Honestly, if you’re looking at the Utah Utes depth chart football situation right now and feeling a little dizzy, you aren’t alone. The 2026 offseason in Salt Lake City has been a absolute whirlwind. One minute we're mourning the end of the Kyle Whittingham era, and the next, we're watching Morgan Scalley basically rebuild the entire defensive front via the portal in a single weekend. It's chaotic. It's fast. And frankly, it's exactly what Utah fans should expect in this new version of the Big 12.
The biggest sigh of relief across the Wasatch Front came just a few days ago. Devon Dampier is staying. After a Las Vegas Bowl MVP performance where he basically ran circles around Nebraska, there was real fear he’d follow his old coaches out the door. But he’s back. He’s the undisputed QB1. That one decision changes the entire ceiling for this program in 2026. If he had left, we’d be talking about a total tear-down. Instead, we’re talking about a dark horse playoff run.
The Quarterback Room: Dampier’s Team Now
Forget the "game manager" labels you might have heard in years past. Devon Dampier is a different breed of Utah quarterback. He threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 24 touchdowns last year, but it’s the 835 rushing yards that keep defensive coordinators awake at night. He’s twitchy. He’s fast. He's also now the veteran leader of this offense.
Behind him, the depth is actually surprisingly solid. Byrd Ficklin confirmed he’s staying too, which is massive. Most schools lose their high-upside backup to the portal the second the starter confirms a return. Not here. Ficklin showed flashes in his limited time—over 500 rushing yards as a freshman is no joke. If Dampier has to miss a series, the offense doesn't have to change its identity. They just swap one dual-threat nightmare for another.
Then you have the young guys. Wyatt Becker and Kane Archer are the future, but they’re likely looking at redshirt years or developmental snaps. The Utes also brought in Brendan Zurbrugg from Oklahoma through the portal, adding a 6'3" frame to a room that’s historically been a bit on the shorter side. It's a crowded room, but for the first time in a long time, it feels like Utah has a "problem" of having too much talent at QB rather than not enough.
Rebuilding the Trenches: The Defensive Line Overhaul
This is where things get interesting. Or terrifying, depending on how much you value "experience."
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The Utes lost basically everyone. John Henry Daley? Gone to Michigan. Logan Fano? Gone. Dallas Vakalahi? Portal. It was a mass exodus that left the defensive line looking like a ghost town. But Morgan Scalley didn't panic. He went shopping.
Ethan Day coming in from North Texas is a sneaky-good pickup. He’s a veteran with over 50 tackles and nearly 5 sacks last season. He’s not a project; he’s a plug-and-play starter at defensive end. Pairing him with Lucas Samsula (the Wyoming transfer) gives the Utes a mountain of experience in the middle that they desperately needed. Samsula is one of those guys who doesn't always show up in the stat sheet but eats up double teams like they're snacks.
The most recent addition, Jireh Moe from San Jose State, is the one I’m watching. He’s a true nose tackle. At Utah, the defense only works if the interior line can hold the point of attack. If Moe and Samsula can't do that, the linebackers are going to get washed out. It’s a risky strategy, relying so heavily on portal guys who haven't played together, but Scalley has earned the benefit of the doubt with how he develops talent.
Skill Positions: Who is Dampier Actually Throwing To?
The wide receiver room has been Utah’s Achilles' heel for... well, forever. But the 2026 Utah Utes depth chart football looks a bit more explosive than usual.
Braden Pegan is the name you need to circle. Coming over from Utah State, he put up nearly 1,000 yards last year. He’s 6'3", he’s got 4-star pedigree, and he’s exactly the kind of "X" receiver this offense has lacked since the early Whittingham years.
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- Braden Pegan (WR-X): The deep threat and primary target.
- Creed Whittemore (WR-SL): The shifty slot guy who will thrive on those RPO bubbles.
- Kyri Shoels (WR-Z): Another San Jose State transfer who provides reliable hands on third down.
And we can't forget the tight ends. Utah without a dominant tight end feels wrong, like a burger without a bun. Dallen Bentley is the senior leader there, but keep an eye on Hunter Andrews. He’s a freshman, sure, but at 6'3" and 235 pounds, he’s a mismatch waiting to happen in the red zone.
The backfield is arguably the deepest part of the roster. Wayshawn Parker is "The Guy" after a stellar freshman campaign, but Daniel Bray and the UNLV transfer Devin Green are going to get touches. It's a "running back by committee" approach that actually works because they all bring something different. Parker is the home-run hitter; Green is the thumper.
The Secondary: "Scooby" and the New Guys
The nickname "Scooby" is already legendary in Salt Lake City, but Elijah Davis has to be more than just a cool name this year. With Smith Snowden and several others hitting the portal, Davis is the veteran anchor in the defensive backfield.
Adding James Chenault from South Florida was a huge "get." Chenault had two picks and 32 tackles last year in the AAC. He’s aggressive. He plays the ball well in the air. In a Big 12 that’s increasingly pass-heavy, having a corner who isn't afraid to be on an island is mandatory.
Tao Johnson returning at Free Safety is the glue. He had 70 tackles last year. He’s the guy who fixes everyone else's mistakes. If the new-look defensive line can't get pressure, Johnson and Davis are going to be under a lot of stress.
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What the Experts Miss
Most national analysts look at Utah and see the coaching transition and the roster turnover and think "rebuild." They're wrong. They're missing the fact that the two most important positions—Quarterback and Defensive Coordinator (now Head Coach)—are stabilized.
The biggest limitation for this team isn't talent; it's chemistry. You can't just throw five portal starters onto a defensive line and expect them to stunt and twist perfectly in Week 1. There will be growing pains. The game against Arizona early in the season will tell us everything we need to know about whether this group has gelled.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking this team heading into spring ball, focus on these three things:
- Watch the Left Tackle battle: With Zereoue Williams as the projected starter, the blindside protection for Dampier is paramount. Any injury there, and the season looks very different.
- Monitor the Kicking Game: Moving on from the reliability of the past is hard. Tanner Cragun (the UTEP transfer) needs to be consistent from 40+ yards out early to build trust.
- Follow the Snap Counts for the Freshmen: Guys like Salesi Moa and Mataalii Benjamin are highly rated recruits who might be forced into action sooner than expected if the portal veterans don't pan out.
The Utah Utes depth chart football for 2026 is a high-risk, high-reward experiment. It’s built for the portal era. If the chemistry clicks, this is a 10-win team. If the defensive line takes too long to wake up, it could be a long winter in Salt Lake. Keep your eyes on the spring scrimmage—that's when the "paper" depth chart starts to become reality.