Quarterback Sam Huard Excited To Compete At Utah

Aug 6, 2024, 11:16 AM | Updated: 12:15 pm

Utah Insider

SALT LAKE CITY – It’s been quite the journey for quarterback Sam Huard. The junior joined Kyle Whittingham’s football program this summer and is clearly excited about the opportunity here.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder landed at Utah after searching for a program that would provide him the best opportunity to showcase his ability at the power conference level.

“It’s been awesome, I mean, this program is a machine, it’s one of the best programs in the country,” Huard said of Utah football.

And now, he’s fully immersed in a competition for the backup quarterback spot and Huard is just grateful to be a part of it.

“What a blessing it is to come here every day and compete with these guys, be around these teammates, grow with these guys, get to know them all, and play for these coaches, it’s pretty special,” he shared.

Why Did Sam Huard Choose Utah Football?

The reasons why @samhuard11 chose to transfer to Utah… #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/N8yDvh4N4p

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 6, 2024

Huard entered the transfer portal at Cal Poly following the 2023 season. From the moment the process of finding a new and hopefully final college home started, Utah was one of the more attractive options for him and his family.

“I think there are many reasons why I wanted to come here. This place is one of the best programs in the country. There has been a ton of great stability. They’ve proven so much here. And then just the opportunity to come here in a great system and just compete and get better,” he said.

With a starter in place and a couple of other promising young talents, Huard understands this is going to be a tough competition and he’s embraced that.

“I know coming here wasn’t going to be easy, learning a tough playbook, and coming back up to this level takes some time getting back to this speed. I have a lot of great people around me, who are going to help me get there and I know this thing’s a process,” he continued.

For Huard, Utah’s star quarterback who has been a person he can rely on and go to with questions. Rising has been quite helpful in Huard’s transition to Utah and the Andy Ludwig playbook.

“There are not many better people to learn from than Cam. He’s been unbelievable since I’ve gotten here, what a great mentor he is. For me to come in here and just compete, push myself, and also be able to pick his brain has been awesome,” Rising said of his new teammate.

Adversity Has Prepared Him For Utah

The No. 3 ranked quarterback in the 2021 class, Huard was a former five-star prospect at Kennedy Catholic High School. Not only was he a highly touted prospect, he was a legacy kid at Washington as well. That created lofty expectations for him and the Huskies.

Unfortunately for Huard, he experienced coaching staff turmoil in his first two years and then watched an emerging star quarterback in his third. That led him to look for an opportunity elsewhere.

“Honestly, it taught me so much. Was it tough? Definitely. Was it tough to leave there? For sure. I definitely wanted to stick it out there with the hopes of getting an opportunity down the road but I knew I wasn’t going to play and that would’ve been my fourth year, that’s pretty tough as a quarterback, and I needed to go play” he shared.

That led him to Cal Poly, where he started nine games and threw for 2,247 yards and 18 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. However, Huard wanted to return to this level and found that opportunity at Utah.

“This is a great opportunity. I feel like all those things I’ve gone through these past few years have prepared me to just come in here and compete every day, knowing that this thing is a process and that if I get an opportunity I’ll be ready to go,” he said.