Isaac Wilson stood on the sideline of Corner Canyon High School’s football field, dug his feet into the turf and watched his former high school team scrimmage.
It’s not often the Utah freshman quarterback and former four-star recruit gets to visit his old stomping grounds in Draper since he joined the Utes as an early enrollee this spring. But, in his off time, Wilson took some time to catch up with his former high school head coach Eric Kjar.
The 6-foot signal caller has football at the top of his mind this fall. Every phone conversation with Kjar has been about soaking up Utah’s scheme, keying in on a few mental lessons from his brother, Zach Wilson, and gunning for the Utes’ backup quarterback spot behind seventh-year quarterback Cam Rising.
Those dynamics have led to quick ascension on the field. In Utah’s closed practices, Wilson has zipped spirals into tight windows and shook veteran defenders on the run. The 18-year-old is earning his keep and, in turn, impressing Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham.
Wilson has kept most of his practice success under wraps until he shared a glowing hint with Kjar, three days before Utah’s head coach announced him as the No. 2 quarterback behind veteran starter Cam Rising last Monday.
“He told me things have been going well and he’s getting better,” Kjar told The Salt Lake Tribune. “He’s felt more comfortable in the offense, which he said was kind of the biggest thing. He can do anything really, which is what you love about Isaac. He’s a really confident kid and you have to be in that position. If you’re not, you’re in trouble.
“Even though it’s a backup role it’s something he wanted to be able to compete for and go get.”
Wilson grew up a Utah fan and his family were season-ticket holders at Rice-Eccles Stadium until Zach committed to BYU in 2018, trailblazing his path to the NFL. As a teenager, Isaac watched Rising sling touchdowns against Pac-12 opponents and lead the Utes to two consecutive conference championships.
Now he gets to watch his once long-haired hero attempt a comeback from a gruesome injury, with hopes of leading Utah into the 12-team College Football Playoff and a Big 12 title.
Undoubtedly, the freshman quarterback shares similar traits to Rising. He has a short memory for mistakes. Confidence is natural for him. And, maybe most of all, Isaac is as talented as any quarterback.
That’s why he’s earned the vote of confidence from Utah’s staff and even surprised his father a little. Isaac chose the Utes to carve out his own path, separate from his brother’s storied legacy with the Cougars.
And, while he has the lively arm and intangibles like his brother, Mike Wilson suggests that he might even be a little more talented than Zach.
“Everybody compares him to Zach, unfortunately for him,” Mike Wilson told The Tribune. “Zach has always done really well, and Isaac seems to, at every level, just do a little bit better than Zach so far, so we’ll see how it all plays out.”
(Utah Athletics) Quarterback Isaac Wilson participates in Utah football practice in Salt Lake City, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024.
‘Always seemed to surprise me’
As Jets superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers carried an American Flag on his shoulder from the tunnel of MetLife Stadium last Sept. 11 and into the bright lights of Monday Night Football, Zach Wilson prepared to take on a season where he’d learn from Rodgers on the bench.
But, after the fourth snap in New York’s opening contest, Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles tear, causing Zach to be thrown back into the fire for a third season in a row. By midseason, following more struggles in the Jets’ offense, Zach was benched for a second time before being traded to Denver this offseason.
Entering his fourth NFL season, not everything has gone as planned for the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. But, in its own way, Zach’s learning lessons have laid out a template of success for Isaac, as he gears up for his career with the Utes.
“I felt like I was put in a good position by my family and my coaches in high school,” Isaac said. “Having my older brother, Zach, of course, has helped me throughout this whole journey. And, he’s been going through his own journey, too, so we’re working through it together.”
Following Zach’s stint with the Cougars, Isaac chose to commit to the Utes because he wanted to carve out his own path, away from his brother’s legacy in Provo. Isaac also liked that Utah operates an NFL-style offense.
“I think Isaac’s been really fortunate to benefit from a lot of the mistakes I’ve made with Zach,” Mike said. “We had to correct and improve on some of those things. I think our knowledge, overall, has helped Isaac a lot.
“The kid has always seemed to surprise me. He’s super talented and athletic.”
One of the first lessons Mike was able to learn from Zach’s development was how he approached Isaac’s throwing mechanics, footwork and pocket presence. Mike was Zach’s primary quarterback coach until he reached college, when he started training with highly-regarded quarterback coach and former BYU quarterback John Beck.
