The Hive Sports

by Daniel Olsen

A new college football season is about to start in the state of Utah. It is a time for debate, especially when all three FBS teams are coming off elite seasons. All three FBS quarterbacks in the state completed over 2,000 passing yards last year. While BYU has proclaimed to be the QB Factory in the past, there is a case to be made that the University with the most impressive results for this position resides in Salt Lake City.

1. The Utes have a number 1 Draft Pick QB

While the Cougars have fared well at the quarterback position especially during the Lavell Edwards era, none of their quarterbacks were ever selected as the top overall pick in the NFL. The Utes belong to a select group of ten schools that can claim a number one draft pick in football and basketball in their history.

While former Runnin’ Ute Andrew Bogut had a decent NBA career, the focus here is on how Alex Smith was selected as the top overall quarterback by the San Francisco 49ers. Of the 12 quarterbacks drafted in BYU history, Zach Wilson was selected the highest at number two overall.

Steve Young, another star for BYU, might have had a shot at the top selection, but instead chose to go to the Supplemental Draft where he was the top pick there instead. He eventually made his way to the NFL and was a star for the same 49ers team that drafted Smith.

The Cougars may have a greater quantity of quarterbacks, but the Utes have a greater quality of them who have won games on a greater stage. Smith went undefeated and won a BCS game in 2004 over Pittsburgh. With Brian Johnson in 2008, the Utes went undefeated again and defeated an Alabama team that finished #6 in the country.

BYU has never played in a big money bowl game in the New Years Six or BCS era. Their biggest win was over a 7-5 Michigan team in the Holiday Bowl. There is a reason that a system was created and that is to give the championship to the most deserving team. In their history, Utah quarterbacks have proven to be more deserving than BYU.

2. The Best Ute Quarterbacks did more in less years

Scott Mitchell amassed a school record 8,981 yards in his three years at Utah. That alone would make him number five all time on the BYU list. Max Hall is the only three-year quarterback at BYU to throw for more yards. Had he played a fourth year, Mitchell would have thrown for the second most passing yards of all time. The only record-holder at BYU that might be unbeaten is Ty Detmer.

Also, BYU was a more pass-heavy team under Edwards. In the same system, plenty of Ute quarterbacks could have done the same. Edwards was ahead of his time and was a pioneer in the passing attack. That doesn’t mean that BYU was more successful at the quarterback position. Talented quarterbacks don’t stay at school for four years anymore, so in terms of all time passing yards, BYU might have the edge.

Mitchell also had the two highest single game marks in Ute history in passing yards and his 620 yard performance was a yard more than the 1993 losing effort that John Walsh had against Utah State.

3. Cam Rising is the best right now

This is perhaps the deepest year the state of Utah has ever had at the quarterback position. How many times has this state have all three teams finish in the top 25? The answer is only once and that was in 2021.

Jaren Hall beat Utah head to head, but Cam Rising wasn’t playing in that game. Hall did well when healthy, but wasn’t able to take his team as high as Rising did. Rising led the Utes to their first Rose Bowl in team history. This came a decade after joining the PAC-12.

If there is a quarterback that maybe has a case over Rising, it isn’t Hall. It is Logan Bonner at Utah State University. Bonner threw for a single-season school record 3,628 yards and could have gone for more had he not sat out in the L.A Bowl. That is over 1,000 more passing yards than rising.

However, the PAC-12 and Rose Bowl is a greater stage than the Mountain West and inaugural Jimmy Kimmel L.A Bowl. The wins Rising had generated more revenue for the school and conference. It is tough to say who is the best, but as of now Rising has the best chance for a successful 2022 season. The Utes are the class of the PAC-12 and are a preseason top 10 team. If Rising performs well, his name could be called on Day One of the 2023 NFL Draft. He could continue the rich tradition of quarterback superiority in Salt Lake City.