According to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, the Cam Rising era at Utah appears to have run its course as the current expectation in Salt Lake City is that the star quarterback won’t return for the 2025 season.
“It’s unclear at this point whether Rising plans to head to the NFL or whether he plans to apply for a medical hardship waiver and then use that extra year of eligibility,” Zenitz writes. “Rising is eligible for the waiver because of being limited to three games this year due to an injury.”
Rising appeared in just three games for the Utes in 2024, and was far removed from the player we’d grown used to seeing in his most recent appearance against Arizona State in Week 7.
In a 29-17 loss, a clearly hobbled Rising went just 16/37 for 209 yards and three interceptions. In his other two appearances, Rising was 18/29 for 346 yards and seven touchdowns with zero interceptions, adding 46 rushing yards on six carries.
Over his four-year stint at Utah, Rising completed 63.1% of his attempts for 6,127 yards with 65 total touchdowns and 19 interceptions.
Rising led the Utes to Pac-12 Championships in his two full seasons as Utah’s starting quarterback in 2021 and 2022 and had high expectations coming into the year.
If he should receive a medical hardship and get another year of eligibility, Rising will likely have quite a bit of interest, considering his experience, but his injury history will undoubtedly put a ceiling on what he can draw in NIL opportunities. Meanwhile, entering the 2025 NFL Draft would also have its limitations, especially with his final year in college football going so poorly.
