Cam Rising is undoubtedly the starting quarterback going into the 2024 season for the Utah Utes. However, the seventh-year leader is facing a crucial decision this 18 days before taking on Southern Utah —whether or not to wear a knee brace after his recovery from knee surgery.

As he prepares for the Utes’ first season in the Big 12, Rising remains undecided on the matter. “I’m not sure,” he told the Salt Lake Tribute. “I’m still feeling it out. We’ll decide when it comes closer to the season.”

Rising’s health is pivotal to the Utes’ success, especially after the offense struggled without him in 2023, finishing 11th in the Pac-12 in passing yards. The Utes are determined to protect their QB1 at all costs. This offseason, Rising has focused on quickening his release and learning how to avoid unnecessary hits. His father, Nicko Rising, emphasized that the quarterback is looking to minimize the hits he takes this season.

FOX Sports analyst puts Utah as highest ranked Big 12 team

Utes offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig highlighted that Rising’s health will be a key factor in Utah’s aspirations for a successful season and possibly a bid in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Ludwig mentioned that design quarterback runs will be limited, particularly early in the season, to keep Rising healthy. The emphasis will be on smarter decision-making, including throwing the ball away when necessary.

In fall camp, Rising has been testing his knee with various cuts and zone reads, preparing for what could be a pass-heavy offense. With a largely unproven running back group, the Utes may rely more on Rising’s throwing capabilities this season. To bolster the offense, head coach Kyle Whittingham has added several wide receivers through the transfer portal, increasing competition and depth in the receiving corps.

As Rising puts it, “Competition makes everybody much better,” and this added depth could be crucial for Utah’s success in the upcoming season.

A Utah Karen who was caught on camera confronting a 19-year-old girl about the size of her miniskirt after yanking it down in a steakhouse.

Ida Lorenzo, 49, had faced a Class A misdemeanor charge of sexual battery following the viral incident at Sakura Japanese Steakhouse in St. George, but entered a plea deal on July 30.

As part of the deal, Lorenzo – a former legal secretary at the state Attorney General’s office – pleaded no contest to a reduced class B misdemeanor charge of ‘knowingly and intentionally touch[ing] the buttocks of another person under the circumstances she should have known would cause affront or alarm,’ according to ABC 4.

She will now be held with no sentence for one year so long as she complies with the terms of the agreement – which stipulate she is to have no contact with the victim – and commits no new offenses.

After the one year is up, the criminal case against her could be dismissed.

But if she fails to abide by the terms of the agreement, a warrant could be issued for her arrest, her guilty plea will be accepted and she could face a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail.

According to a record of the hearing obtained by Utah News Dispatch, the victim in the case supported the plea deal. 

Lorenzo was seen in a viral TikTok video pulling down the 19-year-old girl’s skirt and then flashing a badge while asserting, ‘I happen to work for the state.’

She told the alleged victim that if she has to watch her ‘a** cheeks hanging out again’ and see her pubic hair, she would call Child Protective Services. 

Meanwhile, the young victim’s friends can be heard telling Lorenzo: ‘You do not get to touch her,’ and they later accused her of sexually assaulting the victim.

Lorenzo – a former legal secretary at the state Attorney General’s office – pleaded no contest to a reduced class B misdemeanor charge of ‘knowingly and intentionally touch[ing] the buttocks of another person under the circumstances she should have known would cause affront or alarm’

But the incident only came to the authorities attention after Lorenzo reported it to police herself on the same night. 

She told police that the teenager’s skirt was ‘hiked above her vagina and butt,’ exposing her pubic hair, ABC4 reported. 

Lorenzo also reportedly explained that she pulled the skirt down as young children were present and the restaurant staff did not act. 

After footage of the incident was posted online Lorenzo phoned 911 again to claim that a ‘threat on her life’ had been made as she is a state employee, according to the police report seen by ABC.

She told police she first asked the young woman to pull her skirt down but that she was ignored, and therefore acted herself. 

When asked why she thought it was appropriate to touch the girl, Lorenzo reportedly replied that she only touched her skirt.  

But the teenager had also contacted police following the incident to report that she had been ‘sexually assaulted while in the lobby’ of the St. George restaurant.

She was seen in body camera footage telling officers how she could feel ‘someone’s cold hands against my skin’ before turning around – coming face to face with her accoster.

Police-worn body camera footage shows Lorenzo defended her actions to cops

The teen recalled how she initially thought it was one of her friends having fun, and how stunned she was to see it was a middle-aged woman whom she did not know.

‘Not even the physical side of things, but mentally,’ she said of the lasting impact left by the ordeal. ‘I’m struggling so much with weight problems.’

Others who filled out witness statements shared a similar account of what happened, cops said – paving the way for Lorenzo’s arrest the next day.

The teenager added the incident – which was recorded by friend CC Snow – made her feel insecure about her body.

‘It’s outrageous to me,’ she says in the clip. 

But when police later questioned and arrested Lorenzo, she defended her actions. 

She told officers she first asked the young woman to pull her skirt down but that she was ignored, and therefore acted herself. 

When asked why she thought it was appropriate to touch the girl, Lorenzo reportedly replied that she only touched her skirt. 

An officer then told her that she had still ‘engaged in criminal behavior by touching the female’s clothing, and her behavior was not appropriate.’

The officer explained that touching someone’s private areas was against the law even if just touching clothing.

She then seemed startled when officers said they would arrest her for sexual assault

Still, the former state employee seemed shocked that she would be arrested for the caught-on-camera incident – claiming she thought the teen was nude underneath her skirt.

‘You are going to arrest me?’ she says in police-worn body camera footage, during which she reenacted how she ‘harmlessly’ tugged at the girl’s skirt.

‘I should have called the police at that time. I should have reported it,’ she adds, in footage filmed from the St George Police Department on April 22.

‘You would do whatever you needed to do, but that wasn’t going to resolve the issue,’ she goes on to claim. ‘It would have taken you probably forever to get there.’

She goes on to claim that her intervention garnered a ‘standing ovation’ from those in attendance. 

Then, when asked why she took the matter into her own hands, she responds: ‘[I was] protecting the kids by covering the private parts.’

The officer, in turn, replies: ‘Correct, but that’s not your job to do.’

Lorenzo is seen being walked to a police car following her arrest on April 24

Following her arrest, Lorenzo was fired from the state Attorney General’s office.

She later blamed her firing on ‘circumstances beyond my control’ in a GoFundMe to provide some form of income until she lands a new job. 

‘My career and sole means of income is currently on hold for an indefinite period, and it is urgent that I reach out to try and raise funds to help support my two sons and myself during this difficult period,’ Lorenzo wrote, pleading for sympathy.

‘I’m a single mother and I’ve never asked for any help until now. My son is a suicide survivor (bullied in middle school) and I am a survivor of domestic violence. For the first time in my life, I myself could use the help. Any amount of your generosity would be so very appreciated.’