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Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior Writer
Utah quarterback Cam Rising is no longer on the team’s roster, the latest indicator that the longtime Utes star will move on from the program.
Rising, who began his college career in 2018 at Texas, still has a year of eligibility remaining because of redshirt seasons, the COVID-19 waiver in 2020 and several injuries.
After helping Utah to Pac-12 championships in 2021 and 2022, Rising missed all of the 2023 season with a knee injury and appeared in only three games in 2024 because of an injury to his throwing hand.
Utah added transfer quarterback Devon Dampier, who started during the 2024 season at New Mexico and joined offensive coordinator Jason Beck in making the move to the Utes.
“I’ve talked to Cam a few times, but that is really up to Cam … when he wants to divulge what his plan is,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham told reporters Tuesday. “We’ve certainly had communication, and you don’t see him on the roster right now, so that should tell you some things there.”
After appearing in only one game in 2020 because of injury, Rising earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2021, when he passed for 2,493 yards, rushed for 499 yards and accounted for 26 touchdowns (20 pass, 6 rush). In 2022, he had 3,034 passing yards and 26 touchdowns and 465 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
But Rising tore multiple knee ligaments against Ohio State in the 2023 Rose Bowl. After some initial optimism that he could play in the 2023 season, he did not appear in any games. He sustained the throwing hand injury Sept. 7 against Baylor, returned Oct. 11 against Arizona State, but did not play again.
In announcing Rising’s latest season-ending injury, Whittingham said in a statement, “During his time at Utah, Cam has been both a great player and leader for our program, and he will obviously be missed.”
Rising has not publicly announced whether he intends to transfer or move on to the NFL draft. The winter transfer window is closed, but Rising still could enter the portal in the spring window, which begins April 16.