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Star quarterback Cam Rising did a little bit of everything for the Utah Utes in the 2022 college football season.
Rising, who committed to Texas out of high school before transferring to the Utes, threw for 3,3034 yards, 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions while running for a further 465 yards and six touchdowns to help lead Utah to a Pac-12 title.
But despite returning for the 2023 season, Rising has yet to play a down for the Utes.
That’s because Rising suffered a torn ACL in the 2023 Rose Bowl against Penn State that has put him on the shelf for more than nine months.
But as it turns out, torn ACL on begins to tell the story of what Rising is going through on his road to recovery.
“I wasn’t really expecting to do this, but I just want to let everybody know I didn’t just tear my ACL,” Rising told ESPN 700 in Salt Lake City. “I tore my meniscus, MPFL, and MCL. It was a big surgery and it’s not an easy comeback. I’ve been working my tail off.
“There are guys that have had similar injuries to this like Kyler Murray, Hendon Hooker, who have decided not to play this season. I’m grinding and doing everything I possibly can, and even the fact I’m going out there and practicing. I’m ahead of schedule.”
The Utes began the 2023 season at 4-0, but dropped their first game of the season last week against the Oregon State Beavers.
Utah has struggled at the quarterback position without Rising.
Bryson Barnes began the season at coach Kyle Whittingham’s signal caller. But he was replaced by Nate Johnson mid-way through the Utes’ Week 1 victory against Florida and the two have split reps in the four games since.
Thankfully for fans, Rising says he’s working his way back.
“I’m trying to make sure I can be out there because nobody wants to be out there on the field grinding with those guys more than me, but at the end of the day, it’s my body. My body has to recover,” he said.
“I’ve just been focused on continuing to improve. I’m getting closer. I’ve got to keep making the days count. I’ll be back as soon as I’m ready to go, and there’s not really anyone that can say much besides the best doctor in the world, Dr. [Neal] ElAttrache, down in L.A. can say.”