Transfer portal tracker: A look at how Utah’s 2026 roster is shaping up

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A Utah helmet is on display on the “College GameDay” set in the Presidents Circle at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Joe Coles

Thu, Jan 22, 2026 ·

7 min read

It’s transfer portal season.

Last year, the portal was open from Dec. 9-28, but this year, it has been pushed back and will be open from Jan. 2-16. With the elimination of the spring transfer window, this will be the only time for players wishing to transfer to do so.

Here’s who’s transferring to Utah, who’s leaving, and a look at the incoming 2026 recruiting class, updated regularly.

Transferring to Utah (18)

Will Monney, TE, Oklahoma State, redshirt junior. 2025 stats: 3 catches for 39 yards.
Nicholas Igwe, DE, Kilgore College, freshman. 2025 stats: 35 tackles, 2.5 sacks.
Ricky Johnson , WR, Mississippi State, redshirt freshman. 2025 stats: 3 catches for 17 yards.
Noah Bennee , TE, Weber State, senior. 2025 stats: 23 catches for 264 yards.
Nicholas Brown , CB, Lamar, sophomore. 2025 stats: 3 tackles, 1 interception, 1 pass deflection.
Earl Parker , CB, Hutchinson Community College, redshirt freshman. 2025 stats: 30 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception and two pass breakups.
Steve Chavez-Soto , RB, San Jose State, freshman. 2025 stats: 448 yards and seven touchdowns on 87 carries.
James Chenault , CB, USF, sophomore. 2025 stats: 32 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups.
Cedric Jefferson , OL, Montana State, redshirt sophomore. 2025 stats: Started for FCS national champions, All-Big Sky honorable mention.
Jamal Wallace , DT, Tennessee, redshirt junior. 2025 stats: 4 tackles
Jireh Moe , DT, San Jose State, freshman. 2025 stats: 28 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Elijah Reed , CB, Akron, redshirt junior. 2025 stats: 47 tackles, two interceptions, a sack and four breakups.
Kyri Shoels , WR, San Jose State, junior. 2025 stats: 59 receptions, 768 yards, two touchdowns.
Braden Pegan , WR, Utah State, junior. 2025 stats: 60 receptions, 926 yards, five touchdowns.
Isaiah Kema , OL, Ohio State, freshman. 2025 stats: 31 snaps, 68.2 PFF grade, 76.4 pass blocking grade.
Marcus Wimberly , S, Oklahoma, freshman. 2025 stats: Redshirted with an injury and did not play.
Lucas Samsula , DT, Wyoming, sophomore. 2025 stats: 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks while starting in seven games.
Ethan Day , DE, North Texas: 53 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Transferring from Utah (26)

Jason Stokes Jr. , CB, freshman. 2025 stats: 3 tackles, 1 pass breakup
LaTristan Thompson , CB, redshirt freshman. 2025 stats: 4 tackles.
Salesi Moa , WR/S, freshman: 2025 stats: Four-star prospect enrolled at Utah for 2026, then transferred.
Isaiah Brown , CB, sophomore. 2025 stats: Did not see any game action.
Jonah Lea’ea , DT, sophomore: 2025 stats: 34 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
JJ Buchanan , WR/TE, freshman. 2025 stats: 26 receptions for 427 yards and 5 TDs.
Dallas Vakalahi, DT, sophomore. 2025 stats: 11 tackles.
Don Saunders , CB, redshirt junior. 2025 stats: 7 tackles, two pass breakups.
Smith Snowden , CB, junior. 2025 stats: 7 tackles, two interceptions and nine breakups.
Tao Johnson , S, redshirt junior. 2025 stats: 51 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups.
Rayshawn Glover , WR, junior. 2025 stats: 4 kickoff returns for 62 yards, 6 punt returns for 81 yards.
Kalolo Ta’aga , OL, freshman. 2025 stats: 16 snaps.
John Henry Daley , DE, redshirt sophomore. 2025 stats: 48 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 pass breakup.
Raycine Guillory, RB, freshman. 2025 stats: 1 carry for 4 yards.
Isaac Wilson , QB, sophomore. 2025 stats: 12 snaps, 3 rushing yards.
Drew Cowart , QB, freshman. 2025 stats: Did not play.
Drew Clemens , TE, freshman. 2025 stats: Did not play.
Jaylen Moson , CB, freshman. 2025 stats: 3 snaps.
Christian Thatcher , LB, freshman. 2025 stats: Did not play on defense.
Jaxson Jones , DE, freshman. 2025 stats: Did not play on defense.
Bryan Spotwood , WR, sophomore. 2025 stats: Did not play on offense.
Omar Shah , RB, sophomore. 2025 stats: Did not play on offense.
Devin Green , RB, sophomore. 2025 stats: Did not play on offense.
Justin Stevenson , WR, redshirt sophomore. 2025 stats: 31 snaps, no receptions.
Brendan Zurbrugg, QB, redshirt freshman. 2025 stats: Did not play on offense.
Robert Petrich , K, sophomore. 2025 stats: Did not play.

