Former BYU DE Devin Kaufusi Wanted To Transfer To Utah Immediately After Entering Portal
Apr 9, 2020, 5:50 PM
Devin Kaufusi lines up during the Cougars' game against New Mexico State on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. (Rebekah Baker, Deseret News)
(Rebekah Baker, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former BYU defensive end Devin Kaufusi knew that he wanted to transfer to Utah as soon as he entered the portal.
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Kaufusi announced on Wednesday that he has committed to the Utes after entering the transfer portal during BYU spring football.
The Timpview star joined the Crimson Corner podcast to discuss his move to Utah and how he will fit in with the Utes and their football program.
Kaufusi has wanted to play for the Utes since he entered the transfer portal.
“Ever since transferring came to my mind,” Kaufusi told KSL Sports. “I really pictured myself at Utah. I played out all of the situations and scenarios. So, since the end of the season was when I had the thought of transferring. As I entertained the thought and went through the reality of it, Utah has always been the ideal school in mind.”
Hours After Entering Transfer Portal
Kaufusi said that the transfer portal is an interesting process. He signs one paper and tells the compliance office at BYU when he is ready to officially be in the portal. Hours after going into the portal, Utah defensive line coach Lewis Powell contacted Kaufusi.
“It was great to talk to him,” Kaufusi said. “Just in general to hear from any coach, I was seeing what they had to offer. Especially from Utah was really special. I remember sending a text to the compliance guy at BYU and told him I was ready to go. Then I went to work, I was working an 11 or 12 hour shift and when I had a lunch break, I checked my phone and saw that some coaches reached out to me and coach Powell was one of the first ones to reach out.”
Pleased to announce that I have officially committed to the University of Utah. There I will further my football career and education. Thank you @CoachPowell99 @UtahCoachWhitt @SafetyPride @Utah_Football UTAH MAN AM I💯 pic.twitter.com/HjTcNwabba
— Devin Kaufusi (@devskaufusi) April 8, 2020
With Utah being the program that Kaufusi initially wanted to transfer to, he still had options. But, Utah’s offer was too good to pass up.
“I wanted to be developed into the best player that I can be and a next level player,” Kaufusi stated. “Utah has had a great history of defensive linemen and defensive players that have gone onto the next level and really how their program is centered around the football team and taking care of their players.”
Conversations With Coaching Staff
On top of talking to coach Powell, Kaufusi also spoke with defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley and recently with head coach Kyle Whittingham. His conversations with the coaching staff made him feel good about his decision to join the Utes.
“I was super excited after they had interest,” Kaufusi mentioned. “Hearing that they believe in me and that I have all of the right tools needed to reach my expectations and goals and I was able to hear their expectations and goals and see eye-to-eye with them. I know I can’t do it alone. I need that mentor and coaching in my life. They said I was much needed in order to replenish that Utah defense.”
When the season does kick off and if Kaufusi is immediately eligible to play, he will be excited to run out of the tunnel at Rice-Eccles Stadium wearing a red Utah uniform.
Kaufusi is still getting used to wearing red. He went through his closet after he transferred and had one red shirt that had a San Francisco 49ers logo on it. Kaufusi had 4 shirts that wasn’t blue or had a BYU logo on it.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.
