Cougars have managed to keep most of their key players out of transfer portal — for now
Fewer than 10 former BYU players are in the portal, which closed Tuesday and won’t open again until April 16
A year ago, the mass exodus of BYU football players to the transfer portal started early, as tight end Dallin Holker surprised almost everyone with the announcement that he was leaving BYU just three games into the 2022 season.
All told, more than 20 Cougars from the 2022 squad would eventually hit the portal, which wasn’t altogether a bad thing because many of them were non-contributors and their departures enabled coach A year ago, the mass exodus of BYU football players to the transfer portal started early, as tight end Dallin Holker surprised almost and his staff to bring in nearly two dozen transfers, most notably quarterback Kedon Slovis, running back Aidan Robbins and defensive back Eddie Heckard.
With the deadline for players to submit their names to school compliance officers declaring their intention having passed Tuesday, it appears that the program won’t lose nearly as many players as it did last year. As of Wednesday morning, fewer than 10 guys who have played for or signed with BYU in the past were in the portal.
The list includes defensive ends Michael Daley (Rice), John Henry Daley (Utah) and punt returner Hobbs Nyberg. Those three are probably the most significant losses to date, especially the younger Daley, John Henry.
Long snapper Austin Riggs, receiver Dom Henry, quarterback/running back Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters, defensive back Quenton Rice, receiver Maguire Anderson and offensive lineman Dylan Rollins are also in the portal.
Running back Miles Davis entered the portal on Dec. 7, but withdrew his name on Dec. 13 and told the Deseret News he plans to stay at BYU.
Of course, another crop could depart after spring ball in March and early April, when the next transfer portal window opens from April 16-30.
“In recruiting, the first thing you gotta do is retain your current players. I was happy with the progress of the guys that played for us last year. We retained those guys. They are coming back,” defensive coordinator Jay Hill said on Dec. 20, when the early signing period began for the class of 2024 recruits. “Cougar Nation will be excited to know that our best players are still here at BYU.”