 Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (6-2, 220) finally saw action in 13 games, starting the last 11, going 204-of-320 passing (5 INT, 20 TDs) for 2,493 yards, adding 74 carries for 499 rushing yards (6.7 ypc) and six rushing touchdowns. He was a Pac-12 All-Conference first-team selection, was highest rated Pac-12 quarterback on ESPN's QBR Rating (84.2), ranking sixth overall. Ranked fourth in total offensive TDs (18), third in passing yards per game (214.1), third in passing efficiency (145.74) and second in passing yards per completion (12.76) in Pac-12 games only. Redshirted at Texas in 2018, redshirted at Utah in 2019 and had season-ending injury after one start in 2020. So he needed to show something in 2021 and he did. - Utah Football

(DS#28 QB) rSr/2025

QB Cameron Rising, Utah
News Source: Utah Football
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07/20/22 - Cameron Rising, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-2, 220 (DS#28 QB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON DAVEY O'BRIEN NATIONAL QUARTERBACK AWARD WATCH LIST: Cameron Rising, Utah, Jr., 6-2, 220, Ventura, Calif.,...Rising earned first-team All-Pac-12 in 2021 after going 204-of-320 passing for 2,493 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was also versatile on the field as a dual threat, adding 74 carries for 499 rushing yards (6.7 ypc) and six rushing scores. - Utah Football

(DS#28 QB) rSr/2025

QB Cameron Rising, Utah
News Source: Utah Football
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06/28/22 - Cameron Rising, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-2, 220 (DS#28 QB) + More +

This weekend, Utah quarterback Cam Rising has been participating in the Manning Passing Academy, a high school football camp in Thibodaux, La. founded by former NFL quarterback Archie Manning. Manning's sons, former NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, are also on hand during during the camp. Rising has been a coach during the camp, and participated in competition with the other college quarterback coaches on Friday such as Alabama's Bryce Young.

"The quarterbacks threw 10-yard hooks, 18-yard comebacks, 18-yard digs and a deep ball to receivers. The scored portion of the throwing session was a target competition where the quarterbacks threw at moving golf carts. Each turn included two crossing routes and a vertical throw down the sideline," per On3's Charles Power. Power named the top standouts from the event, and Rising was on the list. "Cameron Rising was among the more relaxed passers in the Manning Passing Academy's high-energy setting. (Rising) didn't press and made some nice throws on the night, highlighted by a well-thrown comeback. Rising's emergence in 2021 helped lead Utah to the Rose Bowl," Power wrote. - Deseret News

(DS#28 QB) rSr/2025

QB Cameron Rising, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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06/27/22 - Mohamoud Diabate, Sr/2023, Utah, 6-4, 225 (DS#11 ILB) + More +

The first, and only, meeting between Utah and Florida in football happened 45 years ago. That day, on Nov. 19, 1977, the Gators defeated the Utes in their homecoming game 38-29. Utah finished the season with a 3-8 record. When the two programs collide again on Sept. 3 at "The Swamp" in Gainesville, it will be televised by ESPN and the Utes should be ranked in the national polls. No doubt, times have changed. "It's evident when you put the tape on, this team's got height, length, speed. They're tough. They play with effort. They've got a reputation and a brand that they play to. So, we've got a ton of respect for Utah. - Florida coach Billy Napier on the Utes And Utah is looking forward to this kind of test to kick off the season. The Utes are the defending Pac-12 champions and lost a heartbreaker in the Rose Bowl to Ohio State last New Year's Day.

Of course, this season opener will be a homecoming for Ute linebacker Mohamoud Diabate, who spent the previous three seasons with the Gators before transferring to Utah. "It brings emotion because those are the guys you grew up with and you had more workouts with those guys. Those are some of my closest friends. But at the end of the day, I want to destroy them," he said. "When I step on the field, they know how I am. You're my enemy now. "At the end of the day, all that stuff that we've been through, all those times we were together, that goes out the window. I'm trying to do my job and I know it's going to be the same on their end. It will come down to who prepares the best and who's ready." - Deseret News

(DS#11 ILB) Sr/2023

ILB Mohamoud Diabate, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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06/21/22 - Devaughn Vele, rJr/2024, Utah, 6-4, 203 (DS#45 WR) + More +

Fresh off its first Pac-12 championship and Rose Bowl appearance, Utah is looking to repeat in 2022 and finds itself ranked in the top 10 in several preseason polls. Some project the Utes as a contender for the College Football Playoff. "We're the champions coming back. We're not going to sneak up on anybody," said coach Kyle Whittingham. "There's a lot of good teams in the (Pac-12) South. We've just got to go about our business like we usually do. We don't have that under-the-radar feel to us this year." The Utes say they are ready for everybody's best this fall.

