Utah Utes Cleaning Up in NCAA Transfer Portal with Six 4-Star Talents
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
In the last three recruiting hauls, Utah has signed four 4-Star recruits in each receiving five total in the 2018-17 class combined. Jump to this season’s NCAA Transfer Portal, life has been very good to the Utes landing seven Power 5 players that includes six former 4-Star recruits.
Utah is losing some key backups in running back Devin Brumfield and Jordan Wilmore along with receiver Bryan Thompson but are seemingly more than making up for it with new players signed. The backfield is now filled with former 4-Stars in T.J. Pledger and Chris Curry. Pledger was the Sooners’ second leading rusher in 2020, 10th overall in the Big 12, with 95 carries for 451 yards with five scores. In a crowded LSU backfield, Curry was the Tigers’ third leading rusher taking 45 handoffs for 153 yards.
The Utes’ QB meeting room lost 2020 starter Jake Bentley (882/6/6) and Nick Billoups but has restocked with Texas dual-threat transfer Ja’Quinden Jackson and Baylor starter Charlie Brewer. Brewer was sixth in the Big 12 during the 2020 season completing 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,958 yards with 14 touchdowns against eight interceptions.
Flipping the field, from the 2021 recruiting class, Josh Calvert is leaving one division of the Pac-12 for another bringing freshman safety teammate Brandon McKinney with him.
Adding to the mix, the Utes will have their full influx of Class of 2021 players this summer welcoming 19 signees, four 4-Stars and 14 3-Star talents.
Top Talents Heading to Utah (7)
3-Star QB Charlie Brewer – from Baylor
4-Star QB Ja’Quinden Jackson – from Texas
4-Star RB T.J. Pledger – from Oklahoma
4-Star RB Chris Curry – from LSU
4-Star WR Theo Howard – from Oklahoma
4-Star LB Josh Calvert – from Washington
4-Star DB Brandon McKinney – from Washington
Transfers Leaving Utah (14)
4-Star QB Jake Bentley – from South Alabama
3-Star QB Nick Billoups – undecided
4-Star RB Jordan Wilmore – Fresno State
3-Star RB Devin Brumfield – Tulane
3-Star RB T.J. Green – to Liberty
3-Star WR Bryan Thompson – to Arizona State
3-Star WR Samson Nacua – to BYU
3-Star WR Cameron Gardner – undecided
3-Star DE Mufi Hunt – to BYU
3-Star DT Pita Tonga – to Hawaii
4-Star LB Sione Lund – undecided
3-Star LB Graham Faloona – undecided
3-Star CB Bronson Boyd – undecided
2-Star P Ben Lennon – undecided
Photo credit: KSL Sports; No. 5 T.J. Pledger