Bad Man Rising – Utah QB Cameron Rising

Every year, as a draft analyst, you have to decide who your QB1 will be and this year Utah’s Cameron Rising is on my mind.

No matter who you have your sights set on, sometimes another one just pops up.

This year there is a different breed of quarterback. There are a whole lot of choices, and no clear cut order.

In the Pac-12 Championship game, I just watched Rising and the No. 11 Utah Utes completely annihilate Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Caleb Williams and the No. 4 ranked USC Trojans.

Utah 47

USC 24

Rising was named that game’s MVP.

When the smoke finally cleared, Williams looked thoroughly beaten. He had his head lowered, and wrapped in a towel on the sideline.

Who is this guy?

Coming in at 6’2” and 220 pounds, Rising is a tough and hard nosed quarterback.

Watching him play is one heck of a ride.

When he’s not threading the needle with deadly accurate throws, he is picking up tough yards on the ground with a wicked stiff arm.

This kid has the “It” factor written all over him

When it matters, he gets it done. Even though his statistics don’t pop off the chart, it doesn’t mean he cannot make things happen.

Knowing how to use your tight end is something that I have always looked for in a college quarterback.

His tight end, Dalton Kincaid, has been his number one weapon, and leading receiver, since taking over for the Ute’s two games into the 2021 season.

In the film that I have evaluated, I truly have not seen a better quarterback prospect than Rising

These last two years, this Utah signal caller has been a star in the making.

Rising has all of the tools that you look for in a NFL quarterback. He has clean mechanics from head to toe. It is apparent he has absolute quality in ball placement and accuracy. Additionally, he has the ability to do the RPO’s (run pass options) and bootlegs with full command of Utah’s underrated offense.

He also possesses great scrambling ability, with deceptive speed, and the moves to match.

Rising easily goes through his progressions and consistently makes the correct reads.

The moxie and exuberance that goes on display whenever he steps on the field, is second to none.

Don’t confuse me with the facts

Going head-to-head versus USC and Williams, Rising is a perfect 3-0.

This will be his second Rose Bowl and he has two Pac-12 Championships, to boot.

He has played the best, and he has beaten the best that this country has to offer.

Not bad for a kid who showed up being ranked at No. 48 sandwiched between quarterbacks Malik Cunningham and Hendon Hooker this past August.

Some have Rising as an undrafted free agent.

According to nflmockdraftdatabase.com, only 0.3% of the NFL Draft Community sees him as a first-round prospect.

As a general manager, I would make that pick all day.

He has out-dueled every quarterback ranked above him, with the exception of Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.

With his skill-set and intangibles, Rising is the best quarterback you haven’t heard of.

In the days leading to the draft, you’ll hear this name again.

It is he, my QB1.

He is a bad man rising.

My BIG three questions…

1. Which NFL team will snap him up?
2. Will his opportunity be sooner or will he end up buried on some team’s depth chart?
3. Will he land with a winning established organization, or will he end up on a team in full rebuild mode?

How Rising stacks up and game film reviewed

Draft projection: First-Round

Pro Comparison: Shane Falco. Fictional character, real talk. Cameron Rising is a man all his own

Game Film Evaluated:

Oregon ’21

UCLA ’21

USC ’22

The author, William Yanish, has been a football fan since he was knee high to a grasshopper. He played football until his body wouldn’t let him any longer at the tender young age of 17. He is an aspiring sports writer and author, who covers the NFL Draft for firstroundmock.com. Yanish attended Colorado Mesa University on the western slope of Colorado.