From walking on at Arizona to transferring to Utah, here’s how Dorian Singer paved his own path with the Utes

One day last spring, Freddie Whittingham made a spontaneous appearance at Pinnacle High Schools football practice.

As the long-time head coach at the school in Phoenix, Arizona, Dana Zupke often sees Utahs tight end coach around the state in search of recruits to add to Utahs next freshman class.

But on this occasion, Whittingham dropped by to chat with Zupke about his former high school prodigy Dorian Singer.

The senior wide receiver had just finalized his transfer from USC to Utah weeks before, prompting a feeling of elation within Utahs coaching staff.

Man, were so excited to have Dorian, Whittingham told Zupke that day.

Hes going to be our guy.

Since transferring to the Utes, Singer has made his mark on the offense.

He leads all wide receivers with 17 receptions and 204 receiving yards.

Last week, the senior logged his best game yet, finishing with a game-high seven catches and 95 yards.

Dorian Singers immaculate grab: pic.twitter.com/uywnMo6up8 https://t.co/BUFCcscJom He wants to have opportunities to make plays, Zupke told The Salt Lake Tribune.

I think ultimately hearing that from the coaches is what sold Dorian on going to Utah.

Ahead of No.

10 Utahs (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) matchup vs.

Arizona (2-1, 0-1) at 8:15 p.m.

MT on Saturday in Salt Lake City, Singer will have a chance to continue his success against his former team.

He walked on with the Wildcats in 2020, playing in Tucson for two seasons.

There he became one of Arizonas top offensive options, finishing with a career-high 66 receptions, 1,105 receiving yards and six touchdowns in his sophomore season.

His career has since been a winding road.

He joined Lincoln Riley and the Trojans in search of an opportunity to maximize his talents, only to be disappointed with his snap count.

After the 2023 season, he entered the portal with the intention of joining an offense that would utilize him as a primary option.

He thinks hes found that in the Utes.

When youre just one of eight talented receivers on the roster, its really hard to get your touches and your opportunities, Zupke said.

I know Dorians ultimate goal is to play on Sundays.

He had to start looking at the (USC) situation as a young man and question, Hey, is this going to help me achieve my goals? Behind Singers NFL ambitions is the spirit of an underdog.

A quiet personality that ignites when hes on the field.

And, a long journey that ultimately landed him in Salt Lake City.

But as he looks back on his career, he now feels like hes found a place he can call home.

I feel like I adjusted as soon as I got here, Singer said.

I love the coaches, and I love the fans.

Utah wide receiver Dorian Singer (3) catches the ball on his helmet near Oklahoma State cornerback Korie Black, left, in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept.

21, 2024, in Stillwater, Okla.

(AP Photo/Mitch Alcala) In between competitive UNO games, pickup basketball and pool, Devon Dampier and Singer developed a brotherly bond during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Singer is originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he was raised by his mother, Lamonica Hayes.

For three seasons, he played for Tartan High School, located in a suburb of his hometown.

But, as COVID spread across the country and shut down athletic activities in Minnesota, Singer made the move to Phoenix to play his senior season of football.

At the time, the senior wide receiver wasnt close with Dampier, who is now the starting quarterback at New Mexico, but he moved in with his family in hopes of chasing his football dreams and earning more Division I offers.

Coming to Arizona in high school and being able to experience competition with greater talent, Dampier told The Tribune, I thought that was a great move for him to make.

Singers decision paid off, even if it didnt go the way he originally planned.

Singer held offers from Texas, Utah, Iowa State and others by the end of his senior season at Pinnacle High School.

There was no doubt in either Zupkes or Dampiers mind that Singer would make an impact at a D1 program.

They had seen the one-handed catches hed make.

His focus and work ethic indicated he could find success.

All he had to do was find the right program.

But, instead of committing to any of the schools that offered him, Singer made the surprising decision to walk on at Arizona.

I think he waited too long, Zupke said.

But, I knew he was going to go shine somewhere.

When (former Arizona coach) Jedd Fisch came in that was big.

They said, Look, we dont have any scholarships, but you will have one as soon as one opens up, and they were true to the word.

Singer ultimately made the most of his time at Arizona.

By his second season, he landed on the radar of USC head coach Lincoln Riley, who is known for developing top quarterback and wide receiver talents.

By then, the receiver entered the portal and later joined Riley in Los Angeles, but Arizona taught him key lessons that he carries on his shoulders even today.

He truly bet on himself, Dampier said.

I think that was a great learning point.

It taught him to trust himself and know Gods gonna work for him.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utes wide receiver Dorian Singer (3) hauls in a long pass as Utah State hosts the University of Utah during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept.

14, 2024, in Logan, Utah.

As Singer navigated his new team and life with USC in LA, things didnt go as he had planned.

The wide receiver found himself fighting for playing time among receivers like Tahj Washington, Brenden Rice, Duce Robinson and more.

By the end of the season, Singer finished with 24 receptions, 289 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Zupke caught wind of Singers frustration in the Trojans offense through conversations with Robinson, who was also one of his former players at Pinnacle High School.

He was very frustrated just because his productivity went down, Zupke said.

Singer added: At USC, things just werent working out there.

By the end of 2023, Singer as he had done in his previous destinations bet on himself and entered the transfer portal for one last time.

He was in search of a place where he would be the top option in the offense.

A place where he could fulfill his dreams of being drafted into the NFL.

Thats when Utah entered the picture.

On his official visit to Salt Lake City, Singer fell in love with the coaches.

Both Dampier and Singers mothers were in attendance to help walk him through the process.

Like most things in his college career, his official visit with the Utes didnt go as planned.

Singer was sick with food poisoning, but that didnt stop him from committing to the Utes on Jan.

15.

He was sick, but he pushed through it, Hayes said.

He knew he had to make the decision, and it really didnt affect him.

He loved everything about Utah.

He loved the coaches, and thats why he ultimately decided to go to Utah.

Fast forward six months and a decision to commit to Utah, Singer has found his footing as a primary option in Utahs offense.

In fall camp, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham raved about the wide receiver.

He continued that praise ahead of Utahs matchup vs.

Arizona, Singers former team.

Ive liked everything about Dorians play, Kyle Whittingham said on Monday.

Hes very valuable.

I think what you saw on Saturday was more indicative of how we should be able to utilize him, week in and week out.

Hes a complete player.

Hell block for you.

Hes made some big blocks for us this year in the run game.

Hes tough.

His hands are incredible.

Dorian Singer Highlights pic.twitter.com/4L5tJMv8D9 And, while it mightve taken some time, Singer has finally emerged in the Utes offense.

Last Saturday in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the senior wide receiver made, most likely, his flashy play of the season.

Freshman quarterback Isaac Wilson threw a pass over the middle and Singer pinned the ball on his left shoulder pad while tumbling into the turf.

Somehow it was ruled a catch.

That pass that he caught the other day was just unbelievable, Hayes said.

I wasnt there in person, but I was in front of my TV hollering.

As the season storms on and Utah positions itself for a potential Big 12 title run, Singer wants to continue making plays like the one he made vs.

OSU.

Those catches, he hopes, will make his long journey filled with cross-country moves, official visits and entrances into the transfer portal all worth it in the end.

I think, Singer said, its made me the man I am today..

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