Saturday is an important day for the BYU football program, in more ways than one.
Not only is it when the No. 17 Cougars will face No. 23 Colorado in the Alamo Bowl, but it’s also when the NCAA winter transfer portal window will officially close.
After Saturday, coaching staffs around the country will breathe a little easier, as players will no longer be able to jump into the portal. Programs will start to focus on what their rosters will look like in 2025, and begin the painful process of narrowing rosters to the 105-man limit due to the House vs. NCAA settlement.
Although the portal’s opening on Dec. 9 has not affected BYU as much as it has other Power Four programs, it has still brought some surprises, such as the departures of safety Crew Wakley, tight end Jackson Bowers and defensive end Aisea “Ice” Moa.
Those exits will hurt.
Among the other notable withdrawals are receiver Kody Epps, safety Micah Harper, running back Miles Davis, defensive tackles Dallin Johnson and David Latu, and quarterback Noah Lugo.
As of Monday afternoon, Epps had committed to Western Kentucky, Bowers had committed to Oregon State, Davis had committed to Utah State and former BYU walk-on receiver Prince Zombo had committed to Utah Tech.
But BYU has been active in getting some portal acquisitions, with Utah tight end Carsen Ryan, Southern Utah linemen Anisi Purcell and Kyle Sfarcioc, and Texas defensive end Tausili Akana saying they will become Cougars in 2025.
Saturday night, BYU coaches got perhaps the best news of the month, as redshirt junior receiver Chase Roberts, the Cougars’ leading pass-catcher in 2024, announced he was returning for his final year of eligibility. That’s huge for not only the offense, but returning quarterback Jake Retzlaff.
Sunday night, BYU added to its 2025 signing class, as former American Fork High defensive end Hunter Clegg flipped from Utah to BYU upon returning from his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
BYU’s remaining positions of need from the transfer portal
The Deseret News asked head coach Kalani Sitake, defensive coordinator Jay Hill and offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick last week to describe which positions are the most thin and need some bolstering from the portal.
The consensus was that there are no glaring needs. But depth is always a concern, and will be for as long as BYU competes in the rugged Big 12.
In that way, BYU needs more beef — offensive and defensive linemen, the coaches concurred.
“As a staff we are always looking for depth and always looking for (guys with more than one year of eligibility remaining),” Sitake said. “It is hard to go with the one-and-dones, to be honest with you. We just want guys who can compete. It is hard to do. They all have to come in and earn a spot.
“And then do it the right way. That is through competition, on the field,” Sitake continued. “We just want to see that they are a good fit for our program, and if they can add to our culture. If they can thrive in our culture. If they can do all those things, and possibly compete for a starting spot, then those are the criteria we look at.”
Sitake said the “bulk” of BYU’s recruiting efforts will remain on high school prospects “and developing those guys. We are just not going to be able to develop as many as before because of the roster being limited to 105 at the end of spring.”
As for the 15 or so guys, including nine who were on scholarship, who had entered the transfer portal as of midday Monday, Sitake said none of them left with “super negative” feelings.
“I think those guys are looking for different opportunities to play and get on the field, and things like that,” he said. “We have had meetings (with outgoing players) and they are looking for other opportunities, and that is fine.”
Roderick is ready to roll with Chase Roberts, Carsen Ryan
Before Roberts had announced his return, and after Utah’s Ryan, who began his college career at UCLA, had said he was Provo-bound, Roderick said the Cougars could use “a little more depth at offensive line” and maybe another tight end.
“We like the guys that are returning, but a little more depth (at OL) would be good. We are not desperate for it. It has to be the right guy, and the right fit,” Roderick said. “We are addressing our need at tight end, and other than that I think we are in pretty good shape.”
With Retzlaff having played solidly in 2024 in leading BYU to a 10-2 regular-season record, Roderick said the Cougars were set at quarterback in 2025 and not actively perusing the portal for another signal-caller.
Retzlaff, Utah State transfer McCae Hillstead, Western Michigan transfer Treyson Bourguet and walk-on Cole Hagen constitute the BYU QB room with Lugo’s departure.
“We like the guys we have (at quarterback),” Roderick said. “I think you never say never at any position. Any time you have a chance to get a player that helps your team get better, you have to be open to that. … We are pretty excited to think about where those three guys (on scholarship) can be in a year from now.”
Obviously, one offensive player in the portal that BYU would take in a heartbeat is ex-Michigan offensive lineman Andrew Gentry, a former four-star prospect and returned missionary who can command some hefty NIL money and is one of the top recruits in the portal in this cycle.
Cougar Sports Insider, part of the 247Sports.com network, has reported that BYU and USC are in the lead for Gentry’s services.
Hill: Never rest in the pursuit of defensive linemen
Before Clegg’s flip from Utah to BYU and the acquisition of SUU’s Purcell and Texas’ Akana, a former Skyridge High standout, DC Jay Hill said his defense could use another defensive lineman “if we can find the right one,” and maybe a cornerback or two to replace graduating stars Marque Collins and Jakob Robinson.
The loss of Latu, a former Snow College star, Dallin Johnson and Dallin Havea to the transfer portal is a bit puzzling, considering the Cougars are losing a slew of defensive linemen to graduation: John Nelson, Blake Mangelson, Logan Lutui, Isaiah Bagnah and Tyler Batty.
“They have gotta be a good fit for BYU,” Hill said. “We are not just taking the best portal guy. It has gotta be a good fit, and it has gotta be one that we think can come in and compete and will fill a role. Otherwise we will keep the guys we currently have and let them grow into the position.”
Monday, a possible BYU target emerged as Utah defensive lineman Keanu Tanuvasa entered the portal, saying he has two years of eligibility remaining. BYU pursued Tanuvasa four years ago after he graduated from high school in Mission Viejo, California. He served a two-year church mission before enrolling at Utah.
The Utes were able to land Washington transfer DE Lance Holtzclaw, a player who visited BYU the second week of December.
BYU was also pursuing former Abilene Christian DT David Oke, but he has committed to Arkansas.