Last year's draft was quiet for the University of Utah, aside from the selection of tight end Caleb Lohner by the Denver Broncos in the final round.
This year, it could be a busy three days for former Utes as the NFL draft gets underway in Pittsburgh on Thursday night (6 p.m. MT, ABC/ESPN).
For the first time in school history, expectations are that two former Utes — offensive tackles Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu — could be selected in the opening round of the NFL draft.
Tight end Dallen Bentley is also expected by most NFL experts to be selected during the three-day event after a good showing at the NFL combine and Utah's pro day, alongside defensive end Logan Fano. Linebacker Lander Barton could also hear his name called from the stage in Pittsburgh.
Many more former Utes — including the entire starting offensive line — could also be in line for free-agent deals at the conclusion of the draft.
Here's a player-by-player look at the most likely selections from the University of Utah in this year's draft.
Long considered one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the 2026 NFL draft, Spencer Fano is projected to be one of the first offensive linemen off the board in Pittsburgh.
Fano had a good junior season at Utah, earning a PFF grade of 88 and allowing no sacks and just five pressures all season. He was a key piece of an offensive line that set school records in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns and was named the 2025 Outland Trophy winner — an award given to the best interior lineman in the country.
At the combine, Fano's athleticism stood out, with the 6-foot-5.5, 311-pound lineman ranking first among offensive tackles in Next Gen Stats' combine score.
Despite the good showing at the combine, the buzz in NFL circles was all about Fano's arm measurement — 32 1/8'' (the minimum arm length for an NFL offensive tackle is usually 33 inches). At Utah's pro day, however, Fano's arm length was measured at 32 7/8″ at Utah's pro day, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, who said that "for whatever reason, the measurements in Indy were short for a number of prospects."
Could he move inside to guard? Fano said at Utah's pro day that he is willing to play wherever he is needed.
"I think I'll play my best ball at tackle, but if you want me to go run routes, I'll run routes. I'm fine playing anywhere on the field," Fano said.
Most mock drafts have Fano just outside the Top 10, but a big payday is coming for the former Ute, who is expected to be selected somewhere in the teens.
Part of a successful bookend with Fano, Lomu could help Utah accomplish something exceedingly rare — two college teammates of the same position being selected in the first round.
Lomu — 6-foot-6 and 313 pounds — is another athletic tackle. At the combine, his 40-yard dash time, vertical jump and broad jump were all in the top 10 among offensive linemen. His "combine score" of 81 trailed only Fano, and after a good performance at the combine, appears to have done enough to be selected in the first round.
Lomu had a PFF grade of 68.4 on the season, allowing no sacks and just eight pressures.
Mock drafts have him in the late first round — No. 24 to the Cleveland Browns and No. 27 to the San Francisco 49ers are popular picks.
Being a first-round draft selection with his friend Fano would be a dream come true for the former Ute.
"... We got recruited together and then came to Utah. We started freshman year, then the last two years we were both starting on the end," Lomu said. "So it's been awesome with Spencer, being to learn from him and just learn off each other throughout these past couple years. And it's been awesome now that we're in this position to both get drafted."
Bentley's football journey has been anything but typical.
The Ute tight end played just five snaps in high school — finally seeing the field in his senior year only to suffer a season-ending injury — before walking onto the team at Snow College.
After some important years for his development in Ephraim, he transferred to Utah, but suffered another injury in 2023 and didn't have the season he was expecting to in 2024 with just two receptions for 15 yards.
In 2025, it all came together for the 6-foot-4, 253-pound tight end. He 48 catches for 620 yards and six touchdowns, earning All-Big 12 third team honors.
"I mean, it's surreal. In the moment, it's kind of hard to know what comes ahead of you and what the plans are for you. But I guess just looking in the rearview mirror now, just looking back at all that makes sense and all the extra work, all the hard work, man, it pays off. And so I'm definitely grateful and yeah, it's awesome," Bentley said.
His performance at the combine, which included a 4.62-second 40-yard dash time, moved him up draft boards.
Despite only one year of real Power Four production, Bentley seems like a lock to be a late-round selection — most mock drafts have him in the fifth round.
Fano has overcome a lot in his football career and is one step away from achieving his ultimate dream.
He tore his ACL once in high school and twice in college — once at BYU and once at Utah — but recovered and started the 2024 and 2025 seasons for the Utes.
While John Henry Daley stole the show on the edge for the Utes, Fano quietly had a productive season, finishing third on Utah's defense with a 78.8 PFF grade. He tallied 44 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two pass breakups on the edge.
He did not participate in the drills at the NFL combine due to a hamstring injury, though he went through drills at Utah's Pro Day before pulling up on his second 40-yard dash attempt due to the hamstring.
Fano's on-field performance and production speaks for itself, but his injury history could prevent him from being drafted highly . Most mock drafts peg Fano in the fourth-seventh-round range.
Barton enters the draft on the edge of being drafted.
He has the NFL pedigree — brothers Jackson (offensive line) and Cody (linebacker) have played in the league — and at 6' 4 ⅝" and 233 pounds, he has the size and strength of an NFL linebacker.
In a make-or-break senior season for his NFL draft stock, however, Barton didn't have the transcendent year needed to make him a no-doubt draft selection. He totaled 55 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pass breakup and earned a PFF grade of 61.7.
Barton will certainly end up in the NFL, the question is if it will be as an undrafted free agent or as a late-round draft selection.
Though Barton's future is likely at linebacker, Dane Brugler of The Athletic reports that "several teams are entertaining him as a potential tight end convert in the NFL." In 2025, Barton caught six passes for 44 yards and a touchdown while playing both ways in select games.
"From what I hear, more linebacker. I didn't know I was going to do tight end drills until a few days ago, so I mean, I'm open to doing whatever, though. However I can get on the field and contribute," Barton said.
Jaren Kump, OL (66.3 PFF grade)
Tanoa Togiai, OL (60.4 PFF grade)
Michael Mokofisi, OL (55.9 PFF grade)
Blake Cotton, CB (30 tackles, seven pass breakups, 64.8 PFF grade)
Ryan Davis, WR (725 yards, 62 receptions, 75.3 PFF grade)
NaQuari Rogers, RB (387 yards, 98 carries, 70.1 PFF grade)
