Former Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising officially announced his retirement from football on Wednesday, bringing a remarkable but injury-marred college career to a close. The 25-year-old Rising revealed on social media that two orthopedic specialists advised him to step away from the game due to a lingering injury to his throwing hand.
“Bad Moon Out,” Rising wrote in a brief but emotional post on X (formerly Twitter), signaling the end of his playing days. He also noted he will undergo surgery and focus on rehabilitation.
Rising’s collegiate journey was filled with both triumph and setbacks. After beginning his career at Texas in 2018, he transferred to Utah, where he ultimately started 28 games over 30 appearances. He led the Utes to back-to-back Pac-12 championships in 2021 and 2022, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2021 and cementing his legacy as one of the program’s top quarterbacks. His 53 career touchdown passes rank fourth in school history.
However, Rising’s playing career was cut short by injuries. He missed the entire 2023 season due to a major knee injury and played just three games in 2024 before suffering the hand injury that has now ended his career. Despite still having a year of eligibility remaining—thanks to redshirt designations, a COVID-19 waiver, and injury exemptions—he was removed from the Utes’ roster after last season.
Rising is already preparing for his next chapter. According to sources who spoke to ESPN’s Eli Lederman, he has accepted an offensive coordinator role at Newbury Park High School in California, his alma mater. Rising was a three-year starter there from 2015 to 2017 and was a four-star recruit in the 2018 class. At Newbury Park, he’ll be coaching one of the nation’s top quarterback prospects—four-star Michigan commit Brady Smigiel, ranked No. 45 in the 2026 ESPN 300.
Utah, meanwhile, has begun transitioning to a new era at quarterback. The team added Devon Dampier, a transfer from New Mexico who started during the 2024 season.
As Cameron Rising shifts from the field to the sidelines, he leaves behind a legacy of perseverance, leadership, and grit. Though injuries limited his final years as a player, his impact on Utah football—and his future in the sport as a coach—remain significant.
