Positive Indicators For Utah’s ‘Big-Time Talent’ Dorian Singer

Sep 24, 2024, 2:44 PM | Updated: 3:09 pm

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – After a big win on Saturday, No. 10 Utah Football has put it behind them and turned their attention to the Arizona Wildcats.

Utah’s offense has found balance with their run and throw games. Dorian Singer has emerged in the last two games with the sort of production many believed he was capable of providing.

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His production is trending quite positively for Utah and there are encouraging signs that his productivity will continue.

Kyle Whittingham’s enjoyed Dorian Singer’s play for Utah Football

“I’ve liked everything about Dorian’s play and (he’s been) very valuable,” Whittingham stated. “I think what you saw Saturday was more indicative of what we should be able to utilize him, week-in and week-out.”

After a slow start through the first two games, Singer has come to life. He hauled in 5 passes for 66 yards, good for 13.2 yards per catch. Against Oklahoma State, he was even better with 7 receptions for 95 yards.

“He’s a big-time talent and I’m sure he’ll be extra motivated this week because he was on the Wildcats a couple years ago.” – Head Coach Kyle Whittingham on Dorian Singer

“That was his most productive game of the season on Saturday and he’s a complete player,” Whittingham shared. “He’s tough, his hands are incredible. You saw some of the catches he made, that comeback where he scooped the ball up literally inches from the turf, the one he pinned against his head.”

The finer details of his production paint an even more impressive picture. He caught 2-of-3 in contested situations. He gained 48 yards after the catch, 25 of those yards came after contact. Though he didn’t get into the end zone, 4 of his touches converted 1st downs.

Utah WR @dorian_singer1 at his media availability today…#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/eM98Wdzjfd

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Singer has a chance to surpass last year’s production in Arizona vs Utah game

After a tough season at USC last year, Singer hit the portal to find a better situation. That led him to Utah, who was also looking to add a dynamic player to their receiver room.

Through four games, he is on pace to blow past his production as a Trojan. So much so that with another productive game this weekend, surpassing last season’s totals by week five is well within the realm of possibility.

Singer finished last year with 289 yards on 24 receptions and through four games this season, he’s hauled in 17 receptions for 204 yards.

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Positive indicators for Singer’s production to continue, if not improve

Again, Singer has really upped his production level in the past two games. He’s hauled in 12-of-17 passes (70.5%) for 161 yards, which has led to 7 1st downs.

According to Sports Info Solutions, Singer’s 12 receptions totaled 96 air yards (the number of yards the ball travels downfield from the line of scrimmage to where the wide receiver catches the ball) on those 12 receptions. On the season, he’s totaled 17 receptions for 204 yards, which has been good for 131 air yards.

Sports Info Solution also tracks the intended air yards on all targets for receivers. That helps provide an idea of what production the team has been unable to capitalize on. Through four games, there have been a few opportunities that just missed, a couple literally by inches.

For Singer, the past two weeks, he’s been targeted 17 times which totaled 174 intended air yards.

On the season, he’s been targeted 28 times this season and the intended air yards total has been 382 yards.

That speaks to big yardage targets, an 18.9 average depth of target to be exact (11 targets for 208 intended air yards).

Singer leads the team with 28 targets in four games. The volume of opportunity is there. A portion of those targets have been deeper shots. That gives Singer real potential to see his production take a significant leap.

As Whittingham stated, his production this past Saturday is more indicative of what they want week in, week out. The target volume has been there all season long, it’s up to him and the quarterback to start capitalizing on the big play types of targets.