Utah Utes: Player Watch – WR Dorian Singer

The Player Watch, highlighting Utah Utes wide receiver Dorian Singer.

• Dorian Singer
• Position: Wide Receiver
• Utah Utes
• 6’0” 180 lbs

Who is Dorian Singer?

Dorian Singer was a 3⭐️  in the composites and attended Pinnacle High in Arizona. As a Senior, Singer compiled 37 catches for 899 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was a part of the 2021 recruiting class who enrolled at Arizona as a preferred walk on.

Singer gained the trust of Arizona’s coaching staff and earned playing time in the final five games of the season – including a start against California. At the end of his Freshman season, he earned 31 targets and had 18 receptions for 301 yards. Singer parlayed that into becoming a starter the very next year and blossomed into a standout sensation for Arizona. Singer would garner 98 targets which turned into 66 receptions for 1,105 yards and 6 touchdowns which helped him earn a scholarship. In that offseason, Singer would enter the portal and end up at USC.

Arizona WR Dorian Singer has received a ton of attention since entering the portal

This is why

He had 1406 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns on 66 receptions pic.twitter.com/dEcwwbDP9b

— CFBTalkDaily (@CFBTalkDaily) December 6, 2022

Singer was not able to crack the top of the USC rotation and became a depth piece for them.  In hindsight, it might have been too ambitious of a school for Singer to attend. He would enter the portal again and end up in Utah Utes. In Utah, he has every chance to be the Utes’ WR1.

Dorian Singer has lined up in the slot 23% of the time in his collegiate career so far. He also lined up outside 76.4% of the time. Singer projects to occupy one of the boundary positions with the Utes.

Singer has an average of 5.7 yards after the catch, with an aDOT of 13 yards. He also has a career 1.89 yards per route run, which took a hit due to this past season at USC. Singer does have 9 drops, and a career 7.7% rate.

Going back to his breakout season in 2022 at Arizona, Singer won at all three levels. He was a good deep ball threat and target. Singer should be used as a downfield receiver. With Cam Rising back, that should spell success for the Utes. Singer might have found USC to be too tough of a receiving room, but with Utah, he has every chance to lead the Utes as they head into Big 12 play where defenses are optional.

When breaking down his time at USC, Singer was used as a more short route target. The Trojans tried to give him space to create and it wasn’t a match. Because of this, the Utes should really try to stress the defense vertically with Singer and let the remaining receivers work the short and intermediate routes.

Strengths

Dorian Singer is a hard working player who has honed his craft. He’s gone from a preferred walk on to being on the Biletnikoff watch list in a span of two years. That takes hard work and dedication.

Singer has good speed and is able to track the ball well. He has a quick burst and acceleration, being able to win on vertical and in breaking routes. Singer is an adequate route runner with strong hands. His work ethic can be contagious. If the other receivers take note and follow suit, the entire room will be better for it. 

First TD as a Trojan for Dorian Singer ✌️ pic.twitter.com/ZJ84DHb5RL

— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) August 27, 2023

Areas of Improvement & Concern

Dorian Singer is coming off a less than stellar season at USC and will need to rebound. For players who can’t succeed at that next step, there is always a slight worry if they can return to form. Singer bit off more than he could chew at USC, simply put. Now he’s in a new situation where the WR room and team need him to be successful. Singer can finish out his college story by becoming a leader of a program as they head into a new conference.

Singer isn’t the most refined route runner, nor is he the most explosive athlete. He wins with his IQ and works hard to hone his craft. He will need to continue to do so, if he and the Utes want to find success.

There is a slight concern that the Utes might be conservative to start the season. Quarterback Cam Rising missed last season, and Utah might bring him back slowly. That means there could be a focus on the run game and let the defense keep them competitive. Will there be enough volume to go around for Singer to find success? He gained traction in 2022 with volume and overwhelming opposing defenses – that is simply not how the Utes play.

Positional Outlook

The Utah Utes need an electric playmaker at wide receiver. They simply did not have any weapons to threaten a defense vertically last season. The Utes went into the portal and grabbed Singer and Taeshaun Lyons, both of whom are players that have speed and can win vertically.

Cam Rising has always been a quarterback who will bide time and look to make the big play. With Singer potentially being the lead receiver, Rising can make a connection with Singer. The two have a full offseason to get on the same page and can figure out how to work together and form a chemistry. It can be argued that Singer will be the best receiver Cam Rising has had in his time at Utah. If the two can get on the same page and learn each other’s tendencies, the passing game will take off.

The Utes have a lot of vacated targets – Singer should be able to pick up a good portion of that and that bring excitement to the fanbase. Last year, Utah relied on their defense and a banged up run game with a revolving door at quarterback. Singer can be the leader on and off the field for the receivers too, as there really isn’t anybody there that can command the room. Money Parks is a good receiver but at the end of the day he is a complementary piece and not the lead guy. 

Pathway to Success

There is a clear path to be the Utah Utes’ WR1. Dorian Singer comes in as the most decorated receiver and should command the room. He needs to lead by example and prove how good of a receiver he is. His less than stellar season at USC should be enough fuel to drive Singer to become better than the 2022 version at Arizona. Singer is simply the best receiver in this room and should be allowed to run a full route tree. This includes vertical routes to stress the defense and allow Cam Rising to sling the ball around. When Rising needs to bide additional time and the play breaks down, Singer can work his way back and help find success moving the chains.

2024 Outlook

I expect Dorian Singer to rebound and become the WR1 for the Utah Utes. The Utes looked to get more explosive at the position and Singer does just that. It would not surprise me if Singer topped 60 catches and 900 yards, recouping his value.