Utah’s quarterback hex continues
Utah’s quarterback situation continues to be cursed, dating to when the Utes joined the Pac-12 in 2011.
With Tyler Huntley lost for the rest of the regular season with reportedly a broken collarbone, suffered last week in a 38-20 loss at Arizona State, it marks the sixth time in the last eight years the Utes must use a reserve quarterback in multiple conference games because of injuries.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said Monday the possibility exists that Huntley could return in time for a bowl game.
The Utes (6-3, 4-3 Pac-12) host Oregon (6-3, 3-3) on Saturday. The Ducks know the position in which Utah is in. Oregon lost quarterback Justin Herbert for six weeks last year with a fractured collarbone. The Ducks still beat Utah without him, 44-20, rushing for 347 rushing yards.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Jason Shelley’s starting debut Saturday will make him the seventh backup quarterback that Whittingham has promoted in the Pac-12 era.
“First of all, the team’s got to rally around him,” Whittingham said. “Everybody’s got to embrace him and up their level of play. ? The surrounding cast has to be better, the defense has to be better. We’ve got to make sure Jason knows we’ve complete confidence in him, which I believe he does.”
Shelley’s teammates are showing their support.
“I believe in Shelley,” center Orlando Umana told the Salt Lake Tribune. “He’s a hard worker, so we all believe in him.”
Shelley has played in four games this season, completing 6-of-14 passes for 99 yards. Saturday’s loss at Arizona State — he entered with the Utes trailing 21-17 — was his first appearance with the outcome in question. He went 4-of-11 for 59 yards with an interception on his last pass, with the ball getting wrestled away from a Ute receiver in the end zone.