Quarterback Charlie Brewer leaves Utah football team

Baylor’s transfer canceled in Utes’ loss to San Diego State

Quarterback Charlie Brewer has left the University of Utah football team.

Brewer’s time in Utah was to be prolific. Instead, it was short-lived. Brewer has quit the University of Utah football program, a spokesperson for the sports department told the Salt Lake Tribune Tuesday morning.

That revelation came to light when Utah released their latest depth chart ahead of Saturday’s Pac-12 opener against Washington State (12:30 p.m., Pac-12 Networks).

“Charlie has decided to move on and we wish him the best,” Utes’ spokesperson told The Tribune.

Brewer was benched in favor of substitute Cam Rising in the Utes’ overtime loss to San Diego State on Saturday night. Before being benched on Saturday, Brewer led practices that ended in seven punters, plus a crushing interception from Tayler Hawkins on a pass that Brewer mis-telegraphed. Hawkins got it back to the Utah 7-yard line, Greg Bell threw the ball on the next play for his second touchdown in 42 seconds, and the Aztecs, who beat Arizona last week, took a 24-10 lead with 10:42 left in the third quarter.

Rising, who came in relief from Brewer with 5:24 left in the third quarter of Saturday’s 33-31 triple-overtime loss to San Diego State, is listed as the starter. Second-year student Ja’Quinden Jackson is listed as a replacement.

It was not immediately clear if Brewer had entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Brewer played four years at Baylor, throwing for 9,700 yards and 65 touchdowns. He entered the NCAA transfer portal on December 14, 2020, making himself available, primarily as a free agent, to be wooed as a prospect with one year of immediate eligibility remaining.

“We contacted him the second we found out he was in the portal,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said before the start of the season. “He was interested from the start and seemed to know a lot about our program, at least that’s what he expressed to me. We had an opportunity for him, we really didn’t have any established starters. Cam (Rising) won the job last year, but got injured in Game 1, early in Game 1, so we didn’t have a starter set so it was an opportunity for him to come in. and compete.

Six days after entering the portal, Brewer enlisted in Whittingham with great local fanfare.

The quarterback shone in the Utah spring game, scoring 15 for 15 and 151 passing yards at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Brewer went on to defeat Rising for the starting position after a lengthy quarterback battle in fall camp. In three starts in Utah, Brewer threw for 484 yards (48 of 79 passes), three touchdowns and three interceptions.

This story is developing and will be updated.