Utah Utes quarterback Bryson Barnes runs in the course of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. Barnes is amongst 4 backup QBs vying to earn the position of QB2 for the Utes. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
The Crimson group’s Ja’Quinden Jackson palms off to Jaylon Glover in the course of the College of Utah’s Crimson and White recreation at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday, April 23, 2022. Jackson is within the battle to be the Utes’ QB2 this season. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Not like the earlier two seasons, there’s no battle in fall camp for Utah’s beginning quarterback job.
However there's an ongoing competitors to be Cam Rising’s backup.
Texas switch Ja’Quinden Jackson and unlikely Rose Bowl hero Bryson Barnes are competing for QB2, together with freshmen Nate Johnson and Brandon Rose.
How does coach Kyle Whittingham assess the backup quarterback competitors every week into camp?
“It appears to be like good, so far as some good issues occurring. We’re not going to decide earlier than the primary scrimmage, which is Saturday,” Whittingham stated. “JJ’s wanting good. Bryson Barnes is doing an excellent job. Nate is actually wanting good. Brandon Rose most likely has one of many strongest arms however he’s somewhat bit missing in conceptual issues of the offense. He must spend extra time within the weight room, which he'll. However we’ve bought numerous good candidates. Not separating themselves proper now however hopefully after the scrimmage it'll.”
Whittingham was requested how he retains the quarterbacks proud of so few reps accessible.
“I’m not nervous about preserving individuals pleased proper now,” he stated. “I’m simply nervous about outcomes on the sector.”
Final yr within the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl, Rising went down with an damage.
Whereas nearly everybody anticipated Jackson to take the sector as a result of he was listed on the depth chart because the backup QB, as a substitute it was Barnes, a walk-on from Milford, Utah.
In Barnes’ second collection, he threw a game-tying landing move to Dalton Kincaid with lower than two minutes remaining.
Ohio State responded by kicking a game-winning 19-yard discipline aim with 9 seconds remaining for a 48-45 victory.
Many may need been shocked by Barnes’ efficiency on a giant stage. However Kincaid and the remainder of the Utes weren't.
“Bryson’s thrown me that move a number of occasions. I knew it was coming there as quickly as I lined up. He put it within the good spot and made it simple for me,” Kincaid stated. “When a frontrunner goes down like that, it’s robust on a group. Bryson did a terrific job of getting the blokes collectively and saying, ‘Let’s go do that factor.’”
For Jackson, 2021 was an emotionally troublesome season after the loss of life of his two shut pals and teammates, Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe. Jackson stated he handled psychological well being points in the course of the season, which performed a consider him not taking part in within the Rose Bowl.
“Due to the scenario with ALowe, it was extra my half than something,” Jackson stated. “It was coping with psychological well being … that’s what the case was.”
“We went by means of rather a lot final yr as a group. He knew these guys much more personally,” Kincaid stated of Jackson. “I can’t think about what went by means of his head final yr. It’s being there for him by means of all of it. He’s bought numerous motivation.”
The Crimson group’s Ja’Quinden Jackson palms off to Jaylon Glover in the course of the College of Utah’s Crimson and White recreation at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday, April 23, 2022. Jackson is within the battle to be the Utes’ QB2 this season.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information