Utah football coach Morgan Scalley gave a ringing endorsement of new Ute receiver Braden Pegan after just two weeks of spring camp.
“That’s one of those dudes that you wish you had 20 of them,” Scalley said. “I mean, he’s such a good kid, smart football player, athletic, can jump out of the gym, so we’re excited to have him.”
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After a stellar junior campaign at Utah State in 2025, which included first team All-Mountain West honors after he racked up 926 yards and five touchdowns, Pegan chose to follow his offensive coordinator to Utah.
Pegan thrived under Kevin McGiven with former Ute Bryson Barnes at quarterback, and that experience in the system is vital. Last year, former New Mexico receiver Ryan Davis came to Utah with experience in Jason Beck’s system and was the Utes’ most productive receiver.
The knowledge of McGiven’s system gives Pegan an edge on Utah’s other wideouts during spring camp, which is something that has stood out to Scalley thus far.
“He understands what coach McGiven is asking of him,” Scalley said.
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In the film room and on the field, Pegan has been sharing what he knows about McGiven’s offense and expectations for the receivers, quickly becoming a leader.
He was voted to the 15-person leadership council — just the second newcomer named.
“As far as helping the other guys, he’s been great. He got voted to the leadership council, so just that presence in the room of a guy who knows exactly what to do, knows what (McGiven) wants. It’s been huge for not only them, but me as well, as I’m learning it also. It’s been really good for us,” receivers coach Chad Bumphis said.
Utah offered the three-star receiver out of high school, but Pegan began his college career at UCLA, rarely seeing the field before transferring to Utah State ahead of the 2025 season. In Logan, he found his college football footing and blossomed as a receiver.
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He had three games with 100 or more receiving yards, including a 147-yard and two-touchdown game vs. Air Force, and turned in two other games with at least 90 yards.
He proved to be a reliable first option for Barnes, and the two developed quite a connection in Utah State’s productive offense, which generated 30.9 points and 409.5 yards per game.
Being at Utah is a bit of a full-circle moment for Pegan. He was recruited by Bumphis back in 2021, and five years later, he’s in Salt Lake City being coached by him.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior is one of the tallest players in the receiver room and will be a big target for quarterback Devon Dampier, but he also has plenty of speed. He proved to have sure hands, dropping just two balls on 94 targets, and was a threat from all over the field.
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“We were able to, based on his learning curve, we were able to move him around a little bit where he could play on the left or the right. He could play inside or outside with the intent to get him targeted a little bit more often, make him a primary receiver,” McGiven said in February.
Pegan had nine catches of 20 or more air yards last season for the Aggies.
“I love that deep ball, catching it, catching it far down the field, getting a lot of yards, being explosive,” Pegan said.
Due to his production in 2025, Pegan was one of the better receivers available in the transfer portal, ranking No. 28 nationally among wideouts, per 247Sports.
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Ultimately, he chose to sign with Utah and follow his offensive coordinator, committing shortly after McGiven was named the Utes’ OC.
Pegan’s familiarity in the system has allowed him to play confidently in practice as he jumps back up to the Power Four level.
“I think first and foremost, the experience with the system and some of the schemes. I think being a second year in that, doing things a little bit faster, a little bit Braden confident with what you’re doing,” McGiven said.
“And I think that’s important for Braden, especially when you’re going up a level … so he’s been able to be out there practicing at a high level because he’s confident in the system.”
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As important as it is to have knowledge and experience in the offense, it’s equally as important to have good chemistry with your quarterback. McGiven pointed to Pegan’s chemistry with Barnes last season, and since Pegan arrived in Salt Lake City this winter, he’s been hard at work with Dampier.
“Just running a lot of routes, hanging out all the time, just trying to be on the same page as much as possible,” Pegan said.
Having Pegan has been helpful for Dampier as he absorbs McGiven’s offense.
“I think he’s been a huge help. Even I was asking him questions at the beginning with things I didn’t understand or what the receiver’s thinking. Just as a playing standpoint, he’s a baller,” Dampier said.
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Utah has not had a 1,000-yard receiver since Dres Anderson accomplished the feat in 2013. While playing against Big 12 defenses will be a step up from the Mountain West, Pegan is as well-positioned as anyone in Utah’s receiver room to break the mark.
