Utah’s QB Cameron Rising the Next Josh Allen?

Trying to find the words to describe Utah’s quarterback (QB) Cameron Rising is challenging because he himself is outside of the box.

Every NFL team other than the Chiefs and the Bills is trying to find the next Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.

Mahomes, of course, is the QB of the Chiefs and Allen is the QB of the Bills.

Do I dare compare Rising to Allen?

Yes, based on 2022 game film.

Why?

There are reasons extending beyond the fact both are from California and share this quirky unconventional competitive edge.

It also goes deeper than Rising playing for Utah, which is a bordering state to Wyoming where Allen played his college ball.

Quick decisions

Rising has a high football IQ, which shows up in his quick throws.

It’s also illustrated by the fact Rising was sacked nine times in 2022, and six times in 2021.

That’s only 15 sacks in 705 combined passing attempts.

He shows good pre-snap blitz recognition, and he’s poised knowing where to go with the football, even with pressure in his face.

Dual-threat

Add in the fact he’s mobile, which not only helps him to side-step pressure, but it’s another way Rising’s style conquers up thoughts of Allen (3,087 rushing yards and 38 rushing TD’s through his first five seasons).

Running is also a way of life for Rising, maybe too much so, as he tore an ACL in the Rose Bowl against Penn State.

Rising is a rugged athlete who has shown a keen ability to not only avoid pressure, but to exploit defenses picking up needed yardage on the ground in critical situations.

Utah ranked No. 7 in the college football with a 50.59% third down conversion rate.

That will not change when he comes back because it’s who he is.

Rising carried the ball 74 times in 2021 for 499 yards (6.7 avg.), and 77 times in 2022 for 465 yards (6.0 avg.).

How this Utah prospect looks when he returns from surgery is the wildcard.

Rising said he fully hopes to be ready to go by the beginning of the season. “It’s just up to me, and I gotta make sure I’m doing everything that I can to make sure that I’m ready for fall camp and then ready to go once the season comes around,” he said in the Deseret News.

The article stated Rising has been in contact with QB Aaron Rodgers (Jets), who has a history with the same injury is the one person Rising has been in contact with.

Ball security issues

Rising shows similarities to Allen right down to the ball security issues.

The Bills’ QB had a 44-to-21 TD-to-INT ratio during his last two seasons at Wyoming.

Rising has a 46-to-13 ratio in that same time period.

The concern however, is in this six game study, opposing defenses were able to disrupt Rising’s passes 22x.

#7 Cameron Rising 6-foot-2, 218 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Spring 2023 Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 0% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of May 30, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed: USC, Oregon, UCLA, Florida, USC (Pac-12 CCG), and Penn State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 249/385 (64.7%), 3034 yards, 26 TD, 8 INT, 9 sacks, long-72

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Tough and determined dual-role prospect with a good arm and average downfield placement. Navigates the pocket well. Good ball handling. Inconsistent going through progressions. Excellent creating and extending. Aggressively downfield minded. Sees the field well. Can fit passes into tight spaces. Mixed bag accuracy at all three route levels (short, intermediate and deep). Ball can sail high and has overconfidence in his arm at times. Able to make off-platform throws. Likes passing to tight-ends. Legit competitive runner who wants to get to the sticks.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season

1. Does he return to form?

2. Ball security?

3. Ball placement improved?

4. Rushing stats?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.