Anthony Wilson
Utah has added the commitment of former 5-star quarterback Sam Huard, according to 247 Sports. Huard began his career at Washington but spent a year at Cal Poly before re-entering the transfer portal.
Huard’s 5-star pedigree was largely tarnished after three seasons of college football, but his addition is a potential game changer for Utah. The Utes have struggled with a lack of quarterback depth in 2023 after Cam Rising’s injury kept him unexpectedly sidelined all season. Former walk-on Bryson Barnes (Utah State) and backup Nate Johnson (Vanderbilt) were moved, leaving only relatively unproven options.
In Utah, Huard will support Rising, who is returning to Salt Lake City after a torn ACL. Huard still has two years left to play, which leaves him a potential season to begin in 2025 after the Rising graduates.
“Being in a great position and competing every day with great people around me, being in the room and learning from one of the best quarterbacks in college football, while also being able to spend two years in a great system was a big part of this,” Huard told 247Sports’ Brandon Huffman.
The Bellevue, Washington, native emerges as a talented passer with starting experience at the Division I level. If Rising is slow to return, Huard could compete with Luke Bottari, Brandon Rose and Isaac Wilson for backup snaps. Needless to say, offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig doesn’t want to be left without reliable options at quarterback again.
Huard was the No. 3 quarterback and No. 23 overall player in the Class of 2021 Top247 rankings, ranking among the top players to ever commit to the Huskies. Huard played one game as a freshman in 2021 — not well, as he threw four interceptions in a 40-13 Apple Cup loss to Washington State — and backed up Michael Penix in 2022 with new coach Karen DeBoer at the helm. After Penix Jr. opted to return for another season in Seattle, Huard was reassigned in search of playing time.
Cal Poly was a surprising choice for Huard, but he reunited with his high school coach, Sheldon Cross, who served as offensive coordinator. In his only season with the Mustangs, Huard started nine games and finished second in the Big Sky with 249.7 yards per game and 18 touchdowns.
Huard comes from a notable Pacific Northwest football family. His father, Damon Huard, was a starting quarterback at Washington and played for the NFL from 1996-2009. His uncle, Brock Huard, also lasted five years in the NFL after Washington. Another uncle, Luke Huard, played at North Carolina.
Utah enters the 2024 season as a potential preseason favorite in its new league, the Big 12. Perhaps even more significant, the expanded College Football Playoff to 12 teams means the league champion will secure a spot on the field. The addition of Huard is a symptom of the importance of building fundamental positional depth in the expanded PCP. Suddenly, the difference between 9 and 10 wins could be a national dispute.
Despite dealing with a massive wave of injuries during the 2023 season, Utah went 8-4 in the Pac-12’s final year. The Utes have been aggressive in adding offensive depth, including three wide receivers and two tight ends. If a backup is added to the lineup, coach Kyle Whittingham is optimistic they will have enough to work for the Utes.
