2010 Heisman Hopefuls: Jordan Wynn, QB, Utah
When most people think about Utah they think of salt lakes, Brigham Young and the Mormons, and the Utah Jazz. Until the last ten years they never really talked about it as a national powerhouse for football.
Urban Meyer shook up the football landscape when he took over at Utah in 2003. That season he led the team to their best record, 10-2, and a victory in the Liberty Bowl and a top 25 ranking. The team followed that performance up with an even better one in 2004. After going undefeated and averaging 45 points a game the easily defeated Pitt in the Fiesta Bowl. They finished the season ranked #4 in the nation according to the AP poll.
After Urban Meyer left for Florida many would have thought that the Utes would have faltered. Instead the team continued to flourish. Over the next five seasons the team would go 47-17 in conference play and get invited to a bowl game each year winning all five, most notably a 31-17 win over Alabama in 2009 (to cap off an undefeated 2008 season).
When you have this kind of continued success you tend to see better and better players gravitate to the program. Talent not only likes to play, but they like to play where they will get noticed. What better place to go then a nationally recognized program like Utah?
With a player like Jordan Wynn at the helm for the next few years the Utes are likely to continue to be talked about as a national contender. When that happens, key players tend to be recognized as well; Jordan Wynn is likely to be just such a player.
High School
Like many top prospects, Wynn looked to make his decision prior to his senior season. With all the focus that comes with winning a state title, the Oceanside High School (CA) product definitely had plenty to choose from. On the way to navigating his team through the 2007 season he did very well, throwing for 2589 yards on 166 completions (283 attempts) with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
One of the first offers he got was from Utah, but Wynn did not want to rush into any decisions. At the point when he got the offer from Utah he was also getting consideration from Colorado. In time he would get offers from a number of schools, but would eventually decide to attend Colorado.
After making his decision he would end up trying to help Colorado recruit in the area. He was even set to graduate high school early and enroll in the 2009 spring semester. However, after watching Utah destroy San Diego State he decided to that maybe becoming a Ute was better than being a Buffalo.
Utah had continued to contact Wynn even after he had committed to Colorado. When it came down to it, Wynn said that the success of the program along with the prospect of playing more sooner made Utah seem like a better place to be.
College
Wynn did not get his chance to shine until the latter half of the season when head coach Kyle Whittingham decided to make a change in the second half against Wyoming. He would go on to lead the team to a 19 second half points and a 22-10 victory.
Over the next four games Wynn would go 2-2, but more importantly would solidify his status as the quarterback of the future for the team. His best game would against New Mexico when he completed 64% of his passes for 297 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He would finish the regular season 72 of 143 for 991 yards and 5 touchdowns with just three interceptions.
Where Wynn really shined was in the team’s bowl game (Poinsettia) against California. By game’s end he would throw for 338 yards completing 26 of 38 passes and three touchdowns to upset the favored Cal Bears.
Wynn has all the makings of a top notch quarterback. With the right program to shine in like Utah, he could very well be in Heisman talks in 2010 and definitely by 2011.
Tags: