Breaking Down The Freshmen Joining Utah Football This Summer
May 22, 2025, 3:39 PM | Updated: May 23, 2025, 12:03 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - SEPTEMBER 7: Kyle Whittingham head coach of the Utah Utes watches a replay during the second half of their game against the Baylor Bears at Rice Eccles Stadium on September 7, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – With so much focus on the transfer portal, it can be easy to forget about the incoming crop of freshmen. Utah football brought in a large number of early enrollees in January, and now, Kyle Whittingham’s program will officially welcome 10 more freshmen enrollees to Utah this summer.
Of the 24 high school signees, 14 enrolled early, one will serve a church mission, and nine will join the program this summer. Utah will also welcome back a missionary from the 2023 class.
Here’s a rundown of who will join the program in the coming weeks.
Utah football’s summer enrollees
Brock Fonoimoana
Position: S
The returning missionary is Fonoimoana, whose younger brother Max signed with the program this cycle and will head out on his mission.
At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds (as of when he signed in 2023), Fonoimoana has the sort of prototypical size for the safety position. As a senior at Kahuku (HI), Fonoimoana really came into his own as a ball-hawking safety, which led to a late rise in his recruiting profile.
Fonoimoana has the potential to play either safety position, and depending on how he develops over the last two years, could move to linebacker. However, it seems more likely than not he will stay at safety, where he has an auspicious outlook.
(Worth noting that fellow 2023 signees Davis Andrews and Luke Bryant will return from their missions after the 2025 season)
RELATED: Spring Ball Review: Utah Football’s Quarterback Position
JJ Buchanan
Position: WR
Perhaps the most dynamic athlete in the class, Buchanan, has the potential to play either side of the ball. The 6-foot-4, 208-pound athlete will start with Micah Simon and the receivers, and will most likely stay with that group.
Given his size and athleticism, Buchanan has a promising projection as an outside receiver. He has a substantial vertical leap and is particularly adept at high-pointing passes given his basketball background. However, depending on how he develops, he could move to tight end or even the defensive side of the ball.
Buchanan was one of the diamond-in-the-rough type of finds Utah is known for. When Morgan Scalley offered him in early 2024, Buchanan was an unrated prospect without a recruiting profile. He ended up becoming the highest-rated signee in the class.
A multi-sport athlete, he finished his senior season at Coronado HS (Las Vegas, NV) as the 2024 All-Conference Offensive MVP. He earned first-team all-conference as an athlete, wide receiver, and safety, and was second-team as a kick returner. Buchanan finished his senior season with 60 tackles (3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks), a fumble recovery and two pass breakups, to go with 1,023 receiving yards (11 TD).
Pupualii Sepulona
Position: DT
Sepulona was a nice addition just before the early signing period. He made a good impression at the Polynesian Bowl and earned a rating bump to four-star status.
At 6-foot-2, 275 pounds, Sepulona will join a defensive tackle room that needs a few young guys to step up. Sepulona will likely need some time to acclimate to this level and develop his game, but his outlook is promising.
He has the size, but given his multi-sport background in basketball and volleyball, he possesses some exciting athletic qualities. That makes his fit inside really intriguing. Technical development will be needed, but Sepulona has the raw tools needed to find success along the defensive line.
RELATED: Utah’s Spencer Fano Named In PFF’s Top 101 Players From 2024 Season
Semi Taulanga
Position: DT
Taulanga played at Mater Dei (CA) and was, in many ways, viewed as the leader of the defense. He played alongside and against multiple blue-chip prospects and constantly made plays. Over his junior and senior seasons, Taulanga totaled 64 tackles, 19 for loss, and 10.5 sacks.
At 5-foot-11, 336 pounds, Taulanga is an absolute wrecking ball of chaos along the defensive line. He has a technically developed skillset, particularly his hands, and a tremendous motor. He can attack the backfield from multiple spots along the defensive line and win in a variety of ways as well.
