Stanley emerges as big-play threat for No. 11 Utah ahead of showdown with Baylor

Updated Sep. 5, 2024 3:05 p.m. ET

Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Dijon Stanley needed only three plays to emerge as No. 11 Utah’s latest playmaker in the backfield.

Stanley hauled in three first-half catches during the Utes’ 49-0 season-opening rout over Southern Utah. The final two went for touchdowns. He raced 64 yards on an open wheel route on his second reception to put Utah on the scoreboard. Then, Stanley burned the Thunderbirds on the same play during the second quarter, going 79 yards to the house.

Stanley — listed as the fourth string running back on the depth chart — tallied 150 receiving yards and 34 rushing yards, leading the Utes in both categories.

The 6-foot sophomore is suddenly an x-factor for Utah heading into Saturday’s contest against Baylor.

“I feel like I bring a special skill, not only as a running back,” Stanley said. “I feel like I could be flexed out and also play receiver. I have a receiver-type body. It makes me a bigger attribute to the team in that way.”

Stanley ran the 400 meters in high school and teammates describe him as the fastest player on the team. A special package of speed and space plays were designed for him heading into the season to better utilize his talents.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said Stanley isn’t quite ready to be an every down back for the Utes, but said his package of plays will be expanded if his production in week one carries over into subsequent games.

“He’s a weapon for us, at least he was in that first game, and if we can create some more big yardage chunk plays with him in the future, that could be a niche he could fill for us this year,” Whittingham said.

Stanley loves taking on an expanded role in Utah’s re-energized offense after tallying only 22 total yards a year ago while seeing limited snaps.

“To be in the thick of it is so much fun,” Stanley said. “Coach (Andy) Ludwig is going to keep making up plays and making up excellent schemes for us to run.”

Veteran playmaker

Dequan Finn led Toledo to a MAC Championship last season before joining Baylor as a graduate transfer. His abilities as a dual-threat quarterback are making the Bears feel optimistic they will turn a corner on offense this season.

Finn threw for 192 yards and a pair of touchdowns and also rushed 39 yards for another score in his Baylor debut, leading his new team to a 45-3 victory over Tarleton State in week one. While Finn did throw a pair of interceptions, he also showcased the dynamic playmaking and mobility that helped him win 23 games as a starter at Toledo.

“The best thing about all of it is that he’s way determined and way focused,” Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. “We can see what he can be.”

Finn beat out returning starter Sawyer Robertson for the starting quarterback job in fall camp. His experience could pay dividends for the Bears on the heels of the team’s struggles last season. He threw for more than 2,000 yards and rushed for more than 500 yards in each of his previous three seasons with the Rockets.

Running strong

Cam Rising is closing in on another career milestone. The Utah quarterback needs to gain just 22 rushing yards to reach 1,000 yards on the ground for his career. Rising ran four times for 25 yards in the season opener, to go along with 254 yards and five touchdowns on 10-of-15 passing.

Cornerback changes

Utah cornerback Kenan Johnson will miss the rest of the season after suffering a leg injury against Southern Utah. Johnson, a Georgia Tech transfer, won the starting job in fall camp but played just 13 snaps before going down with the injury and being helped off the field.

Elijah “Scooby” Davis filled in at cornerback after Johnson went to the sidelines and is listed as the starter at right cornerback on the latest depth chart released on Monday. Smith Snowden, Utah’s starting nickel back, and Michigan transfer Cameron Calhoun could also be in the mix to start at that spot going forward.

Scheduling quirk

Saturday’s game between Utah and Baylor is a designated non-conference matchup and will not count in the Big 12 standings for either team. It is the second part of a home-and-home series originally contracted between the two schools when the Utes were still in the Pac-12 Conference.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football