Former Utah QB Travis Wilson Tries Out For Salt Lake Stallions

Dec 13, 2018, 11:31 AM | Updated: 1:52 pm

Quarterback Travis Wilson #7 of the Utah Utes calls a play prior to snapping the football against the Arizona Wildcats in the first quarter of the game at Arizona Stadium on November 14, 2015 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

BY MADISAN HINKHOUSE, KSL SPORTS

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former University of Utah quarterback, Travis Wilson, might be playing at Rice-Eccles Stadium again sometime soon, but with a different team. He was recently in Salt Lake City to work out with the Salt Lake Stallions, Utah’s new professional football team.

Several former local college players have looked at the new Alliance of American Football league as another chance to prove themselves and keep playing.

It’s been a quick start for the Stallions, with the team announcing their team name and logo less than three months ago, inaugural season uniforms were unveiled less than three weeks ago, and the the first game less than two months away, on February 10, 2019.

That’s not much time to fill out a roster.

Wilson hoped for his shot with the team. He played quarterback for the University of Utah from 2012-2015, where he recorded the most wins by a quarterback.

He later got a shot at playing tight end for the Los Angeles Rams and tried out for a other teams, as well, but ultimately wasn’t picked up. Now, he hopes to come back to Utah and play for the Salt Lake Stallions.

In the Special Forces Gang podcast with former Ute kickers Tom Hackett and Andy Phillips, Wilson talked about why he tried out as a tight end, instead of quarterback.

Travis Wilson #87 of the Los Angeles Rams runs with the ball while being chased by Donatello Brown #44 of the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter during a preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 31, 2017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

“Is that because you can’t throw anymore,” Hackett asked, tongue in cheek.

“I’ve still got it,” Wilson retorted. “At the end of the day, I wasn’t really getting looks as a quarterback.”

Travis Wilson talks about his switch to tight end

While in Salt Lake City, Wilson also stopped by the Helmets Off Podcast to talk with Scott Mitchell, another former Utah quarterback, about his possible future in Salt Lake, as well as his past with the Utes.

Can’t wait to get some @parkcafeslc tomorrow! Flying out to SLC in the am!

— Travis Wilson (@TravisWilson_7) December 8, 2018

Did Utah’s Scheme Fit Wilson?

Mitchell started off by complimenting Wilson’s throwing ability. Noting that he went to a practice while Wilson was playing and saw him throwing the ball all over the field, but he wondered where that was during games.

“I always felt the system you were playing in at Utah actually didn’t fit your strengths, is that a fair question?” Mitchell wondered.

Wilson said it was tough at times and that he would have loved to throw the ball “a little bit more,” but he understands they had a great running back in Devontae Booker, who recorded 560 rushes for 2,773 yards during his two years at Utah.

Whittingham’s View of Offense

Mitchell mentioned the saying in the Utes team room.

It says, “We play great defense, we play great special teams and we take care of the ball on offense.” Mitchell wondered about the last piece of that, “we play great offense?” and how Wilson felt about that.

“I know how much coach Whit plays into the turnover factor… It definitely made me hesitant at times,” said Wilson, “Because I know how much that meant to him.”