Utah picked right back up where it left off last season, delivering a dominating performance on the ground in a 66-14 win against FCS opponent Idaho Thursday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
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The Utes set school records in rushing yards (3,462) and rushing touchdowns (41) behind a dominant offensive line in 2025, and they started 2026 at the same pace.
Wayshawn Parker led the way on the ground for Utah, rushing for 71 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts while hauling in three passes for 23 yards and two touchdowns.
The three-touchdown night was a career high for the junior running back and served as a glimpse of what he can do as the undisputed lead back this year.
“I’ll toot Wayshawn Parker’s (horn) all day long. That guy can catch the ball, run the ball, he’s tough as nails. You watch him block, he is a complete running back, which is why we have a ton of NFL scouts coming and watching practice,” said Utah coach Morgan Scalley.
Parker ran violently all game, barreling through would-be Idaho tacklers on more than one occasion, and also impressed with his athleticism. He looks like he’s taken the next step in his game, illustrated by his success catching the ball and when called upon to block.
“I was just going out there being confident in my own mind and the whole team. We’ve been doing it since January. It was time to prove what we can do, so that first game I had to go out there and show what it’s going to be like this whole year,” Parker said.
While Parker was the star of a Ute offense that rushed for 364 yards Thursday, what stood out was the depth that the running back room has.
In a 52-point victory, there was ample time for plenty of players to get touches. In all, 10 different players, including three quarterbacks, toted the rock.
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Freshman LaMarcus Bell finished with a team-high 87 rushing yards on 11 carries, including a 34-yard touchdown that put the icing on the victory for the Utes.
Bell also had two additional 20-plus yard runs.
Steve Chavez-Soto, meanwhile, contributed 35 yards and a score with a few tough runs and had an additional would-be touchdown called back by a holding penalty.
Sophomore running back Mateaki Helu also contributed 25 yards, and while Daniel Bray didn’t have a standout night — 13 yards on two carries — the speedster will be a significant part of Utah’s offense moving forward.
In all, Utah had 12 rushes of 10 or more yards, with Parker, Chavez-Soto, Helu and Bell each having runs that eclipsed the mark.
While Parker will still be the workhorse, after one game, it’s clear Utah has a variety of options in the backfield.
“To see the other guys step up, Chavez-Soto, Mateaki Helu, you saw (LaMarus Bell) there with the touchdown at the end. (Tight end) Hunter Andrews is a guy that continues to show up at different positions, whether you’re handing him the ball, whether he’s catching out of the backfield or the tight end spot,” Scalley said.
“Mark Atuaia is such a good position coach. He gets those guys ready. He holds them accountable and that’s a position group I know is going to come ready every single week.”