Utah QB Devon Dampier Featured On Week 3 Of The Heisman Trophy Podcast
Utah junior quarterback Devon Dampier is the featured guest on this week’s Official Heisman Trophy Podcast. Hear the full conversation here. Episodes and clips of The Official Heisman Trophy Podcast are available on all major podcast networks, including Spotify and Apple, as well on YouTube and TikTok.
The Utah Utes’ new quarterback, Devon Dampier, isn’t just stepping into the spotlight after a commanding 43–10 win over UCLA at the Rose Bowl. He’s stepping into character. For Dampier, football isn’t only about playbooks and practice—it’s about instinct, resilience, and even a little bit of Spider-Man.
In his guest appearance on this week’s Heisman Trophy Podcast, Dampier explained how Spider-Man became more than just a childhood hero.
“It’s the Spidey Sense,” he said. “On the field, that instinct kicks in. That’s always been my thing.”
Like Peter Parker, Dampier sees himself as someone who makes others better while relying on instinct when defenders close in on his blind side.
“Mentally, I tell myself I can put the mask on,” he added.
Dampier transferred from New Mexico after nearly hitting 4,000 total yards of offense last season. The decision to join head coach Kyle Whittingham at Utah hinged on two things: culture and trust.
“Coach Whittingham talked about culture and how important it is. He believed in me and he believed in Coach Beck (new offensive coordinator Jason Beck). He gave us the power to run the offense the way we know how,” Dampier explained.
That trust showed immediately when he delivered his best passing performance yet against UCLA, completing 21 of 25 passes in the win over the Bruins. Beck made it clear afterward that Dampier is his guy.
The transition from New Mexico to Salt Lake City wasn’t just about scheme. It was about mindset.
“Practices here feel like games,” Dampier said. “At Utah, it’s about toughness. That chip on my shoulder never leaves.”
He compares himself to 2018 Heisman winner Kyler Murray, a dual-threat quarterback who thrived despite questions about size. For Dampier, those doubts still fuel his play.
Improving accuracy was his top offseason focus, and he credits extra reps, timing, and chemistry with receivers. But one obsession stands above all: not taking sacks.
“That’s my number one,” he said. “If the O-line messes up once, I let them know I’ve got their back. We’re keeping the no-sack streak alive.”
His ability to escape pressure and turn broken plays into big gains has already electrified Utah fans hungry for consistent quarterback dynamism.
Utah has never produced a Heisman Trophy winner, with its lone finalist being Alex Smith in 2004. For Dampier, the thought of making it to New York isn’t about individual glory.
“It would mean everything for our team,” he said. “The love and support here are different. To represent these guys would be huge.”
Away from football, Dampier spends his time eating with teammates.
“It’s rare that I eat alone,” he admitted, though he’s quick to declare Arizona as having the best food of any state he’s lived in. He has also been spotted horseback riding and has promised that when he buys a house, Utah’s “cowboy coach” Bo Swan will “cowboy me up.”
Academically, Dampier switched from electrical engineering to economics but still loves math and problem-solving. He describes himself as a nerd who once took online IQ tests just for fun.
This weekend, Dampier makes his home debut at Rice-Eccles Stadium against Cal Poly. After seeing Utah’s raucous student section, “The MUSS,” he’s eager to take the field in front of the home crowd.
“The MUSS is the real thing,” he said. “I’m excited to feel that energy.”
Whether he’s slipping defenders with his Spider-Man instincts or threading a pass between two defenders, Dampier is quickly becoming the quarterback Utah fans have been waiting for. And as he told listeners on this week’s Heisman Trophy Podcast, if he keeps playing like this, New York in December won’t be just a dream—it’ll be destiny.