"It's understanding that we are the team with a target on our back. Everybody is going to be coming for us. We're no longer that underdog team where they just overlook us," said Utes wide receiver Devaughn Vele. "Now we're one of those powerhouses and when they think of the Pac-12, they think of Utah, not just USC or Oregon or Washington. "It's just understanding that role and being able to step into that spotlight and not shying away from it. It's keeping that confidence and understanding what we need to do and still maintaining the same energy that we had last year." Most of Utah's offense returns, highlighted by quarterback Cam Rising, running back Tavion Thomas and tight ends Brant Kuithe and Dalton Kincaid. - Deseret News

(DS#45 WR) rJr/2024

WR Devaughn Vele, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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06/11/22 - Tavion Thomas, rJr/2023, Utah, 6-0, 237 (DS#25 RB) + More +

Tavion Thomas emerged as the lead back for Utah football during the 2021 season, helping the Utes finish strong on what turned out to be a top 15 team that earned the program's first Rose Bowl appearance. While Thomas finished the season with 1,108 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns - third-most in the country - his performance once the calendar flipped to October really displayed what the 6-foot-2, 238-pounder brings to the field. Over the Utes' final nine games last season, Thomas scored 19 touchdowns - at least one per game, with back-to-back four-touchdown games. During that stretch, he also averaged 20.3 carries and 108.2 rushing yards per game, with a 5.3 per-carry average. Now, the junior back is earning recognition as one of the nation's top running backs. - Deseret News

(DS#25 RB) rJr/2023

RB Tavion Thomas, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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06/06/22 - Cameron Rising, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-2, 220 (DS#28 QB) + More +

Entering the 2022 season, Rising isn't going to sneak up on anybody. Opposing teams have a year's worth of film on him. Everybody knows who he is. Rising is being mentioned as someone that deserves a spot on Heisman Watch lists. A lot should be expected of Rising as he enters the season as the undisputed starter, according to Scott Mitchell. "Cam Rising right now should be considered a Heisman Trophy candidate," he said. "That's my expectation."

But Mitchell's expectations don't end there. "The expectation is that Utah ends up in the College Football Playoff. I think that's what they think, too. I think Cam Rising thinks that. That expectation is, this isn't bigger than us," he said. "With the type of talent they have coming back, across the board (that should be the expectation). "But also the maturity and the experience and the culture that's at Utah right now. This is a team and a program that's really right at that place, that place of winning the conference championship was amazing; the Rose Bowl was incredible, but we can do more. That's what more is." Utah has an ideal opportunity to prove itself on a national stage with a season opener at Florida, on national television. - Deseret News

(DS#28 QB) rSr/2025

QB Cameron Rising, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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06/05/22 - Tavion Thomas, rJr/2023, Utah, 6-0, 237 (DS#25 RB) + More +

The reigning conference champions from Utah are getting love on Athlon Sports' preseason all-conference teams. Utah, the reigning Pac-12 champion, had 12 selections - tied for second in the conference. Oregon and Washington each had 12 selections and USC led the Pac-12 with 16 selections on Athlon's 2022 All-Pac-12 Team. Utah running back Tavion Thomas, tight end Brant Kuithe and offensive lineman Braeden Daniels earned spots on the first-team offense, while cornerback Clark Phillips and safety Cole Bishop earned spots on the first-team defense. - Deseret News

(DS#25 RB) rJr/2023

RB Tavion Thomas, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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05/21/22 - Levani Damuni, rSr/2026, Utah, 6-2, 234 (DS#31 ILB) + More +

2022 LOTT IMPACT TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST: LEVANI DAMUNI, LB, Stanford, Jr., 6-2, 251, Providence, Utah: Led team with 88 tackles; Has done Mormon mission; Majoring in Science, Technology and Society. - Lott IMPACT Trophy/The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation

(DS#31 ILB) rSr/2026

ILB Levani Damuni, Utah
News Source: Lott IMPACT Trophy
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05/19/22 - Cole Fotheringham, rJr/2022, Utah, 6-4, 246 (DS#28 TE) + More +

Bio information on Raiders undrafted rookie tight end Cole Fotheringham from Utah: 6-4, 246 pounds; Fotheringham played four seasons at Utah, totaling 52 receptions for 526 yards and three touchdowns in 47 games with 38 starts. - Raiders.com

(DS#28 TE) rJr/2022

TE Cole Fotheringham, Utah
News Source: Raiders.com
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05/18/22 - TJ Pledger, Sr/2022, Utah, 5-08, 192 (DS#46 RB) + More +

