Four years after now-departed Travis Wilson first held the starting quarterback position, the spot is up for grabs. With the first week of spring football underway, two Utes currently hold that spot — Brandon Cox and Troy Williams. Not far behind those two is true freshman Tyler Huntley. The race is open, and head coach Kyle Whittingham is giving each player an equal opportunity.
Whittingham sees a lot of overlapping qualities between the three players vying for the starting title. They all have the capability to extend the play and get out of a bind when necessary, they can get the ball out of the hands quick, they’re athletic and most importantly, they’re dual threats.
Cox has already been in the Utah system for a few years, and although he could have explored other options — such as transferring — since he has been in the wings of not only Wilson but Kendal Thompson as well, his faith never wavered. He knew he would get a shot to show the coaches what he was capable of and sitting on the sidelines only made him a better player.
“This day and age, guys want to play early and play fast,” Cox said. “For me, it was all about learning and waiting my turn, and I’m going to come out here and give it my best shot. That’s what I came here for — I feel blessed to get the opportunity I have now.”
When it comes down to it, Whittingham isn’t playing favorites and needs each one to put forth the work and effort to earn the job.
“Brandon does have a head start, and he’s obviously the more comfortable [one] in the scheme, but they’re all going to get their chance,” Whittingham said. “Doesn’t matter if you’ve been here four years or four weeks.”
Williams is a junior college transfer from Santa Monica College, but before that, he was one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks coming out of high school and originally committed to Pac-12 school Washington. Although not all of it was at the Division-I level, Williams has a decent amount of experience under center against elite competition and will use this to his advantage.
He’s excited to see how things unfold at Utah but wants to remain true to himself. It seems to be a friendly competition at the moment. Williams is focusing on what he needs to do to win over the coaching staff.
“I just want to be me,” Williams said. “Don’t want to modify it too much, go out there and play my game and have fun. Take it day by day and don’t worry about what the next guy is doing and try to make myself better.”
Whittingham said he wasn’t aware of who was listed on the released depth chart, but that the two upperclassmen have been working more with the first team and Huntley has been working more with the second team.
Huntley is not listed on the depth chart because Cox and Williams hold the two spots, but the freshman is already making some noise with one practice in the books. Huntley comes from Hallandale High School in Florida, and during Tuesday’s practice had a deep pass to Demari Simpkins, his high school teammate. He may be getting use to the collegiate system and how everything works, but there is a level of familiarity getting to throw the ball to his former, and current, wide receiver and friend.
While he does have a few things to get used to on and off the field, like the quarterback competition and the snow — something he never saw before coming to Utah — he is embracing every minute of it.
“It makes us better, competing every day,” Huntley said. “I expect myself to learn more things and come out and perform everyday. I already know what I need to learn. I performed on a great level in Florida, so I came in knowing that I could get that starting position.”
Whittingham has been impressed with all three quarterbacks, but a little more so with Huntley, considering the fact that he has just entered the program. He already has a great command of the offense and his teammates, all as someone who should be finishing up his high school career at this very moment.
“Really impressed with Tyler Huntley’s leadership — not that the other two aren’t good leaders, but as a true freshman, the leadership skills that he has demonstrated and the way that his personality is, he’s got a quarterback personality,” Whittingham said.
As spring practice continues into April, Whittingham will adjust reps accordingly if one person, or two, start to pull away from the rest of the pack. But until that happens, each will be given a fair chance to show what they can do come fall.
@kbrenneisen