10 Utah Utes Named to East-West Shrine Bowl Top 1,000

Utah football is heading into the 2026 season with a roster full of players putting themselves on NFL radars. The East-West Shrine Bowl released its top 1,000 players for this fall, and ten Utes made the list. This is a strong representation for a program under new head coach Morgan Scalley. Here’s a look at who made the list. Devon Dampier | QB The headliner. Dampier had a terrific debut season at Utah in 2025, completing 63.5% of his passes for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns to just five interceptions while also rushing for 835 yards and 10 scores. He was one of only five FBS quarterbacks in 2025 to eclipse 2,400 passing yards and 800 rushing yards, and he did all of that with a sports hernia. After being named Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year and Las Vegas Bowl MVP, Dampier is back healthy for his senior season with a new offensive coordinator in Kevin McGiven and legitimate All-American hype entering the fall. Wayshawn Parker | RB Parker started the 2025 season splitting carries but took over the backfield down the stretch and never looked back. He finished as Utah’s leading rusher with 981 yards and six touchdowns on 149 carries, averaging 7.0 yards per carry. That was good for No. 20 in the country. He banged out four straight 100+ yard games in October and November, including a 145-yard, one-touchdown effort against Colorado where he averaged 14.5 yards per pop. He also hauled in 13 receptions for 185 yards and three more scores through the air. Third-team All-Big 12. One of the most dangerous backs in the conference heading into 2026. Johnathan Hall | LB Hall came to Utah as a safety and made the switch to linebacker ahead of the 2024 season. The transition has worked out. In 2025, he started all 13 games, led the team with 67 tackles, added 2.5 sacks, 6.0 TFL, an interception and four pass breakups, and earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. The Katy, Texas native re-signed with Utah this offseason on what was reported to be one of the highest-paying linebacker deals in college football, signaling exactly how much Scalley’s staff values him going into what should be his best season yet. Jackson Bennee | DB A former walk-on from Olympus High School in Holladay, Utah, Bennee turned into one of the best safeties in the Big 12 last season. He finished with 64 tackles, four interceptions, and five pass breakups, earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in his first full season as a starter. His 46-yard pick-six against Cal Poly extended Utah’s NCAA-record streak of consecutive seasons with at least one interception returned for a touchdown to 22 years. Bennee was also one of only 15 FBS players to record multiple blocked kicks in 2025. His brother, Noah, will be on Utah’s squad as a TE in 2026, adding a family dynamic to an already growing presence. Lance Holtzclaw | EDGE Holtzclaw is one of the more complete edge players in the Big 12 heading into 2026, and his profile extends well beyond the football field. He testified before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee in June as part of a hearing on the Protect College Sports Act, becoming the only active player in the room. On the field, he brings length and speed off the edge that could translate to the next level. His pass-rush ability will be one of the key storylines on Utah’s defense this fall under new defensive coordinator Colton Swan. Elijah “Scooby” Davis | CB Davis entered 2025 as Utah’s CB1 and delivered. He finished with 34 tackles, two interceptions, and two pass breakups across 13 games, including a 65-yard pick-six against Baylor. Per PFF, he held opposing quarterbacks to a 58.9 passer rating when targeting his side of the field. His season had some bumps, like being ejected for a scuffle late in the Baylor win, causing him to miss the first half against Kansas State, but he’s coming back for 2026 as a proven starter in a secondary that needs his experience. Elijah Reed | CB The other corner on the list is a newcomer. Reed transferred in from Akron this offseason after a career-best 2025 season in which he recorded 47 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. He allowed just one touchdown all season and held opposing quarterbacks to a 58.9 passer rating when targeted. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Reed fits the mold of what Utah likes at cornerback. He’ll compete for a starting spot alongside others in a competitive CB room. Keith Olson | OG With both Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu now in the NFL, Olson is one of the few returning players on an offensive line that needs to be rebuilt from scratch. He appeared in all 13 games in 2025, starting once, working at both guard spots and even right tackle. His versatility will be valuable in 2026, and with Jordan Gross now coaching the unit, Olson is tentatively penciled in as the starting right guard. One of the most important players on this offense who nobody is talking about. Braden Pegan | WR Pegan is a transfer from Utah State, where he was one of the best wide receivers in the Mountain West in 2025. The First Team All-MWC selection led the Aggies with 60 catches for 926 yards and five touchdowns. The same offense Kevin McGiven was running in Logan. That familiarity should mean an instant connection in Salt Lake City. Pegan spent time at UCLA before transferring to Utah State and breaking out in his first season in the Mountain West. He had three 100-yard receiving games in 2025 and gives Dampier a legitimate WR1 option he’s never had before. Kyri Shoels | WR Shoels played at San José State in 2025 and put together a breakout season with 59 receptions for 768 yards and two touchdowns, earning All-Mountain West Honorable Mention honors. He had three 100-yard outings, including a 147-yard game against Stanford. Shoels started his career at Palomar College before making the jump to the FBS level, so he’s not the typical portal addition. He will need to earn his spot, but all signs point to a heavy dose of Shoels in McGiven’s offense in 2026.