There is no time to waste in the transfer portal anymore.
With the transfer portal window tightened this winter — down to just 20 days — players need to make their choice to stay or leave before the postseason begins.
The transfer portal officially opens on Dec. 9 and runs through Dec. 28 — which is before a number of bowl games will even be played — so the movement has already started.
Here is who’s on the move from Utah schools.
BYU
Kody Epps
Remember when Epps entered the transfer portal two years ago? It was quite a shock when Epps unexpectedly put his name in the portal after spring practice, his sights set on an NIL payday. At the time, BYU thought it was out of the woods with Epps leaving. He had already flirted with NIL offers that winter, but chose to stay, sources close to the situation told The Salt Lake Tribune in 2023.
But when Epps eventually did come back to the program, he was never the same. He had an injury riddled 2023 and 2024 and played sparingly for the Cougars. Now, he is gone for good as he hits the portal as a graduate transfer.
Jackson Bowers
Once one of BYU’s highest-ranked recruits, Bowers is looking for different pastures now. He played sparingly in his two years in Provo. It leaves BYU’s tight end room — which was already shaky — in a difficult spot. Ryner Swanson is the future, but he will go on a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Plus, Ray Paulo and Keanu Hill aren’t coming back. Mataa’va Ta’ase also went through senior day. This room will need a reset for the Cougars.
Micah Harper
Harper was once one of BYU’s best defensive players in 2022. But then an ACL tear in 2023 kept him out and he was never the same in 2024. Defensive coordinator Jay Hill wanted to start him at both safety and nickel in fall camp. But it never worked and Harper ended up sitting most of the year behind Hill’s recruits. He will hit the portal as a graduate transfer too.
Miles Davis
The junior running back provided some spark for the Cougars during 2022, rushing 40 times for 225 yards. But Davis hasn’t been able to break into the rotation over the last two years. This season, he carried the ball 18 times for 76 yards. He also caught five passes for 68 yards and a TD. He will be a graduate transfer.
Utah
Jaylon Glover
Glover’s most impactful moment at Utah came off the field, calling the rivalry with BYU the “Cold War.” But the Cold War ended up being too much for the Utes running back to handle.
After the game, Glover put his name in the transfer portal. He had just 60 yards on 12 carries this season. But in his career, he neared the 1,000-yard mark.
Vili Taufatofua
Utah’s defensive lineman came from the New Mexico Military Institute. But in his two years in Salt Lake, he did not make much of an impact. He didn’t play in 2023 and this year played sparingly in the season opener.
Bobby Piland Jr.
The redshirt freshman defensive tackle didn’t receive any playing time during the 2024 season and was put in with the reserves during Utah’s blowout win over Colorado in 2023. He’s entering the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining.
Sione Fotu
Fotu, a sophomore linebacker, has been with the Utes since 2020. In 2024, he played in seven games — starting in three — and finished with 19 tackles, two pass breakups and one quarterback hurry. His best game came against Baylor on Sept. 7, when he finished with seven tackles. Fotu will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Anthony Woods
Woods, a junior running back, transferred from Idaho this offseason after being selected First Team All-Big Sky in 2023. He did not see any action with the Utes in 2024 due to an injury, however.
CJ Blocker
The redshirt freshman cornerback and former four-star recruit out of Houston, Texas played in only five games this season. He had one tackle in the Utes win over Southern Utah.
Ka’eo Akana
The sophomore defensive end has been with Utah since 2022, but has, largely, only appeared on special teams. Akana played in three games this season.
Dijon Stanley
Stanley made an early impact on Utah’s offense in the first few weeks of the season, garnering 66 rushing yards, 166 receiving yards and two touchdowns. His impact was diminished once seventh-year quarterback Cam Rising went down with a right-hand injury and later a season-ending ankle injury vs. Arizona State.
Damien Alford
Alford transferred to the Utes last offseason after spending three seasons with Syracuse. The senior wide receiver could not carve out a role in Utah’s offense this season, however, rendering him with only four game appearances and no catches.
Simote Pepa
The junior defensive tackle tallied 10 tackles and two tackles for loss in 2024 after appearing in nine contests. He will enter the portal as a graduate transfer.
Jack Bouwmeester
Bouwmeester, a native of Bendigo, Australia, played 39 games with Utah from 2022-24. The junior punter was a 2023 All-Pac 12 First Team selection and a 2024 All-Big 12 Second Team selection made by the league’s coaches.
John Randle Jr.
Slotting in as both a running back and defensive back during his Utah career, Randle Jr. saw limited play time in two seasons with the Utes. In 2024 the redshirt freshman logged six tackles before deciding to hit the transfer portal this offseason.
Brandon Rose
After waiting two seasons for his opportunity for playing time at the quarterback position, Rose finally earned his opportunity to start for the Utes in 2024. After freshman quarterback Isaac Wilson was benched vs. Houston, Rose played in the second half and later earned his first career start vs. BYU. In that contest, he finished with 112 passing yards, 55 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was later ruled out for the season after suffering a season-ending lisfranc injury in the loss to the Cougars.
Utah State
Teague Andersen
A Lehi native, Andersen put his name in the portal after a difficult season in Logan. The 6-5 sophomore started seven games for the Aggies and appeared in all 12 games on the offensive line. He was viewed as a three-star recruit out of high school.
This story will be updated.