New Mexico QB Devon Dampier

[Anfernee]

Announced he’s entering the transfer portal. The first-team All-Mountain West QB put up 3,934 total yards and 31 TDs this season. Dynamic playmaker who rushed for 1,166 yards, third-most among FBS QBs.

[highlandute7]

This was my next question. If they had a QB to come along with Beck.

[Asmitty]

I’m actually pretty happy with the Beck hire. That being said I’m a little more hesitant with the QB — he’s undersized and accuracy isn’t strong. 12 TD’s and 12 picks…awesome rusher though.

[Rick Walker]

He can play running back for us!

[Tyler Henry]

I am curious, why are you happy about the Beck hiring? He does have some impressive stats at the first glance, but when you look at the individual statistics, it is a bit concerning. Having the 78th best passing offense in the country in terms of YPG is concerning, considering we need to modernize our offense. The QB that entered the portal for instance has more rushing yards than passing yards this season. Beck’s hiring feels like more of the same from Whitt to me.

[2008 National Champ]

parochial school QB? check
QB coach at Weber under McBride? check
QB coach at parochial school? check

This has Whitt hire written all over it. Now we just get 9 months of speculation on whether he will be allowed to call a game like Bronco let him or if Whitt will start tugging the leash early and often.

2025 will be his 3rd year as an OC who’s first team, Syracuse, put up 23.54 ppg (#92) and 343.6 ypg (#99)? Me thinks the leash will be pretty short.

[crash11]

Now actually the research…and look at all the injuries during his season at Syracuse:

2023 Syracuse season is akin to Utah

Averaged 462 yards and 38 points through the first five games (Clemson, Purdue, Western Michigan among them). Injuries mounted by game five vs Clemson. Next four games were significantly impacted by the absences. Finished final three games averaging 28 points and 398 yards.

2023 Syracuse started a TE two games and WR in their bowl game at QB because they were all injured. He still found a way to get offense.

[2008 National Champ]

gotcha. ignore the 5 game losing streak where they scored 14, 7, 3, 10 & 10 with QB1 and QB2 and count the FCS game where they scored 65.

That TE was a 3* QB transfer from Michigan and I see a WR throwing one pass on the season.

[highlandute7]

He did not have more rushing yards than passing yards this year.

He threw for just over 2700 yards and rushed for just over 1100 yards.

He did have more rushing TDs (19) than passing (12).

[Asmitty]

Everything you said is true! I don’t think any of the potential candidates were slam dunks — the truth is Arbuckle and Leftwich both have huge question marks still. UNM rushed the ball so much because their QB really isn’t a good passer, which I was trying to convey earlier. As far as “modernizing” the offense, Beck’s passing schemes are much more spread-style as opposed to Ludwig’s rather unimaginative pro-style attack. But only time will tell, and it will be very player dependent! Regardless of who the OC is, if the QB isn’t good…you will see much of the same. As much as blame as Whitt gets and deserves, we have just frankly had bad QBs for the past 15 years. Rising and Huntley are the only ones that I would consider good, and we had good offenses with those two. Now, does Whitt hinder the program from getting more of those types of QBs? Definitely a strong case there.

[Utesbyfive]

Fifita is a shrimp too.

[Tony (admin)]

The shrimp owned us.

[2008 National Champ]

twice

[highlandute7]

What about their RB? Was a 1k yard rusher this year.

[AZUTE]

Utah can do better

[2008 National Champ]

can they?

[AZUTE]

Beck’s first test will be landing a top notch TP QB

[hbUte]

12 TDs & 12 picks?!?! Not a good ratio.

Agreed – we can and NEED to do better.

[Oldskool]

12 TDs & 12 picks in general is not a good ratio, but 12 TDs & 12 picks along with 19 rushing TDs is absolutely outstanding!

Not sure why everyone is always so fixed on stats. If the odds of scoring within the Redzone are higher by running the ball than by passing, you run the damn ball. Its not brain surgery here. Dampier is a hell of a runner. Why have him pass when he can score running. Had he not run the ball for a 19 TDs, he may have had 31 TD passes. Then, all of a sudden the stats work for those of you worried about the TD vs INT ratio.

And my final add, some of you who jumped on the “We need to go after Noah Fifita” when it was thought he entered the portal, check his “stats” compared to Dampier. Very similar, minus the 1166 yards rushing offense.

Dampier is someone that if he comes to Utah, will be a game changer. He has 2 more years to play and will only get better.

Also, ran the ball a lot without injury. Not many Ute QBs can say that the past few years.

[EagleMountainUte]

Fifita beat Utah at home so in Utah fans minds that means good. Guy is pretty average. I would take him for sure but if it was between Fifita and Dampier I would take the one Beck has used already.

[2008 National Champ]

Fifita looked really good in 2023 against everyone he played. And since Arizona got the worst of the Saban retiring coaching carousel, I’d be willing to look past his 2024 numbers and see what he can do. Even with his 2024, Fifita has a better resume than Huard, Wilson or Rose and I would take him over Dampier. The question will be how many current Utah QB’s leave and whether there is room for both Fifita and Dampier to fight it out?

[2008 National Champ]

I doubt many actually watched full New Mexico games this year so stats and highlights are all we’ve got.

I did find it weird that you wondered why so many are fixated on stats and then threw stats and manipulated stats at us.,,

[Red Rhino]

Some of the challenges of the triple option:

1. The likelihood of the QB getting hit more often and injured.

2. If they are not a great passer it can be frustrating for receivers. They do a lot of running just to watch the QB take off running over and over again.

3. More holding penalties as OLs struggle to keep track of which direction the qb is running.

We better have a good backup QB.

[jshame17]

Perfect summary of my concerns.

In my opinion, this higher sets Utah back and cements us in a mindset that was in vogue in the early 2000s. Based off highlights I’ve watched, this offense pre-dates Urban’s version of spread-option as it is WAY more run based.

It will fit Dampier and potentially Ficklin, but how does it work for Rose, Wilson and Becker?

Guillory may do well with the scheme, but Mitchell, Andrews and whoever we happen to land in the portal.

We will have to revamp the oline again, as we are not great in run blocking, creating lanes or sealing edges.

[Utah]

If it’s between Dampier, Fifita or Nate Johnson, I’d go this way:

Fifita – First choice. He’s a QB who has actually had success on this level.
Nate Johnson – He’s a QB who has actually had experience at this level.
Dampier – He’s a bargain level Johnson.

[WasatchRanger]

I understand Dampier did it in the MWC, but Johnson hasn’t done it.

I’d take Dampier over Johnson personally, but I understand your take.

[2008 National Champ]

Fifita then Dampier at QB but both if possible. Nate at slot only no matter who they bring in or keep at QB.

[Author]

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