The Utes are surging for California’s dual-threat sensation as Ryan Gunderson’s personalized recruiting push and a versatile offensive scheme position Utah as a premier landing spot.
Utah has worked its way into a strong early position with one of the top quarterbacks in the 2028 class.
Four-star quarterback Jaxson Carper told me the Utes are currently in his top four, with the Utah staff making a difference early in his recruitment.
“Utah is definitely top four right now,” Carper said. “Coaches are always in contact, and the whole staff just sent me some letters, so I definitely like how they feel about me.”
Carper is a 6-foot-3 quarterback out of St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura, California. His recruitment has taken off over the last several months, with 17 offers already in hand. He now holds offers from Utah, UCLA, Nebraska, Arizona, Texas Tech, SMU, Wisconsin, Boston College and Syracuse, among others.
Utah entered the picture through quarterbacks coach Ryan Gunderson, who had been building a relationship with Carper before delivering the offer.
“It was great,” Carper said. “Coach Gunderson and I had been in contact for a while, and finally getting that call and having him offer me felt amazing.”
Carper has backed up the attention with a strong start to his junior season. Through his first three games, he posted 736 total yards and nine total touchdowns, including 651 yards through the air and another 85 on the ground.
His arm talent and athleticism stand out, but Carper believes his biggest growth has come mentally.
“Definitely just using my eyes and understanding what I’m seeing from the defense,” Carper said.
That growth makes him an interesting fit for what Kevin McGiven is building at Utah. The Utes have shown a willingness to move their quarterbacks around, use them in the run game, and create different looks with Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin on the field.
Carper has been paying attention, and Ficklin’s role has stood out to him.
“I like that Utah runs their quarterbacks, and I really like how both quarterbacks play, especially Ficklin,” Carper said.
That is one of the easiest connections for Utah to sell here. Carper is not a quarterback who has to be kept in the pocket. He can make throws off platforms, extend plays and hurt defenses with his legs. McGiven’s offense gives him a real example of how Utah could use that skill set.
The football fit matters, but Carper said one factor will carry even more weight when it is time to decide: stability.
“The biggest factor is going to be stability, 100%,” Carper said. “I want to go somewhere where the coaches who recruited me are there all four years.”
That puts even more importance on the relationship Utah is building now. Gunderson has stayed in contact, the rest of the staff has made Carper feel wanted, and the Utes have already put themselves near the top of his recruitment.
The next step is getting him to Salt Lake City.
“I definitely want to get out there and catch a game,” Carper said. “I’d want to see their culture and how they prepare, for sure.”
Utah has already done enough to become a serious player before Carper has even seen the program in person. A gameday visit would give him a closer look at the culture, the quarterback room, and how McGiven’s offense is being built.
There is still a long way to go in a 2028 recruitment, especially for a quarterback whose offer list continues to grow. But Utah is not just hanging around early. The Utes are in Carper’s top four, they have a strong connection through Gunderson and they are giving him something real to watch every Saturday.
Now the focus turns to getting him on campus and showing him why Utah can be the stable home he is looking for.
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