Two QB System: Does It Make Sense For Utah Football?

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – If the quarterback battle at Utah is as close as the coaches and players have indicated throughout camp, is a two-QB system a possibility?

Cam Rising and Charlie Brewer are battling for the starting job with neither player separating from the other. It hasn’t been used in a while in this state at the college level but would splitting game reps between Brewer and Rising make sense?

KSL Sports reached out to former Utah QB Drew Lisk to get his thoughts on whether that makes sense under Andy Ludwig’s offense.

“I wouldn’t do it,” Lisk said. “In any system, part of playing QB is developing a rhythm throughout the game – getting a feel for what the defense is doing and getting in a flow. Being in and out of the game just makes it that much more difficult to establish momentum not only for the QB individually, but the offense as a whole. I would stay away from it unless they feel like they both do different things really well. But from what it sounds like they’re both throwing and running well. I would pick a guy and go with him, knowing you have someone behind him who’s ready to go if needed.”

Lisk was the third string quarterback for the Utes entering the 2020 season. When Cam Rising went out in the season opener against USC with an injury, Jake Bentley took over as the starter and Lisk moved to backup.

In the first half against Washington State in the regular season finale, Bentley was benched and Lisk led the Utes to a comeback win over the Cougars.

Kyle Whittingham on his assessment of the quarterback battle after watching film on the scrimmage and if any RB’s are starting to separate. #GoUtes #CampKyle pic.twitter.com/ilXv3NtU6i

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 16, 2021

Former Utah QB legend and host of KSL’s Unrivaled Scott Mitchell also weighed in on the thought of playing two QB’s.

The problem with two-QB systems is not getting into a rhythm. You like to get comfortable in a game and it helps your communication but when you are switching back and forth, you don’t find that rhythm and your offense isn’t consistent,” Mitchell said.

Kyle Whittingham has not made any comments that would make us believe that a two-QB system is possible. I fully believe that Utah will have their starter after the second and final scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday.

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.