Little about Isaac Wilson’s first year of college football has gone exactly to plan.
The four-star recruit out of Corner Canyon was unexpectedly thrust into a starting role. He was then benched only to be called back into action and then injured to end his up-and-down season.
So maybe it should not come as a surprise that after saying “Godspeed” to the U. and entering the transfer portal, Wilson’s plans have changed again.
The quarterback announced on social media Monday night that he would return to Utah for his sophomore season.
"Utah Man Am I!!!! Let’s run it back," Wilson wrote on X.
Wilson threw for 1,510 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
When the NCAA transfer portal opened earlier this month, he decided to test the waters. A source close to the situation told The Salt Lake Tribune at the time that Wilson had some initial concerns about the Utes' changing offensive staff and roster.
New offensive coordinator Jason Beck has already brought New Mexico transfer quarterback Devon Dampier to Salt Lake City. The source said that Wilson’s camp had initially been put off by the possibility of a battle for the starting job.
At the same time, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham had told Wilson he wanted him to stay with the program, the source said.
Wilson nevertheless decided to enter the portal, expressing his appreciation to the U. along the way.
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the University of Utah for the incredible opportunities, support, and experiences I’ve had during my time here,” Wilson said earlier this month in a statement on Instagram. “To the coaches, teammates, and everyone who believed in me — thank you for helping me grow both on and off the field. The memories made and lessons learned will stay with me forever. To the amazing fans, your unwavering support has meant the world to me and has been a constant source of motivation.”
Now, it appears Wilson is ready to compete with Dampier for the starting job. His return is certainly a boon to Utah’s quarterback situation. The Utes are expected to lose QBs Brandon Rose and Sam Huard to transfers. Longtime starter Cam Rising has yet to announce his plans, but reports have indicated he is not expected to return to Salt Lake City for an eighth year of college football.
