SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Pac-12 expectations for the University of Utah football team are sky-high this year with many projecting the Utes as a preseason top-15 team, Pac-12 South frontrunner and a challenger for the Rose Bowl.

To achieve these expectations, the Utes’ individual player talent will have to shine.

Historically defense has led the way for Whittingham’s team. However, Scott Mitchell, host of KSL’s UnRivaled and KSL Sports contributor, makes the somewhat outlandish claim that Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley could be the best offensive player in the conference.

Raise your hand if you believe @19scottmitchell when he says that Tyler Huntley will be the best offensive player in the @pac12 pic.twitter.com/06jYq5LejD — KSL's UnRivaled (@KSLunrivaled) June 28, 2019

Mitchell did not say Huntley would be the best offensive player for only the Utes, but the whole Pac-12. Soley on the Utes offense, he has Huntley above future first-or-second round NFL Draft pick, running back Zack Moss.

As for competition in the Pac-12 – it includes another likely first-round, and maybe even first overall pick, in Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert.

“Tyler Huntley will be the Pac-12 player of the year this year,” Mitchell said confidently on KSL’s Unrivaled.

“I watched and observed him last year. Tyler Huntley is coming back next season as the most seasoned quarterback in the Pac-12. He is as seasoned as (Stanford QB) K.J. Costello and (Oregon QB) Justin Herbert, there is not a more seasoned quarterback in the Pac-12,” continued Mitchell.

“If you look at the month of October, he was as good as anyone in the country. They were averaging 40 points per game and a lot of that was on Tyler Huntley.”

Injuries Derailed Huntley

Mitchell was right saying Huntley was having a good season leading up to his collar bone injury. The Utes were 4-0 and averaging 41 points per game during that stretch.

As for Huntley, he was leading the Pac-12 in yards per attempt at 9.8 and had the best quarterback rating in the league at 176.60. He was one of three quarterbacks to complete over 70% of his passes at 73.3%.

Nationally, he was top six in each of those categories. He was careful with the ball with seven touchdowns and only two interceptions in four games.

Before his injury, Tyler Huntley was one of the most exciting and accurate quarterbacks in college football. He will look to lead Utah once again this year. pic.twitter.com/3Dt3lUUHFI — PFF College (@PFF_College) May 6, 2019