Utah might debut a new starting quarterback when the Utes host Colorado on Saturday in Salt Lake City.
Devon Dampier sustained an ankle injury during the Utes’ 24-21 loss to BYU last weekend. Dampier finished out the game, but Byrd Ficklin was inserted for designed QB run plays late in the second half.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham acknowledged on Monday that Dampier “got beat up” against BYU and his status this week is uncertain.
If Dampier can’t go, Whittingham said Ficklin will start for Utah (5-2, 2-2 Big 12), and he expressed full confidence in the freshman’s ability to run the offense.
Ficklin has been efficient in limited snaps this season. He’s thrown for 138 yards and one touchdown on 9-of-9 passing while also running for 111 yards and three scores on the ground.
“We’ve got a ton of confidence in him every time he’s entered a game,” Whittingham said. “So far this year he’s done positive things. … If we end up going that route based on health, then we’ve got the confidence in him that he can get it done.”
If Ficklin gets his first career start on Saturday, it will be against a Colorado team that’s had a bye week to prepare for the Utes.
The Buffaloes (3-4, 1-3) earned their first league win two weeks ago, upsetting then No. 22 Iowa State 24-17. Kaidon Salter had zero interceptions and was not sacked by the Cyclones and he ended up throwing for 255 yards and two touchdowns.
For Salter, it was a nice bounce-back effort after throwing three interceptions against TCU a week earlier. It ended up being his third game of the season where he passed for at least 200 yards.
“He stood up and stood out. He did his thing,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said of Salter, following the victory over Iowa State.
The Buffaloes beat Utah 49-24 in Boulder last season to snap a seven-game losing streak in the rivalry series. Colorado has lost six straight games to the Utes in Salt Lake City dating back to 2013.
Utah holds a 35-33-3 lead in the series with Colorado.
