​This article was first published in the Ute Insiders newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Wednesday night.Devon Dampier had a successful first season at Utah.After transferring from New Mexico with offensive coordinator Jason Beck and winning the starting quarterback job, Dampier helped turn Utah’s offense around, which had struggled for two consecutive years in the absence of Cam Rising; he led the Utes to 41.2 points per game and 482.9 yards per game — both of which ranked No. 4 in the nation.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDampier contributed 835 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns to Utah’s school-record rushing yard total and threw for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns with just five interceptions on a completion percentage of 63.5.“Just since that day, I’ve never seen him change up. The loyalty, the love, the belief, the confidence, that’s never changed through them. And if anything, I’ve seen more of that when times were tough for me. He came through every single time and just the amount of effort he’s put to make me feel like I belong here has been crazy.”Utah QB Devon Dampier on Morgan ScalleyHe answered the two main criticisms of his play at New Mexico, reducing turnovers and upping his completion percentage, and while he had a couple of down games in Utah’s losses to BYU and Texas Tech, overall, he was exactly what the Utes needed after two years of middling-to-poor quarterback play.And he did it all while injured for most of the season.Dampier battled a sports hernia and an ankle injury last season.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I’ve never had an injury like that so that was the first time where I felt like I was going into games in my head like I can’t play how I normally play,” Dampier said at last week’s Big 12 media days.Though Utah and Dampier both enjoyed success, with the Utes going 11-2 and winning their first bowl game since 2017, Dampier felt like he could have put on a better showing if he wasn’t injured.“Devon played a lot of last year, not 100% — sports hernia — but that just goes to show how competitive he is and how tough he is,” said coach Morgan Scalley. “I’m excited to see him play at full strength again.”After having surgery to fix the sports hernia this offseason, Scalley and others from the coaching staff were at the airport to welcome Dampier home. That gesture, which came as Dampier was mulling over his future, meant a lot to Utah’s quarterback.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDampier has a closer relationship than you might think with Scalley. Despite being the defensive coordinator at the time, Utah’s new head coach was Dampier’s “tour guide” on his visit while he was in the transfer portal, and that visit was a factor in Dampier committing to Utah. Since then, the two have had a tight bond.“Just since that day, I’ve never seen him change up. The loyalty, the love, the belief, the confidence, that’s never ch