Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Wagner)
Devon Dampier did a little bit of everything in Utah’s 28-20 win over in-state rival BYU last Saturday. The senior quarterback threw for 177 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 89 yards and two more scores, and made an impressive 29-yard catch as the No. 3 Utes defeated the No. 9 Cougars.
It was another defining performance in what will likely end up being a career year for Dampier. Utah is undefeated through nine games, ranked No. 2 nationally, and firmly in the national title conversation. Dampier, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the Big 12’s top quarterbacks and a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. He’s thrown for 2,053 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 482 yards and seven touchdowns.
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A year ago, however, his future in Salt Lake City looked considerably less certain.
“I had so many things going on. Just coaches departing and other schools, and then I have an injury that I’m trying to get through at the same time,” Dampier told Deseret News in August. “It’s a lot, and I’m just glad that my relationship is so strong with the Lord that I have someone that I can lean on. I have someone that I can go to during those times because, man, life gets hectic and God’s always been there for me every step of the way. So that’s who I lean on.”
Dampier began his college career at New Mexico, where as a sophomore he threw for 2,768 yards and rushed for another 1,116 while accounting for 31 touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the most productive dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. When he transferred to Utah ahead of the 2025 season, he brought that experience with him, along with offensive coordinator Jason Beck, who coached him at New Mexico.
The move gave Dampier an opportunity to compete in a Power 4 conference while reuniting with a coach who understood his strengths and style of play. And in terms of on-field results, it proved to be a successful move. Dampier threw for 2,490 yards with 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions while rushing for 835 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first season with the Utes.
But he also dealt with two sports hernias and an ankle injury throughout the season, limiting his ability to perform at full strength. At times, the pain was so severe that he struggled to walk after games. He missed just one game in late October, but playing through those injuries took a physical and mental toll.
“There’s certain decisions that I couldn’t make off of my instinct just because it hurt to do it,” Dampier told Deseret News.
He had about a month off between the team’s final regular-season game and the Las Vegas Bowl against Nebraska, which allowed him to rest and heal some. He threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 148 yards and three touchdowns in Utah’s 44-22 win over the Cornhuskers. His performance earned him MVP honors.
But just a few weeks prior, more challenges arose. Head coach Kyle Whittingham resigned his position and accepted the Michigan head coaching job. Then, just hours after the win over Nebraska, Beck followed Whittingham to Ann Arbor, leaving Dampier without the two coaches who had brought him to Salt Lake City.
“That definitely hurt his feelings,” Dampier’s mother, Kesha, told Deseret News. “But then it also gave him like, ‘OK, I’m going to show another side of me. I can be coached. It’s not one coach.'”
With his season over and surgery needed to address his injuries, Dampier suddenly had some significant decisions to make. Other programs showed interest, and the possibility of entering the transfer portal presented another opportunity to find a new home for his final season and perhaps make a good amount of money through name, image and likeness deals.
But thanks in part to loyalty and interest displayed by new head coach Morgan Scalley and his staff, Dampier felt plenty comfortable staying at Utah for another season. Through the uncertainty surrounding his health and football future, he continued to lean on his relationship with God.
Faith has been part of his life long before he arrived at Utah. His maternal grandfather, Anthony, is a pastor, and his parents, Curtis and Kesha, helped establish a foundation that continues to influence the way Dampier, who lists that he’s a “Child of God” in his Instagram bio, approaches life and football. His relationship with Christ has also shaped how he views the game itself.
“I’m a Christian. I put all my faith into Christ and I think the biggest way that applies for me in football is just perspective, honestly,” Dampier told Deseret News. “We have good days, we have bad days out here, but there’s so much more to life. Football isn’t my No. 1 priority. My relationship with God means everything to me.”
The offseason was big for Dampier developmentally, both in terms of football and his faith. As his spotlight on the field gets a little brighter, he hopes it reflects his faith in Christ.
“Over the summer, I felt like I took a tremendous step just walking with God in a way that I want to be,” he said. “I want to be more Christlike. And I do have a platform. I’m somewhere where I can start impacting people and allowing people to see that side. I always want to express that you don’t need to be ashamed about your faith ever. That’s something I’m very passionate about and that’s something I want the world to know.”
Utah travels to take on No. 23 Arizona this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Fox.
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