Utah backup quarterback Conner Manning announced on social media Sunday that his "time in SLC has come to an end," signaling an intent to transfer, though a source close to Manning said he had not yet settled on a destination.
The Lake Forest, Calif. native and fellow redshirt sophomore Brandon Cox, a close friend of his, had battled for position on the quarterback depth chart. Cox finished the season as the apparent No. 3 behind seniors Travis Wilson and Kendal Thompson. Manning, perhaps the group's purest passer but less the dual-threat quarterback that Utah now targets, then had to contemplate the arrival of junior college passer Troy Williams and freshman Tyler Huntley, as well as the possible return of freshman Chase Hansen to quarterback after switching to safety and sustaining a season-ending injury against Washington.