Key players who have announced their return to Utah

Devon Dampier , QB, junior. 2025 stats: 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns with five interceptions on 63.75% accuracy. Rushed for 835 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Mana Carvalho , WR/PR, freshman. 2025 stats: 17 punt returns for 212 yards and a touchdown.
Nate Johnson , RB/WR, redshirt junior. 2025 stats: 24 carries for 225 yards and a touchdown.
Lance Holtzclaw , DE, redshirt junior. 2025 stats: 26 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups.
Kash Dillon , DE, redshirt freshman. 2025 stats: 35 tackles, 3.5 sacks.
Johnathan Hall , LB, junior. 2025 stats: 67 tackles, 2.5 sacks, an interception and four pass breakups.
Wayshawn Parker , RB, sophomore. 2025 stats: 981 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, 185 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns.
Jackson Bennee , S, sophomore. 2025 stats: 64 tackles, four tackles for loss, four interceptions, five pass breakups,
Nate Ritchie , S, junior. 2025 stats: 25 tackles, 3.5. tackles for loss, one pass breakups. Suffered season-ending injury at West Virginia.
Rabbit Evans , S, senior. 2025 stats: Starter suffered season-ending injury at Wyoming.
Dillon Curtis , K, freshman. 2025 stats: 11 for 15 on FGs, 68 for 71 on PATs, 63 touchbacks on 91 kickoffs.
Creed Whittemore, WR, redshirt sophomore. 2025 stats: 12 catches for 92 yards and one touchdown.
Byrd Ficklin , QB, freshman: 2025 stats: 301 yards, 3 TD, 0 interceptions passing; 503 yards, 10 touchdowns rushing.ing; 503 yards, 10 touchdowns rushing.

Players with remaining eligibility that have declared for the NFL Draft

Caleb Lomu , OT, redshirt sophomore. 2025 stats: 8 pressures and no sacks allowed. 68.5 PFF grade.
Spencer Fano , OT, junior. 2025 stats: 5 pressures and no sacks allowed. 84.8 PFF grade.
Logan Fano , DE, junior. 2025 stats: 44 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks.

Seniors with no remaining eligibility

Moroni Anae, LB.
Lander Barton , LB/TE
Dallen Bentley, TE
Luca Caldarella, WR
Blake Cotton, CB
Joey Cheek, K
Levani Damuni, LB
Ryan Davis, WR
Bryce Duke, RB
Frankie Goodson, RB
Jaren Kump, OL
Michael Mokofisi, OL
NaQuari Rogers, RB
Otto Tia, TE
Tanoa Togiai, OL
Aliki Vimahi, DT
Zereoue Williams, OL
Alex Harrison, OL

Utah’s 2026 high school and junior college signing class (247Sports composite rankings)

Kelvin Obot, offensive tackle, five-star, 6-5, 300, Fruitland High (Fruitland, Idaho).
Mataalii Benjamin , offensive tackle, four-star, 6-7, 315, Lehi High (Lehi, Utah).
LaMarcus Bell , running back, three-star, 5-11, 190, Lake Oswego High (Lake Oswego, Ore.).
Moses Sparks Jr. , interior offensive line, three-star, 6-4, 280, V. Sue Cleveland High (Rio Rancho, N.M.).
Fameitau Sial e, defensive end, three-star, 6-4, 260, O’Dea High (Seattle, Wash.).
Preston Pitts , linebacker, three-star, 6-4, 213, Clear Falls High (League City, Texas).
LaGary Mitchell , linebacker, three-star, 6-2, 200, Meridian High (Meridian, Idaho).
PJ Takitaki , defensive end, three-star, 6-4, 230, Lehi High (Lehi, Utah).
Michael Johnson , quarterback, three-star, 5-11.5, 165, Douglas County High (Douglasville, Ga.).
Kane Archer , quarterback, three-star, 6-1, 205, Greenwood High (Greenwood, Ark.).
Major Hinchen , cornerback, three-star, 6-2, 175, La Quinta High (La Quinta, Calif.).
Rowdy Pearce, interior offensive lineman, three-star, 6-3.5, 285, Midland Christian High (Midland, Texas).
Aisa Galea’i , cornerback, three-star, 6-1, 185, Orem High (Orem, Utah).
Dylan Waters , cornerback, three-star, 6-1, 175, Fort Bend Marshall High (Missouri City, Texas).
Bear Fisher , tight end, three-star, 6-5, 235, Queen Creek High (Queen Creek, Ariz.).
Tayson Reid , linebacker, three-star, 6-1, 225, Snow College (Ephraim, Utah).