Utah
Devon Dampier is returning to Utah
Devon Dampier will be back in red in 2026.
The Utah quarterback announced Tuesday that he has signed with the Utes for next season.
In his first season with Utah after transferring from New Mexico, Dampier threw for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns with five interceptions on 63.75% accuracy in 2025.
He also rushed for 835 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The junior quarterback improved both his turnover and accuracy numbers from a season ago and helped turn Utah’s offense around while fighting through injury throughout much of the season.
With a month off from games in the lead-up to the Las Vegas Bowl, Dampier had time to heal, and it showed in a 44-22 win over Nebraska.
Dampier threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 148 yards and three scores in his best performance of the season.
Dampier helped guide the Utes’ offense from the basement in 2024 to the No. 4 scoring offense in all of college football (41.2 points per game) and contributed to one of the best rushing attacks in the country, which averaged 266.3 rushing yards per game.
He was named the Big 12’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year and landed on the All-Big 12 third team after his efforts in 2025.
The New Mexico transfer already had a season starting in Jason Beck’s offense, and that expertise was evident throughout the 2025 season.
While Dampier was not able to perform to his full ability physically for most of the season, the knowledge of the offense and trust from Beck kept the Utes performing positively on that side of the ball.
“My favorite part personally is just the trust level. He gives me every play out there,” Dampier said of Beck. “There’s multiple options of what I can do with the ball and he makes the plays where I get to make that best decision every play.”
Now, Dampier will play under new offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven after Beck left to join Kyle Whittingham’s staff at Michigan.
Dampier’s signature moment as a Ute came in the 51-47 comeback win over Kansas State.
Dampier connected with receiver Larry Simmons for a 20-yard touchdown to pull the Utes within three. Then on the ensuing drive, Dampier ran for 59 yards on fourth and 1, setting himself up for a game-winning touchdown run.
Aside from his performance on the field, Dampier’s leadership ability stood out throughout the season.
Byrd Ficklin, who had an impactful season himself, credited Dampier for helping him during his freshman year.
“Dev has been the most help out of anybody that’s been here,” Ficklin said in an interview on ESPN 700. “… He’s been really pushing me on and off the field to not just be a better player, but also be a better person, and that’s what I mainly love about Dev.”
Two of the most important pieces of Utah’s offense — Dampier and Ficklin — are officially back, giving the Utes a boost heading into a pivotal 2026 season, the first under new head coach Morgan Scalley.
Utah
Teens airlifted to Utah County hospitals after rollover of at least 50 yards | Gephardt Daily
UTAH COUNTY, May 11, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — Two males, ages 14 and 19, were transported to area hospitals Sunday after the side-by-side they were riding rolled down the side of a mountain.
Utah County Sheriff deputies and Santaquin police responded to the 6:07 p.m. call. Two medical helicopters were called to the scene, in the Pole Canyon area, as was a Department of Public Safety helicopter with a hoist in case it was needed, Sgt. Austin Edwards, Utah County Sheriff‘s Office, told Gephardt Daily.
“Eventually, rescue workers were able to make it to the spot on the hill where the vehicle had come to rest, and they were able to secure the victims, stabilize the victims, and get them back down the hill again to where the helicopters were waiting,” Edwards said.
“The 19-year-old male was transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, and the 14 year old was transported to Primary Children’s in Lehi.”
Both were said to have critical injuries, which were not considered to be life threatening, Edwards said.
“The cause of the rollover is still under investigation, so we don’t have that information available just yet.”
Photos: Utah County Sheriff
Utah
Utah Jazz jump to #2 in the lottery, plus full results
In what has a chance to be one of the most important nights in Jazz history, the Utah Jazz jumped in the NBA Lottery to the #2 spot for the upcoming NBA draft.
Here are the final results, which show all the movement.
Aside from it being a massive night for the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, it was a devastating night for a few teams, but no one more than the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in their trade for Ivica Zubac, had a stipulation on their pick that if the pick was top-4 they kept it. But if it fell below 4, they would give it to the Clippers which is exactly what happened. Now, the Clippers, who are without Zubac, find themselves with a #5 pick to build around.
For the Jazz this is a culmination of four years of rebuilding that ends with an extremely satisfying end. Utah will now have one of the tier-1 players from this draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The player Utah drafts will be one of their cornerstone pieces and will have the chance to not only play, but be a part of a team that will be competing for the playoffs this season.
The Utah Jazz now have a Sinister Six core: Darryn Peterson (If AJ Dybantsa goes #1), Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (if he signs). It’s quite the core with a mix of youth and veterans in their prime. With this group, the Jazz will have a chance to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Yes, the Thunder and Spurs are going to be difficult to beat, but Utah has the mix of talent, coaching, and depth that could absolutely do the trick.
Now the Utah Jazz look forward to the NBA Draft that be on June 23rd. Let the posturing begin!!
Utah
Provo’s new Boys & Girls clubhouse gives Utah youth more space to learn, grow and belong
PROVO — An organization that has been a beacon of hope for Utah children and families just got a big upgrade in Provo.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County on Friday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest facility, marking the start of a new chapter in providing support for those who need it the most.
The new Kent B. Nelson Clubhouse, 131 N. Olympic Blvd., replaces the organization’s former Provo clubhouse, which had been in operation for more than 50 years. Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County leaders said they had outgrown the aging facility and needed a larger, more modern space to support more community members.
“This new clubhouse is more than a building — it’s a central place where we can coordinate programs, support our staff, and amplify our impact across the region,” said David Bayles, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County, in a statement.
The organization’s mission was something the late former Utah County Commissioner Tom Sakievich was passionate about. His wife Marji and daughter Emily Sakievich attended Friday’s grand opening ceremony just as if he would’ve wanted to.
“He loved this project, and it meant the world to him,” Emily Sakievich told KSL. “This was actually one of the last places he went before he passed. (He) and my mom stopped by to just see how progress was going; he would be so excited to see this come together.”
The former commissioner died last December at the age of 72. Tom Sakievich resigned from the seat in September 2024 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer.
Emily Sakievich said her father was a big supporter of helping children in the Boys & Girls Clubs feel supported while he was in office.
“He would have all of them come to his office and talk about how government works and how they can be a part of it someday,” she said.
The new 20,000 square-foot facility expands on resources and programs offered at its previous site for community youth and families experiencing hardships.
The clubhouse will provide safe, engaging, and educational programs in a modernized building fit to serve more than 14,000 Utah children and teens.
A variety of programs including after-school, summer activities and STEM learning will be offered at the new facility. Other resources include internet safety programs, mental health support, nutrition initiatives, and housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness.
“We’ve been able to increase the capacity so much and add preschool and other things; we can even benefit more families — and we can benefit them for a longer period of time, from younger to older, where there are no gaps.” Provo City Council Chair Katrice MacKay told KSL. “So I’m really excited. It’s a fantastic thing for the city and for our residents.”
Leaders of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County say the new $6 million Provo clubhouse was designed as a welcoming space where children and teens can explore new interests, build life skills, and receive mentorship from caring staff.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs have been a cornerstone of youth development in Utah County for decades,” said Janet Frank, board president, in a statement “This new clubhouse strengthens that mission, allowing the organization to extend its reach and impact across the entire region.”
Friday’s event took place while children who attend the Boys & Girls Clubs were in school, so another ceremony for kids and their families is planned for the end of the month.
“The Boys & Girls Club is for every kid out there,” Bayles said. “We want to accomplish what every parent wants for their kids — we want them to have a safe place to learn and grow, to be successful in school, to build social skills and to go on and be great members of society.”
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
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