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Transfer portal season is in full swing, and it’s crazier than ever. Since the portal opened Monday, recruiting site On3 says that over 1,400 players have already entered their names into the database.
NIL and unlimited transfers have set college football on fire. In this new age, teams have to persuade their current players to essentially “re-sign” with them each year and cut new NIL deals, all while looking to the transfer portal to see which players they should bring in.
“Some guys will say, ‘Yep, that’s good. I’m locked in, I’m happy.’ And some guys will say, ‘Well, I need to investigate and maybe take a look around at the market,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in November about retaining current players.
Since the transfer portal opened, Utah has had 20 players enter their names, including quarterbacks Isaac Wilson and Brandon Rose, cornerback Cam Calhoun and defensive tackle Simote Pepa.
The Utes are still waiting for a flood of transfers into the program — around 10 to 15 are expected to join, per Whittingham. As is the case every year, the bad news (players leaving) hits first, but then transfer portal player meet with teams, make visits to schools, and ponder their decisions before committing to a new school.
Utah has offered numerous transfer portal players thus far — more than just the 11 players mentioned in the article — and got its first transfer into the program on Monday afternoon.
New Mexico quarterback Devon Dampier, who totaled 3,934 yards of offense in 2024, is following his offensive coordinator, Jason Beck, to Salt Lake City.
What other players will join Dampier at Utah?
This is not a comprehensive list of every player Utah has offered, but instead a list of players that have made their offer public on social media or have been confirmed to have an offer from Utah by 247Sports.
It’s a bit of a small sample size, but it illustrates that Utah is going hard after their biggest transfer portal needs — quarterback, running back, wide receiver and cornerback.
Here are 11 transfer players who have received an offer from the Utes.
Ryan Browne, QB, Purdue, freshman
- 6-foot-4, 210 pounds
- 2024 stats (as backup quarterback): 532 yards passing, four touchdowns, two interceptions, 56.6% completion rate (43 for 76); 155 yards rushing on 50 carries
Amare Thomas, WR, UAB, sophomore
- 6-foot, 205 pounds
- 2024 stats: 62 receptions for 670 yards and eight touchdowns
Jacobie Henderson, CB, Marshall, sophomore
- 5-foot-11, 191 pounds
- Three-star transfer portal prospect according to 247Sports
- 2024 stats: 50 tackles, two interceptions, 10 pass deflections, 72.4 PFF grade
Nyziah Hunter, WR, Cal, freshman
- 6-foot-2, 210 pounds
- 2024 stats: 40 receptions for 578 yards and five touchdowns
Raion Strader, CB, Miami (OH), sophomore
- 6-foot, 182 pounds
- Ranked as the No. 2 cornerback in this year’s transfer class by 247Sports
- 2024 stats: 53 tackles, two interceptions, 19 pass deflections, 74.1 PFF grade
DT Sheffield, WR, North Texas, junior
- 5-foot-10, 170 pounds
- Ranked as the No. 17 receiver in this year’s transfer class by 247Sports
- 2024 stats: 66 receptions for 822 yards and 11 touchdowns
Caleb Goodie, WR, Colorado State, sophomore
- 6-foot-1, 170 pounds
- 2024 stats: 21 receptions for 436 yards and four touchdowns
Jalen Moss, WR, Fresno State, sophomore
- 6-foot-1, 175 pounds
- 2024 stats: 48 receptions for 563 yards and four touchdowns
Joseph Williams, WR, Tulsa, freshman
- 6-foot-2, 195 pounds
- 2024 stats: 30 receptions for 588 yards and five touchdowns
Donovan Saunders, CB, Texas A&M, junior
- 6-foot-3, 195 pounds
- 2024 stats: Redshirted this year, two tackles over two games
Wayshawn Parker, RB, Washington State, freshman
- 6-foot, 199 pounds
- Ranked as the No. 1 running back in this year’s transfer class by 247Sports
- 2024 stats: 735 yards and four touchdowns on 137 carries
In case you missed it
The Deseret News is tracking the 2025 Utah football roster. Here’s a regularly-updated look at which players are staying, which players are entering the transfer portal, which players are transferring to Utah, which players are out of eligibility and a look at the incoming high school class.
From the archives
Extra points
- Utah cornerback Cameron Calhoun enters transfer portal (Deseret News)
- Utah volleyball’s season ends in NCAA’s second round after thrilling, heartbreaking five-set loss to Marquette (Deseret News)
- Runnin’ Utes’ second-half rally wasn’t enough to overcome a lethargic first half in losing to Saint Mary’s (Deseret News)