Freshman QB Nate Johnson's 'spark' revealed a glimpse into Utah's future

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said his team needed a "spark" on offense.

Earlier in the week, offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig, looking at his offensive personnel that was without its two dynamic tight ends and a banged-up running back room, he found his man — the spark the offense needed against Arizona.

Buried in the depth chart was freshman quarterback Nate Johnson, a former four-star recruit with "blazing speed," according to Whittingham.

Until a few weeks ago, Johnson had been the leader of the scout team unit used to get Utah's defense better. But when Ja'Quinden Jackson switched from quarterback to running back midway through the season, suddenly his scout team duties shifted to that of the team's third-string quarterback. He even got to travel to the away games now.

The intent, though, was to never have Johnson on the field, or at least not unless Utah's season had been drastically altered with the two quarterbacks ahead of him unable to go for whatever reason. Johnson, however, was one play away from being the team's quarterback had Bryson Barnes needed a replacement in his start against Washington State.

It never happened and Johnson maintained his role as a deep backup on the sidelines.

Barnes led Utah to a 21-17 victory over Washington State in his first collegiate start, though it came in less than desirable circumstances when starting quarterback Cam Rising scratched himself from the lineup about 30 minutes before kickoffs. Barnes was ready, though, and stepped up when he was needed.

So when Johnson got word last Monday that Ludwig had schemed up some plays for him to potentially be used in the Arizona game, he prepared for his opportunity as much as he could. There was no guarantee he'd actually see the field, but he said he was ready for the moment should it happen.

He quoted a popular phrase that is often touted by backups hoping to see playing time: "I just had to stay ready so you ain't gotta get ready. I was just staying ready the entire week."

Ludwig called his name with just under two minutes left to play in the second quarter. After Arizona had tied the game up 7-7, Rising marched the team down field and got to the Wildcats' 8-yard line. It was then that Johnson ran onto the field and became the team's quarterback.

As if he'd done it a thousand times before — and likely he had at Clovis High in Northern California where he rushed for 812 yards on 94 carries his senior year — Johnson faked a handoff to fellow freshman Jaylon Glover and immediately took off to the corner of the end zone. Showcasing his speed, Johnson quickly got to the end zone.

His first collegiate score.

But Johnson wasn't done there.

With a 21-7 lead in the second quarter and Utah on Arizona's 9-yard line, Johnson, again, replaced Rising as the team's quarterback. And in similar fashion — except this time he went to his left — Johnson sprinted to the end zone for his second score of the night.

Two scores in his first collegiate appearance.

"I mean, it was really fun," Johnson said, almost downplaying the moment as if he didn't want to look too excited. "First carry, touchdown; second carry, touchdown. Just being out there with the guys, being with team, it was really exciting."

It was a brief look at what Utah could have at quarterback in the near future. Sure, he didn't showcase his arm — though Whittingham assured the media on Saturday night that Johnson is more than capable there, too — but it showed the type of threat Johnson could be as a true dual-threat quarterback for the Utes.

"Nate's got a ton of potential," Whittingham said. "He's got a very high ceiling. He also throws the ball very well. We see it in practice every day. ... He has got a lot of — a very high ceiling is what he has."

And for at least one game, Johnson provided the "spark" Utah's offense wanted.

"Just looking for a way to provide some more spark, you know, just creative ways to provide spark, and he sure did that," Whittingham said, speaking about the team's decision to use Johnson. "You saw how fast he is. He is the fastest kid on the team, as far as what he did in track when he was in high school, so he's got blazing speed. I think you saw that manifest tonight."

Johnson's season outlook remains one with a redshirt tag likely attached to it — he can play in up to four games this season and maintain redshirt eligibility, per NCAA rules — but there's potential for Johnson to see more action as the season comes closer to an end, especially as the "spark" the offense could use to convert touchdowns in the red zone.

"We'll see what happens going forward and what Andy comes up with," Whittingham said. "That was all coach Lud's brainchild and implementation. And so if it looks like it's going to be something that we can hang on to and continue to get mileage out of then we'll do that."

Whether it leads to more playing time or not, it was an opportunity for Johnson to showcase some of the skills he was recruited to Utah for as potentially the team's next starting quarterback. At the very least, it gave him confidence that his collegiate journey is off to a good start.

"Gives me a lot of confidence," Johnson said. "I mean, as a true freshman, most true freshmen quarterbacks don't really play; they're typically redshirting, so it gave me a really big confidence booster."

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