Utah Football’s Spring Transfer Portal Shopping List
Apr 17, 2025, 12:09 PM | Updated: 12:31 pm
Utah football in week four practice of spring ball. PHOTO courtesy by Utah Athletics.
SALT LAKE CITY—The spring transfer portal window is open, and some programs are bracing for chaos. Utah football is entering the fray with a shopping list and a quiet confidence.
Head coach Kyle Whittingham isn’t one for dramatic flair, but he’s not sugarcoating the reality either: there are needs, and the Utes hope to address them.
“Time will tell, but the early indications are that [Utah’s own portal entries] shouldn’t be too crazy,” Whittingham said on Tuesday, just hours before the window officially opened. “Typically, if a guy is going to enter the portal, they don’t go through the entire spring ball and opt out.”
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So far, the departures have been manageable. One quarterback exit—Wyatt Becker, and a pair of cornerbacks, Quimari Shemwell and Sammie Hunter, headline the list. Outside of that? It’s been quiet, but Whittingham acknowledged that it can always change in an instant.
Behind the scenes, Utah’s staff is hoping to take some swings at potentially significant additions to solidify the roster’s makeup. Whittingham laid out the positions groups they’re looking at: receiver, running back, defensive tackle, and cornerback are the areas getting circled in red this spring.
Let’s break it down.
Wide Receiver: Looking for a dynamic option in the transfer portal
Utah’s receiver room is trending up, but ever so slightly. This spring, Zacharyus Williams has emerged as the top guy, thanks to crisp routes, reliable hands, and a growing connection with the quarterbacks.
Though Williams looks like a promising go-to option, Utah would love to add a receiver to push for that top spot in the offense.
Jason Beck’s offense is centered on the run game, but it creates numerous opportunities for receivers down the field. Utah’s passing attack looked dangerous throughout spring with Devon Dampier at the helm.
Whittingham wants a true outside threat—a vertical weapon who can stretch the field and tilt coverages. Internal growth is real, but another portal addition could solidify depth and raise this group’s potential.
Utah has been linked to:
- Texas A&M transfer Micah Hudson, a former five-star prospect in the 2024 class, whose game fits exactly what Beck needs to maximize the potential of the offense.
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Defensive Tackle: A big body would do wonders for Utah football
When it comes to building from the inside out, nobody does it quite like Kyle Whittingham. Utah’s defensive line has been the backbone of its identity for years—tough, physical, and relentless.
But with some turnover up front, the Utes are looking for reinforcements.
The future looks bright with Karson Kaufusi and Sione Motuapuaka, who have flashed high potential this spring. Utah will add two more freshmen to the mix this summer in Pupu Sepulona and Semi Taulanga. However, they’re still true freshmen, and relying on them to anchor the line right away isn’t ideal.
That’s why Utah is eyeing interior linemen—adding another big body that can handle the rigors of Big 12 competition. The youth movement is promising, but the Utes need another defensive tackle to bridge the gap and help win now.
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Utah has been linked to:
- North Carolina transfer Joel Starling, a former four-star prospect in the 2023 class, checks in at 6-foot-4, 320 pounds.
- Arkansas State transfer Ian Jeffries, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound freshman, who logged 3.5 sacks and 21 tackles.
- Western Michigan transfer Mason Nelson, a 6-foot-1, 310-pound junior, who has totaled 71 tackles, 14 for loss, and 5.0 sacks.
Cornerback: One needed to bolster the group
Utah lost two corners to the portal—Quimari Shemwell and Sammie Hunter—which thinned the depth chart just enough to make this a clear spring priority.
Smith Snowden is the rising star of the room, a true lockdown corner who played beyond his years as a freshman. Scooby Davis showed steady growth after a year of starting reps and looks far more confident this spring.
There’s an intriguing battle of Blake Cotton vs. Donovan Saunders for the open spot. Both are pushing hard, and that competition is only sharpening the group. Meanwhile, others like Jeremiah Caldwell and Jackson Bennee help provide depth.
Still, Utah wants one more in the room and could go a couple of different routes. They could add a promising young talent or opt for an experienced corner from the portal.
Running Back: Good group but one more would solidify depth
Utah’s offense runs through, well… the run game. It’s the backbone of Jason Beck’s system, which makes depth at running back absolutely critical. With Utah’s physical style and history of injuries at the position, Whittingham’s looking to add another back from the portal.
Wayshawn Parker has emerged as the clear RB1, showing toughness, vision, and enough burst to be a real threat. NaQari Rogers is the steady hand in the room—dependable, smart, and efficient. Behind them, Daniel Bray and Devin Green are showing promise, with Bray flashing speed and Green making progress in the offense.
Parker’s rise is huge, and the room is trending up, but one more proven back could make the difference between a good ground game and a great one.
Whittingham’s got Utah in a good spot—no panic, no mass exodus, and a clear direction heading into portal season. However, this is the era of college football, where rosters can change overnight, and coaches must play the role of general manager like never before.
“That’s probably the shopping list,” Whittingham said of the four targeted positions. “But again, it just depends on availability and who we may lose that we didn’t anticipate losing.”
