Blake Cotton Making His Move in Utah’s Cornerback Battle
Fall camp in Salt Lake City has been buzzing, and one of the biggest storylines isn’t about touchdowns or highlight-reel catches—it’s about a cornerback transfer who’s quickly making a name for himself.
Kyle Whittingham didn’t mince words on Monday when asked about the competition at outside cornerback.
“Blake Cotton, I’d say he’s got the edge right now,” the veteran Utah head coach said with a subtle grin.
Now, in the world of college football, “having the edge” in mid-August is a nice feather in your cap—but Cotton knows better than to think he’s already won the job.
“I mean, shoot, we can all play,” he said with a shrug. “I’m never going to be in the mindset where I think a spot is solidified. Just got to keep working every day. We’ve got a talented group, for sure.”
Why This Cornerback Battle Is So Intense
The Utes are replacing some serious talent in the secondary. With Zemaiah Vaughn graduating and Cam Calhoun transferring to Alabama, the outside corner position opposite returning starter Scooby Davis was wide open heading into camp.
Whittingham and his staff weren’t shy about using the transfer portal to fill that void. Texas A&M’s Don Saunders, Garden City Community College product Rock Caldwell, and Auburn’s JC Hart all joined the fight.
But so far, Cotton—a three-year veteran from UC Davis—has stood out.
Cotton’s Road to Salt Lake City
At UC Davis, Cotton built a résumé that included 50 tackles and nine pass breakups over three seasons. When he hit the portal this winter, Utah wasted no time making its pitch.
“What stood out for me was just the history, especially with DBs and the experience with the coaching staff,” Cotton explained. “A lot of our coaches have been here 10-plus years, so that’s huge.”
That stability mattered. In today’s college football landscape, where rosters and coaching staffs can change almost overnight, finding a program with roots that deep is rare.
Sharrieff Shah’s High Standards
Cotton has been quick to credit cornerbacks coach Sharrieff Shah for his development. Shah has a reputation for demanding excellence—every rep, every drill, every game.
“It feels great to be in a position to have a coach that holds you to such a high standard every day, and the energy never goes down,” Cotton said.
This isn’t just lip service. Cotton has embraced Shah’s feedback and turned it into on-field progress. Scooby Davis, who locked up the other outside corner spot after Kenan Johnson’s injury last season, has seen it firsthand.
“He’s gotten better every day and still getting better,” Davis said, noting a clear improvement from spring to fall.
Life on an Island in Scalley’s Defense
One thing Cotton had to adjust to quickly? Morgan Scalley’s defense—a system famous for its heavy use of man coverage. For a cornerback, that means you’re living on an island, with no safety net if you get beat.
“Obviously, all the man we play, we’re going to be on that island most of the time,” Cotton explained. “So we just got to buckle down and play our best.”
And the challenges don’t stop at coverage. Utah’s offense, led by Devon Dampier, has been testing the defense all camp—especially when Dampier breaks the pocket.
“We play a lot of man, and Dev, obviously he can run, so he scrambles,” Cotton said. “That challenges us to stay on our man as long as possible. Heavy RPO team too, so we’ve got to not get too picky and have good eyes.”
Physicality + Mindset = The Cotton Formula
Cotton believes two traits have been key in his early success: physicality and mindset.
“In terms of physicality, you just got to be smart, especially as a DB,” he said. “Most of the calls are biased toward the offense, so we’ve got to be smart with what we do. For example, if we’re going to tug, we’ve got to tug low so that they can’t see.”
And the mindset? For a cornerback, it’s everything. You have to forget the last play—good or bad—and focus on the next one.
Why Whittingham Wants This Settled Fast
Before camp even began, Whittingham made it clear: he didn’t want the cornerback battle dragging deep into August.
“I’d like to get that position opposite Davis settled earlier rather than later in camp,” he said.
That’s not just about competition—it’s about building chemistry. In a defense that relies so heavily on trust and communication, having your starters locked in early can make a world of difference.
If Cotton keeps playing at this level, that decision could be made sooner than expected.
Cotton’s Daily Approach
“For me, development has been really my emphasis,” Cotton said. “Just taking what the coaches are saying and taking one step forward every day.”
That sounds simple, but in a camp setting—where heat, fatigue, and constant evaluation can wear players down—consistency is everything.
Cotton isn’t just competing against his teammates for a spot; he’s competing against complacency. And right now, he’s winning both battles.
Quick Takeaways on the Utah Cornerback Situation
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Scooby Davis: Locked in as one starter.
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Smith Snowden: Back at nickel, but will see plenty of snaps in two-corner sets.
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Vacant Spot: Cotton currently leading for the second outside corner job.
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Competition: Saunders, Caldwell, and Hart are still pushing hard.
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Coaching Edge: Sharrieff Shah’s intensity is shaping the group.
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Opening Game: Aug. 30 at UCLA—less than three weeks away.
Utah football has never been shy about building its identity on defense, and 2025 looks no different. If Blake Cotton does secure that starting spot, it’ll be because he earned it every single day of camp—not because of hype or a résumé from another program.
And if Whittingham’s early praise is any indication, Cotton might just be the next in a long line of standout Ute cornerbacks.
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