The transfer portal swings both ways. While BYU benefitted from this year's new crop of transfers in with players like QB Bear Bachmeier, DT Keanu Tanuvasa, TE Carsen Ryan, and OT Andrew Gentry, etc., the Cougars also lost some talent in this past transfer cycle.
Here's a quick look at how some of the key talent that left Provo for other opportunities have performed through the first five weeks of the season.
Miles Davis, RB, Utah State
Season stats: 314 rushing yards, 6.3 yards per carry, 4 TDs; 128 receiving yards, 3 TDs
With BYU's unexpected lack of depth at running back, Miles Davis feels like the player that got away. After five years in Provo, the sixth-year senior is having an outstanding season in Logan. Through his first five games he has 442 scrimmage yards and is excelling as a running back averaging 6.3 yards per carry. While I'm glad that Miles is thriving in a lead role in Logan, he could have been an important rotational piece in Provo this year.
David Latu, DT, Boise State
Season stats: 3 games, 4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss
After two seasons at BYU, David Latu transferred to Boise State this year and is making an impact for the Broncos. The productivity of interior defensive linemen can't be measured by traditional stats -- much of their value simply comes from absorbing blockers and collapsing pockets -- he has done his part for the Broncos with four tackles and one tackle for loss this year.
Keelan Marion, WR, Miami
Season stats: 11 receptions, 125 yards, 0 TDs; 3 kick returns, 76 yards
After two years at Connecticut followed by two successful years at BYU, Marion surprised many people when he transferred to Miami this season. In two seasons with the Cougars he had 44 receptions for 562 yards with a touchdown and was poised to be a featured part of BYU's offense this year. But, alas, he was pulled to Miami where on the season he has 11 receptions for 125 yards for the No. 3 Hurricanes.
Aisea Moa, LB, Michigan State
Season stats: 4 games, 4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 passes defended
After two mostly quiet seasons at BYU, Moa became a rotational player in his third season last year in Provo last year with 16 tackles in 12 games. Now in his first season of Big Ten football at Michigan State, Moa is once again a rotational player. He has four tackles on the season for the Spartans.
Jake Retzlaff, QB, Tulane
Season stats: 820 passing yards, 54.4% completions, 2 TDs, 0 INT; 368 rush yards, 7 TDs
When it comes to passing the ball, Retzlaff continues to be at Tulane what he was in Provo: A generally capable quarterback with a completion percentage far below where most teams would like it (54.4% this year). While his passing accuracy still leaves much to be desired for the Green Wave, Retzlaff has been very effective with his legs this year, with 368 rushing yards and a whopping seven touchdowns. In a win over Northwestern (Big Ten), he rushed for 113 yards and a TD, then later in another P4 win over Duke (ACC), he ran for 111 yards and four (!!!) touchdowns.
Joshua Singh, DT, Vanderbilt
Season stats: 4 games, 2 tackles
After four fairly quiet seasons in Provo with 14 tackles in 27 games, Joshua Singh transferred to Vanderbilt to play in the SEC. The fifth-year player has carved out a rotational role with Vanderbilt's defense and has two tackles on the season for the No. 16 Commodores.
Harrison Taggart, LB, Cal
Season stats: 5 games, 12 tackles
Much like Miles Davis, it just feels like it would have been better for everybody involved had Taggart remained in Provo. Last year as a redshirt sophomore he racked up 69 tackles for the Cougars before transferring to Cal. He has had a relatively slow start in his new home in a reserve role with 12 tackles through five games.
Crew Wakley, S, Purdue
Season stats: 3 games, 9 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass defended
Over the past two seasons Wakley was a key player in BYU's secondary, racking up 103 tackles and three interceptions between 2023 and 2024. Now in his new home with the Purdue Boilermakers, he's a rotational safety with nine tackles in three games.