Who’s standing out, who’s leading QB2 battle, and what’s happening with a new tight end

The pads are on for Utah, and now the real work begins.

The Utes had their first padded practice Wednesday afternoon and had about 50 snaps of “live work,” giving coaches their first chance since spring to see players in situations that better simulate game action.

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“Saw some really good things. Wayshawn Parker had some nice physical runs, NaQuari Rogers as well, Devon (Dampier) moved the first-team offense up and down the field. So a lot of good stuff,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “A long ways to go obviously, but we have 19 more practices to get it done.”

Aside from the aforementioned running backs, Whittingham highlighted the play of receivers Tobias Merriweather, the transfer from Cal, and Daidren Zipperer, who was one of the few contributors at the position to return to Salt Lake City.

JJ Buchanan, who played wide receiver and safety in high school, has also stood out in a tight end role. The 6-foot-4, 208-pound freshman starred at receiver for Coronado High in Henderson, Nevada, and is making an early impact during his first collegiate fall camp.

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Prior to fall camp, Whittingham said that the receivers were the biggest question mark on the team, but have gained some clarity as Utah opened its second week of fall camp.

The first big test, for the wide receiver room and elsewhere, will come Saturday, when Utah will hold its first scrimmage of the fall.

Other players that are making waves on the offensive side of the ball include two defensive stars — Whittingham highlighted Smith Snowden and Lander Barton for their contributions.

“We’ve got some utility guys, Nate Johnson, Hunter Andrews, JJ Buchanan, guys like that who are able to do several things. Smith Snowden’s looking good on offense,” Whittingham said. “That’s going to be a good addition for us and Lander Barton doing some good things now. So we’ve got a lot of options here.”

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As for another big position group battle — the starting outside cornerback spot — Whittingham remarked that it’s been competitive, and that Utah may end up playing that position by committee.

“We’ve got three or four guys that are playing at a very high level. It’s not waiting for someone to step up and play at that level. We’ve got three or four guys doing a really good job. No one’s just really separated themselves,” Whittingham said.

Josiah Jefferson update

There was a bit of a surprise over the weekend when Utah announced that it had signed Josiah Jefferson, the No. 1-ranked junior college tight end according to 247Sports, to the 2025 roster — not 2026, as expected.

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Jefferson, who chose Utah over Oklahoma, would be a big addition to the Utes’ tight end room this season, but don’t count on him having a huge impact this season. It all comes down to when the 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end is able to join the team.

“We are still waiting on eligibility ruling and so if he is deemed eligible, that would depend when that happens as far as how soon we can integrate him into what we’re doing,” Whittingham said.

“If it takes longer rather than shorter, then maybe looking at a redshirt year and if he doesn’t get eligible at all, then he’s got the option to either redshirt back home in his junior college or play his junior college season. So still a lot of what-ifs on that.”

QB2 battle update

The latest update in the battle to be Devon Dampier’s backup is, well, not much of an update.

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Sophomore Isaac Wilson and freshman Byrd Ficklin, the two candidates, are in a “dead heat,” according to Whittingham.

That could change after Saturday’s scrimmage, but there’s still plenty of time after that before a decision has to be reached.

“Isaac is playing really well and so is Byrd. We’re going to continue that, hopefully not for a lot longer, but it’s not the same urgency as if you were battling for QB1,” Whittingham said. “We know who QB1 is. That is the most important thing. But we’re going to continue that QB2 battle at least through the scrimmage on Saturday. Maybe beyond, depending on what happens.”