It’s hardly a true first impression for Morgan Scalley, who’s long awaited the opportunity to take over as head coach of the Utah football team, but it’s an important first step for the Utes under a new coaching staff and with real expectations again this year after losing longtime head coach Kyle Whittingham and returning just six true starters across the line of scrimmage.
Utah managed to keep two key facets of its offense in senior quarterback Devon Dampier and starting rusher Wayshawn Parker, but are rebuilding across the offensive and defensive lines this season as Scalley repieces what’s left of the Utes with a host of transfer talent at multiple skill positions and on defense. The longtime staffer-turned-head coach looked in-state for Utah State wideout Braden Pegan (926 yards) and Weber State tight end Noah Bennee (264 yards).
Scalley fetched offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven from Utah State, which racked up 409.5 yards per game last year with a 6-7 finish under former BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall. Linebackers coach Colton Swan received the promotion to full-time DC and will enjoy five different guys with starting experience, including returning corner Elijah Davis and South Florida CB transfer James Chenault but must find places for several new transfers this season.
The QB Room is Flushed With Potential
Dampier and returning sophomore Byrd Ficklin created quite the QB tandem for Utah last season with each appearing in all 12 games and delivering arguably the best two-man room in the conference.
They’re’ introduce two new exciting freshmen, Michael Johnson and Kane Archer, to the room this season which gives extra belief this team can field a quarterback capable of putting somebody on the field that can move the offense. A 295-pound freshman, Kelvin Obot, and Montana State junior tackle Cedric Jefferson are two new variables up front; Senior center Alex Harrison steps up to lead alongside senior guard Keith Olson and senior tackle Zereoue Williams, each with 20-plus appearances since 2024.
The ceiling for this offense could be high, but without the right adjustment up front, some of that extra spark out of the pocket could be overshadowed as Dampier and company work without much of the talent that blocked for them last year. Key 2025 veterans Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu are off to the NFL. Will this new line be able to replenish those lost snaps?
Defensive Turnover and Possible Solutions
Last year, Scalley’s defense allowed just 18.2 points per game and finished 17th overall in passing yards allowed (177.8 per game) as the Utes closed the year 11-2 overall. The defense was a big part of that result, and it’ll be a major variable in Scalley’s first season as head coach in Salt Lake City.
Key sack leader John Henry Daley (Michigan), All-Big 12 defensive backs Smith Snowden (Michigan), safety Tao Johnson (UCLA), defensive lineman Dallas Vakalahi (Penn State) and fellow starting DL Jonah Lea’ea (Michigan) all split from the scene after Whittingham jumped to Ann Arbor. It’s a big group of losses for Swan to account for, but he’s got some faces to watch.
Senior linebacker Jonathan Hall is a key returning leader among Utah’s front seven, with 67 combined tackles in 2025. Defensive end Kash Dillon, 305-pound tackle Karson Kaufusi and 280-pound tackle Jireh Moe are all sophomores back with 11 or more appearances last year. Senior end Lance Holtzclaw is the oldest member up front with one start last year in 12 showings.
Unlike with the secondary, which returns enough experience to move forward, the biggest question mark for the Utes defensively is that front line and how closely they play with last year’s elite, veteran-backed group.
Eight Straight Weeks of Football
Utah enjoys a bye in Week 3, but follows it up with eight consecutive weeks of football.
There’s a good chance the Utes open the year 5-0 with home games against Idaho, Arkansas and Utah State easing them into a conference opener at Iowa State on Sept. 26, and returning home to host Kansas on Oct. 10.
Utah travels to Colorado, coming off a bye, on Oct. 17 before opening a gauntlet with Houston at home, Cincinnati on the road, BYU at home, Arizona in Tucson, TCU in Fort Worth and West Virginia at home to close the regular season. It’s tough sledding, and right at that October-November juncture when injuries pile up and guys don’t snap back as quickly.
Should Utah shield itself from too many losses, the Utes could certainly manage that final stretch with the Holy War matchup with the Cougars being a major feather in its cap, should they win post their first win in the series since 2019.
