Huntley named surprise starter at QB for Utah

Aug 22, 2017 - 1:18 AM Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham made a surprising decision regarding his starting quarterback, announcing on Monday that sophomore Tyler Huntley would start the Utes' season opener against North Dakota.

Whittingham chose Huntley over last year's starting quarterback, Troy Williams, a senior and team captain who led Utah to a 9-4 record and a final No. 23 ranking last season.

Cooper Bateman, a graduate transfer from Alabama, and the third player involved in the quarterback competition, also was passed over and will be the third-string quarterback.

Utah is ranked No. 25 in the preseason coaches poll, but is unranked in the Associated Press poll.

Williams passed for 2,757 yards and 15 touchdowns while starting all 13 games last season, when the Utes were ranked as high as 11th in the nation late in the season. Williams also rushed for 235 yards and five touchdowns for the Utes.

Last season as a freshman, Huntley appeared in six games and attempted just seven passes for 60 yards. He completed his only pass attempt for 36 yards in last season's Foster Farms Bowl victory over Indiana, while Williams was 11 of 23 for 178 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Williams was also sacked five times in that game.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Williams was "fine" in the eyes of the coaching staff during the preseason, but Huntley's athleticism made him "electric."

Huntley has adapted well to first-year offensive coordinator Troy Taylor's offense.

"I see more things clearly now," Huntley said during camp, according to the Tribune. "The game slowed down a lot for me, and it just feels good to be out there and know what I'm doing."

Taylor noted Huntley's improvement.

"From the spring until now, he's almost a different guy," Taylor said last week, according to the Tribune.