Nobody in FBS is more determined to flip the script than Kyle Whittingham, and let’s be real—it’s personal this time. Utah’s Big 12 debut in 2024 was supposed to be a mic-drop moment. Instead, it turned into a brutal plot twist. After storming out to a 4–0 start and even hanging a 49–0 smackdown on Southern Utah, the Utes looked like trouble. But then came the crash. A season-ending injury to Cam Rising. OC Andy Ludwig‘s scheme? Dusty and overcomplicated. And a seven-loss spiral that had fans wondering if the Big 12 hit harder than expected. They ended the year 5–7, missing a bowl for the first time in a decade. So Whittingham did what OGs do—he pressed reset. Enter Jason Beck, former New Mexico OC, and his prized QB, Devin Dampier.
With Jason Beck steering the offensive ship and Dampier pulling the strings, the Utes aren’t just aiming to bounce back—they’re planning a full-blown heist for the Big 12 crown. On July 2nd, Josh Furlong of KSL Sports broke it down plain and simple on ‘365 Sports’: “I believe the expectations are pretty high for this team. This is a team that understands that it didn’t live up to any of the expectations that it had. It was honestly one of Kyle Whittingham’s worst offenses of all time.”
The 2024 Utah offense was more “off” than offense. Ranked No. 102 in scoring. No. 98 in rushing. No. 98 in passing. And No. 115 overall. And OC Andy Ludwig’s scheme was deep, complex, and elite—if Cam Rising was healthy. But once he went down after the Baylor game? It fell apart, diabolically.
That’s why Whittingham made the bold move to bring in Beck, a coach known for making quarterbacks look like gods in fast-paced, RPO-heavy systems. And Dampier? Oh, he’s tailor-made for it. 5’11”, slippery as a soap bar, with the juice to break ankles and the arm to drop bombs. The New Mexico transfer rushed for 1,166 yards and 19 touchdowns last season.
Add in the fact that Utah’s offense isn’t leaning on one guy anymore, and you’ve got a machine with multiple gears. “They’ve developed a little bit more of a safe plan,” Furlong said. “The offense schemes aren’t as complex as what Andy Ludwig had. It’s an opportunity for them to just kind of be able to exist in a way that lets these guys showcase their talent.”
But Utah isn’t just banking on vibes. This roster is loaded. FanDuel currently pegs them at +600 to win the Big 12—tied for second-best odds in the league. Phil Steele has them ranked No. 18 nationally and predicts a potential three-way tie atop the conference with Baylor and Iowa State. And here’s the kicker: Utah’s offensive line is Steele’s No. 1 in the Big 12.
Spencer Fano headlines the group, and he’s flanked by Caleb Lomu and Tanoa Togiai, both of whom earned All-Big 12 team nods. That O-line is the firewall. The red carpet. The reason Dampier might stay upright long enough to cook. Running backs? Deep. Wayshawn Parker from Washington State brings 5.4 yards per carry to the party. NaQuari Rogers? A certified big-play threat. Tight end Dallen Bentley is going to live in the red zone. Even Dampier’s top target from New Mexico—Ryan Davis—made the leap to Utah. That chemistry? Already lit.
So what does it all mean? It means Kyle Whittingham is no way settling for anything lesser than 8 wins. Not after last year. Not with this roster. And not in this conference. As Josh Furlong said, “At the very least they’re going to be better than last year. But I think the belief there is that they really can compete for a Big 12 title this year and make some noise with a lot of people not really expecting them.” Utah’s not flying under the radar. They’re coming in like a freight train.
SALT LAKE CITY loves their QB
This city doesn’t hand out praise easily. Salt Lake fans? They’re loyal but brutally honest. So when the buzz starts building around a new QB, you know it’s real. Players feed off it. Coaches respect it. And fans? They’re already getting the jerseys printed. The dual threat QB’s only been in Salt Lake for a few months, and he’s already got the locker room on lock. “It helps also that Devin Dampier is one of those guys that—he comes in and he just absorbs kind of the culture of a team,” Furlong said. “He’s a vocal leader. He goes in there and he’s not just doing it for show. It really just kind of is in his nature to be a leader.”
That’s the stuff you can’t coach. Dampier isn’t trying to be the man—he just is. The defense respects him. The offense follows him. And guys are smiling when his name comes up. But what made scouts sit up was how much of it came on designed runs. He wasn’t out there scrambling for his life. He was the offense. Built for chaos. Designed for control.
Jason Furlong doubled down on Dampier’s diabolical instant chemistry: “He’s obviously got that familiarity with Jason Beck. You also have a workhorse running back behind him who also is coming with his running backs coach. And so there’s familiarity all around, where these guys have worked together. And even though they’re all kind of being brought together in one spot, there’s a lot of consistency and understanding amongst each other, especially at the coaching level, on what this offense can be.”
Jason Beck’s offense fits him like a tailored suit. Fast. Fluid. RPO-heavy. The type of scheme that turns athletes into problems. Add that to a deep O-line and a loaded backfield, and you’ve got all the pieces of a potential top-25 offense. And with Beck calling the shots, Utah doesn’t need to slow it down anymore. With Dampier, they can run full throttle.
And Vegas knows it too. Utah’s win total line is set at 7.5—and the over’s already getting love. People believe in this bounce-back. And if Dampier stays healthy and the passing game finds rhythm? This Utah team might just go and play in Big 12 title game in December.
The post Devin Dampier’s Locker Room Impact Turning Heads as Clear Kyle Whittingham Expectations Set appeared first on EssentiallySports.