SALT LAKE CITY – Bryson Barnes is not expected to suit up for the Utes on Saturday against Colorado. Instead, it is expected backup quarterback Luke Bottari will be leading the charge for Utah.
The news comes on the heels of reports earlier in the week that fellow backup quarterback Nate Johnson left the program.
Both stories were first reported on by Josh Newman of KSL.com.
It is unclear whether Barnes is hurt or suffering from a bout of the flu that has been running through the Utah program.
Film
— Luke Bottari (@lukebottari) April 27, 2023
With Cam Rising, Barnes and Johnson not available for various reasons, it’s left the program with Bottari, redshirt freshman Brandon Rose, and true freshman Mack Howard as options.
Rose suffered a significant injury in fall camp and is hoping to gain a medical redshirt for this season that requires he does not play at all and Howard is still very green.
Who Is Luke Bottari?
Bottari joined the Utah football program for the 2022 season after spending 2019-2021 at College of San Mateo.
The senior signal caller came to the Utes as a preferred walk on and never saw any action last season. Bottari did enter the NCAA Transfer Portal briefly this spring with intentions of joining the Cal Golden Bears.
Big arm on board @lukebottari is on his way!#GoBears pic.twitter.com/9rHY2aSMov
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) May 30, 2023
According to a source, Bottari withdrew his name and returned to the Utes to finish out his career with Cam Rising and Bryson Barnes among others whom he became very close with.
Bottari now has the rare opportunity to leave his mark on the field as a PWO quarterback against the Buffs to end his college career.
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for KSLsports.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on X, Instagram, and Threads: @BodkinKSLsports
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