Utah Football: 3 takeaways from resilient win over Oregon in Week 11

TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 03: (L-R) Offensive lineman Lo Falemaka #69, quarterback Tyler Huntley #1, linebacker Chase Hansen #22 and linebacker Cody Barton #30 of the Utah Utes walk out onto the field before the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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PASADENA, CA – OCTOBER 26: Kyle Whittingham the head coach of the Utah Utes walks off the field at half time with UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl on October 26, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

2. Jason Shelley has serious potential

Losing Tyler Huntley hurt, there’s no doubt about it, but replacing him with redshirt freshman dual-threat Jason Shelley has proven not to be that bad of a break.

The second-year quarterback from Little Elm, Texas, has waited patiently for an opportunity and he got it after Huntley went down with an injury against Arizona State in Week 10. He came in, completed just 4-of-11 passes for 59 yards and a pick and the Utes were upset by the Sun Devils in Tempe, 38-20.

It didn’t look like Shelley was ready for the No. 1 job, but he changed people’s minds in Week 11, impressing against Jim Leavitt’s Oregon defense.

Shelley passed for 262 yards on 18-of-31 completions and he didn’t throw an interception, which is progress for a young quarterback who had struggled in minimal action through 10 weeks. He also added two rushing scores.

Luckily Huntley has another year of eligibility, so Shelley can learn more behind the starting quarterback, but he’s not a bad fall-back option. He’s going to be a stud in a couple of years.

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