Utah quarterback Cam Rising discusses possibility of using an eighth year of eligibility

Utah quarterback Cam Rising is expected to make his long-awaited return to the playing field in 2024 and when he does so he’ll be one of the oldest players in college football.

Rising is now 25 years old, going on his seventh season in college football.

Could an eighth be in store? That was a question put to Rising during the 2024 Big 12 Media Days on Tuesday. Alas, it isn’t to be.

“That’s not the plan,” Rising told the Action Network’s Brett McMurphy. “Seven years is more than enough.”

Interestingly enough, coach Kyle Whittingham later followed up with reporters when asked a similar question, noting that Cam Rising isn’t technically eligible for an eighth year anyway, according to Utah’s compliance department.

Still, the desire for some college football folks to want to see Rising stick around a little longer makes sense.

He’s one of the most dynamic players in the game when fully healthy. That hasn’t been the case for some time, as Rising has been recovering from a torn ACL, MCL, MPFL and meniscus in his knee that he suffered late in the 2022 season.

There was some thought he might be able to return late in the 2023 campaign, but Rising opted not to push it with his knee still in recovery mode.

Cam Rising started 13 games in 2022, throwing for 3,034 yards and 26 touchdowns, against just eight interceptions. He also added 465 yards rushing and six scores on the ground.

That was enough to earn Cam Rising 2022 semifinalist honors for the Davey O’Brien Award and the Maxwell Award, two awards typically given to college football’s best. He was also named the MVP of the 2022 Pac-12 Championship Game.

In total during his Utah career, Rising has logged 5,572 yards passing and 46 touchdowns, against 14 interceptions. He’s also run for 953 yards and 12 scores.

Cam Rising will make his return to the field on Thursday, Aug. 29, with a 7 p.m. MT contest against Southern Utah.