SALT LAKE CITY — Utah starting quarterback Devon Dampier was clearly hobbled late Saturday night.
The star quarterback continued to push through to the end of the game, but an injury sustained during the game forced Utah to insert true freshman quarterback Byrd Ficklin in at times to sub in for a few snaps on designed run plays.
On Monday, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said Dampier “got beat up in this game pretty good” Saturday and that his status for the team’s home game against Colorado (8:15 p.m. MDT, ESPN) remains to be seen.
“We’ll just check — the availability report comes out Wednesday, and we have to wait a few days to see how these guys are healing up from the game,” Whittingham said. “And so that’s a distinct possibility, I can tell you that; but on Wednesday, you’ll start getting the availability report and the likelihood of who’s playing, who’s not.”
Should Dampier — who said Saturday night “I’m solid” when asked about his health — not be able to play, the Utes would turn to Ficklin as the team’s starter against the Buffaloes, even though Isaac Wilson had previously been named the team’s QB2.
Wilson has not taken a snap this season as the team looks to preserve a redshirt year for the former Corner Canyon star. Whittingham, however, said there has been no intent to redshirt Ficklin, who has already blown through eligibility, and has taken all the backup reps in either garbage time or as needed this season.
Ficklin earned backup duties, Whittingham said, through his “performance in practice, performance in games.”
“(It) started back in spring,” Whittingham said Monday. “He was just fresh out of high school, and really had the poise and the demeanor of a second-, third-, fourth-year player in your program. I mean, just did not operate like a true freshman.
“He’s got a lot of self confidence. He’s got a lot of ability — just physical abilities,” he added. “He’s an excellent athlete, really good runner, throws a really good ball. In fact, he’s what 9-for-9, I think, on his nine throws this year so far, and so he’s a guy that has showed nothing but a lot of promise ever since he set foot on campus.”
Ficklin remains 100% in his passing attempts (on nine attempts) this season, while passing for 138 yards and one touchdown. He’s provided an additional 111 rushing yards and three touchdowns in six games this season.
The freshman QB has played two full quarters this season, but in games completely out of hand.
“We’ve got a ton of confidence in him every time he’s entered a game,” Whittingham said. “So far this year he’s done positive things. If we have to go that route — I shouldn’t say if we have to go — if we end up going that route based on health, then we’ve got the confidence in him that he can get it done.”
Utah’s first availability report for Saturday’s game will be released Wednesday at 8 p.m. MDT.
Utah quarterback Byrd Ficklin (15) calls to a player before the snap during an NCAA football game against Arizona State held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (Photo: Isaac Hale, Deseret News)