A year after having to replace two defensive tackle starters, the Utes will have to do it once again in 2026.
Aliki Vimahi is out of eligibility, Jonah Lea’ea transferred to Michigan and Dallas Vakalahi transferred to Penn State, leaving Utah to replace its three main rotation pieces at the position.
While Utah has players on its roster who can step into a starting spot such as Karson Kaufusi and Pupu Sepulona, defensive tackle is a position of need for the Utes in the transfer portal.
They already added Wyoming defensive tackle Lucas Samsula earlier in this transfer window, and on Sunday they added two more.
First they have reached back into the Mountain West Conference for their next addition at the position, landing San Jose freshman Jireh Moe on Sunday, according to a report from On3’s Pete Nakos.
About an hour later, Tennessee transfer Jamal Wallace announced his commitment to the Utes on social media.
In his first season with the Spartans, the 6-foot, 280-pound Moe registered 28 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He was the highest-graded SJSU defensive player by Pro Football Focus, earning a 83.2 grade.
As for the 6-foot-3, 313-pound Wallace, he appeared in six games in 2025 for Tennessee and totaled four tackles.
New Utah head coach Morgan Scalley has now added five defensive players from the transfer portal — Moe, Wallace, Samsula, former Akron cornerback Elijah Reed, former Oklahoma safety Marcus Wimberly and former North Texas defensive end Ethan Day.
Utah adds offensive tackle from FCS national champion
Utah focused on the offensive and defensive lines on Sunday, picking up two defensive tackles before securing an offensive tackle in the evening.
Montana State starting offensive tackle Cedric Jefferson, who earned an All-Big Sky honorable mention nod and helped the Bobcats to an FCS national title, announced his commitment to Utah.
Utah needed to address the offensive line in the transfer portal this offseason with all five of its starters departing the program (graduation and NFL draft).
Jefferson, 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, is the second offensive lineman to commit to Utah this cycle, joining Ohio State interior lineman Isaiah Kema.