He will join Utah’s defensive tackle room, which needs young players to emerge. Given his background and game, Taulanga not only has the potential to be a contributor this fall, it might even be the expectation.
Raycine Guillory
Position: RB
There’s a lot of excitement around Guillory, and rightfully so; he’s a talented back. However, it’s important to remember that he is reclassifying from the 2026 class and will be just 17 when he joins the program this summer.
As a junior in 2024, Guillory rushed for 1,299 yards and 24 touchdowns on 161 carries, while adding 13 catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2023, he ran for 1,236 yards and 17 touchdowns, while hauling in 175 receiving yards and four more touchdowns.
Utah has solidified the depth at running back with another transfer addition. That removes the need for Guillory to be a contributor in year one and makes it more of a luxury if he proves capable of contributing this fall.
Without question, the 5-foot-9, 190-pound Guillory has tremendous potential. At his size, he moves well and plays with tremendous instincts. Regardless of what happens in year one, he looks like a back that Utah can develop and feature down the road.
RELATED: Utah Football’s 2026 NFL Draft Top Prospects
Bryson Baker
Position: WR
Baker is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound receiver out of Fresno, CA, who adds some intriguing potential to the room.
He was a do-it-all athlete for his Sanger HS squad. He finished his senior season with 111 carries for 873 yards and 18 touchdowns, adding 35 catches for 575 yards and six touchdowns. As a junior, he finished with 84 carries for 845 yards, eight touchdowns, 11 receptions for 204 yards, and two more scores.
His overall production is impressive, and Jason Beck’s offense often incorporates receivers in the run game. However, strictly as a receiver, Baker will likely need some time to develop his craft, but he’ll add depth to the receiver room.
RELATED: Assessing Potential Impact Of Utah Football’s Spring Transfer Portal Additions
Nick Hallock
Position: OL
At 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, Hallock is an athletic, tough, and competitive lineman. At Bingham, he matched up with a lot of good defensive linemen throughout his career, and always held his own.
Hallock is the sort of tough lineman who always seems to find success. He will need to develop physically and technically, but Hallock has the potential to emerge as a starter down the road.
RELATED: Initial Projection Of Utah Football’s 2025 Starting Units
Shelton Fuller
Position: DB
Fuller is a dynamic athlete who played both ways throughout high school. At 6-foot, 182 pounds, Fuller fits nicely in the defensive secondary, but exactly where is still to be determined.
He will likely end up at safety, and given his aggressive nature, he could play strong safety. He could end up moving outside to cornerback. Regardless, Fuller will end up in the defensive secondary. Fuller will need time to develop but he has a promising outlook.
Soren Shinofield
Position: OL
A big body at 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, Shinofield comes from one of the top high school programs in Colorado. He’s the sort of lineman that Jim Harding has typically done a good of developing.
At his size, Shinofield will likely end up moving inside, but tackle isn’t off the table depending on how he develops physically and athletically. He’s another promising developmental lineman who will add depth and compete for a role.
Milz Asiata
Position: OL/DL
A developmental project, Asiata is exactly the sort of prospect to take a chance on. He’s a big body with surprising athleticism. Given that he’s an Australian transplant, though, he is incredibly raw.
He has the potential to play either side of the line. Asiata will need time regardless of where he ends up, but that will most likely be the offensive line.
Utah Football’s Signing Class By The Numbers
Between 247 Sports, On3, ESPN, and Rivals, the Utes welcomed 11 players with four-star designations from at least one of these services.
According to 247 Sports, the Utes finished as the No. 5-ranked high school class in the Big 12 and as the No. 42 class overall.
Utah added players from Texas (6), Utah (5), California (4), Hawaii (3), Nevada (3), Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
They addressed quarterback (2), running back (2), receiver (3), offensive line (2), tight end (1), defensive line (5), linebacker (3), defensive back (5), and kicker.
RELATED: Utah Football 2025 Signing Class Superlatives