Unlike several of his former University of Utah colleagues, running back T.J. Pledger didn't sign a rookie free-agent contract after going undrafted in the 2022 NFL draft. Instead, Pledger went to the Arizona Cardinals rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, and on Monday, he officially turned that tryout into a contract. He was one of six tryout players to sign with the Cardinals. Pledger spent the 2021 season in the Utah program after transferring from Oklahoma and rushed for 694 yards and six touchdowns for the Utes. The 5-foot-9, 196-pound back averaged 6.6 yards per carry as the team's second-leading rusher and had four 100-yard rushing games in his lone season with the Utes. - Deseret News

(DS#46 RB) Sr/2022

RB TJ Pledger, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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05/09/22 - Junior Tafuna, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-4, 308 (DS#46 DT) + More +

As good as Utah defensive tackle Junior Tafuna was last season as a freshman, the coaching staff is confident that his best is yet to come. A 6-foot-3, 297-pound, three-star recruit out of Bingham High, Tafuna served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Praia, Cape Verde, before joining the program in 2020. While Tafuna didn't play that season, in 2021, he recorded 33 tackles, including 4.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup. For his efforts, he earned Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year honors and Associated Press Pac-12 All-Conference Second-Team recognition.

"He's a guy that we recruited to be a D-end. He goes on a mission and comes back and he's a little heavier than a regular D-end," said defensive ends coach Lewis Powell. "We move him inside and the twitchiness just continues...He continues to develop. He's going to be special to watch this year, for sure." "This is a guy that was playing linebacker and D-end in high school. We knew he was twitchy enough. It was a matter of putting on the weight," he said. "Our staff does an unbelievable job making sure we're putting on the right weight, not doing it too quick. "He's devoted his time during the offseason to putting on the right weight. He's another 15 pounds heavier than he was. He's striking very well. We anticipate him having a very special season." "There's no ceiling with him. He has unbelievable talent. He does some things that some other guys really can't," Elliss said. "He's that explosive and that talented. He has a high ceiling, if there is a ceiling. I think he's going to be even better than he was last year." - Deseret News

(DS#46 DT) rSr/2025

DT Junior Tafuna, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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05/09/22 - Cameron Rising, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-2, 220 (DS#28 QB) + More +

In the past three NFL drafts, there have been two Utah quarterbacks who were first-round draft picks: Utah State's Jordan Love in 2020 and BYU's Zach Wilson in 2021. Could it happen again next year? Last year, Rising took over as starting quarterback midway through the Utes' third game and led Utah to a 10-4 record, the school's first Pac-12 football championship and the program's first appearance in the Rose Bowl. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound transfer from Texas threw for 2,493 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions last season, while also rushing for 499 yards and six touchdowns. - Deseret News

(DS#28 QB) rSr/2025

QB Cameron Rising, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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05/06/22 - Devaughn Vele, rJr/2024, Utah, 6-4, 203 (DS#45 WR) + More +

Devaughn Vele emerged as Utah's top receiver this spring. The Utes have proven tight ends in Brant Kuithe and Dalton Kincaid but they need more firepower out of the wideouts. "We need to generate more explosive plays in the perimeter. A lot of our explosive plays were generated on the interior with the tight end play," said offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig. "The ability to create the one-on-ones because the tight ends are going to draw attention on the inside. It's taking advantage of the one-on-ones on the outside with dynamic playmakers. I think we have the size and speed to do that. We just need to put it all together." Vele's size provides the Utes with a dangerous weapon.

"It's a big advantage when he goes up for contested balls. He's not only 6-5, but he has great body control," coach Kyle Whittingham said. "He can outmaneuver people for the football because his athleticism is at such a high level as well. "That's a great combination and a great weapon as a wide receiver to have that size and that acrobatic ability. He's got great hands. He hardly ever drops a ball. His challenge has been to stay on the field consistently and stay healthy. He was able to do that all spring so that's a great start with that." - Deseret News

(DS#45 WR) rJr/2024

WR Devaughn Vele, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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05/04/22 - Cameron Rising, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-2, 220 (DS#28 QB) + More +

Quarterback Cam Rising said despite being the defending Pac-12 champs, the team still has a chip on its shoulder. "You have to go out there and attack it. That's what the coaches have told us to do. Yeah, we won it last year and that doesn't mean that this year's trophy is in our case right now just sitting there," he said. "We have to go out there and attack it and treat it the same way we did last year so that we're going about it the right way and making sure we get back to the championship and go win it." Much of the optimism surrounding the 2022 campaign can be attributed to the return of Rising. "We know Cam's our guy. We've just got to work those guys behind him and see what happens," coach Kyle Whittingham said. "We have a first-team all-conference quarterback coming back to lead us. That's a huge positive for us." - Deseret News

(DS#28 QB) rSr/2025

QB Cameron Rising, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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