Which Utes could be drafted next year?

Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) celebrates his touchdown with Utah Utes tight end Brant Kuithe (80) during the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Utah had a successful April, with five former players selected in the 2024 NFL draft.

Saftey Cole Bishop (No. 60 overall pick, Buffalo Bills), defensive end Jonah Elliss (No. 76, Denver Broncos), safety/running back Sione Vaki (No. 132, Detroit Lions), offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea (No. 179, Seattle Seahawks) and receiver Devaughn Vele (No. 235, Denver Broncos) all had their NFL dreams come true.

It was the most players drafted out of Utah since 2020, when Kyle Whittingham’s program had seven players picked.

Looking ahead to the 2025 draft — nearly a year away — here are five Utes that have a chance to be selected.

Cam Rising, QB

After missing the 2023 season following knee surgery, Rising is back for 2024, eager to prove that he’s back to full health and back to his old self.

Rising has thrown for 5,572 yards and 46 touchdowns over his Utes career, and in 2022, he threw 3,034 yards and 26 touchdowns while leading the Utes to back-to-back Pac-12 championships.

Anyone in doubt of the importance of Rising only has to look back to last season, when Utah’s offense ranked 98th in Division I football in points per game (23.2), 92nd in total yards per game (348.4) and 117th in passing yards per game (165.8) in the veteran quarterback’s absence.

Utah has, on paper, the most talented receiver room since Rising has been at Utah — it includes Money Parks, Dorian Singer, Damian Alford, Mycah Pittman, Daidren Zipperer and Munir McClain. Helping matters for Rising is a tight end room that features the return of key target Brant Kuithe and emerging talent Landen King, plus UCLA transfer Carsen Ryan.

If Rising leads…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/utes-could-drafted-next-030000943.html

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2024-05-28 03:00:00

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