While Zach started his new training regimen in college, Isaac earned a head start by learning Beck’s style in sixth grade.
“We figured out what works and the right way to warm up,” Mike said. “Most quarterbacks just pick up a ball and throw it back and forth. That’s not how we warm up anymore. We warm up with balls, weights, stretches and plyometric exercises. Isaac will do all that and it takes around 15 minutes, and he never touches a ball.”
Mike believes Isaac’s head start, paired with his poise, is going to do the freshman quarterback wonders in college. Where Isaac surprises Mike the most, however, is the display of confidence in and out of the pocket.
If Isaac throws an interception, he doesn’t let it eat at him. That’s a trait that Zach has struggled with throughout his career.
“The thing about Isaac, he doesn’t dwell on things very long,” Mike said. “He could throw a pick and a minute later it’s over. He’ll forget about it. He’s moving on where Zach might dwell on it more.
That is why learning the playbook, becoming an early enrollee and more have contributed to the rise of the young quarterback. There’s not a day where Isaac gets too high or low. He blends fun with preparation en route to a confident and carefree approach, which has led to his early success in Utah’s preseason practices.
Now, after being named Rising’s backup, the Utes will look to develop their potential future starting quarterback behind the scenes. And, if Rising gets hurt, Whittingham and Mike have full confidence that the 18-year-old freshman will be ready to contribute.
“Isaac is gonna continue to get better each day,” Whittingham said. “He’s making better decisions. He has a live arm and the ball comes out of his hand like it is supposed to. He’s also very mobile, and that’s another facet that is really a strength of his.
“(We wanted the No. 2 position) settled before the season, and right now Isaac has a good hold on it.”
(Eli Rehmer | Utah Athletics) Quarterback Isaac Wilson participates in Utah football practice Tuesday, March 12, 2024.
‘A lot of similarities between him and Cam’
It doesn’t take long before you can see Cam Rising and Isaac trotting close together at the end of Utah’s training camp practices, as the thumping of pads and the scowls of coaches slowly fade into the background.
Everyone’s hot and sweaty trying to catch their next breath, but somehow the pair of quarterbacks still have a wide grin painted on their faces. You can barely tell the two quarterbacks’ personalities apart, despite Rising and Isaac being separated by seven years of age.
While Rising is reaching his final year of college football, Isaac is soaking in his first experience of Utah’s fall camp. It’s seemingly the start of one ending and the beginning of another, a learning experience that could be invaluable for the true freshman quarterback.
“I think it’s huge for him just to be able to learn behind a guy that’s done it at Utah for such a long time,” Kjar said. “There’s a lot of similarities between him and Cam. … When you watch him play, and what he does for them, he’s just such a tough, competitive guy, and people are drawn to that.
“I think Isaac has a lot of those similar traits.”
Utah senior linebacker Karene Reid has also picked up on the similarities between Rising and Isaac. He’s not surprised the freshman quarterback has risen quickly on Utah’s depth chart, especially with the talent he’s displayed vs. the Utes defense that ranked 13th in the nation in 2023.
“To be honest, I’m blown away with the way that he handles himself,” Reid told The Tribune. “You don’t see that from freshmen very often, especially at a quarterback position. He walks around like he owns a field, and that’s exactly what you want in a quarterback.
“The throws that he’s making on the move and on the back shoulder are things that you don’t see from a freshman. He’s been pushing us and challenging us as a top-10 defense in the country.”
While Rising wants to take fewer hits this season, especially as Utah banks on his health for a potential run at the postseason, he’s showcased his competitive edge by taking a bevy of hits in past seasons.
That tenacity has earned the respect of both his teammates and coaches, and many view the same doggedness in the freshman quarterback.
“I haven’t earned anything yet,” Isaac said. “The coaches always say we need the team more than they know they need us. I stand true to that. I just want to come out here and ball, do my best, learn everything, and just have fun.”
As practice wrapped up last week, Isaac and Rising carried their helmets in hand and headed toward the locker room. Nothing is guaranteed in college football, especially in the era of Name, Image and Likeness and the transfer portal, but Utah has always been a program rooted in consistency.
And with Isaac, as Rising nears the end of his storybook career in Salt Lake City, the Utes might already have their succession plan at quarterback in place.
Editor’s note • This story is available to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting local journalism.