BYU and Utah will always fish from the same ponds when it comes to recruiting. Both schools heavily pursue the best talent in the Beehive State, target many of the same top LDS players, and tap the same Polynesian pipeline.
Because of this, both schools have some roster envy.
BYU has won a number of head-to-head recruiting battles against Utah in the classes of 2025 and 2026. Utah has won a few others.
There have also been transfers between the two schools that have cut fans of both programs pretty deeply. As BYU and Utah prepare to face off this week, it’s galling for Ute fans to see program transfers like defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa and tight end Carsen Ryan suiting up for BYU, wearing the royal blue.
But in our heart of hearts as BYU fans, there are some guys on Utah’s roster that we wish were BYU Cougars. Here are the top three:
John Henry Daley, defensive end
John Henry Daley originally committed to BYU and was an important get in the class of 2021. He was a high three star athlete with an 87 rating from 247 Sports and was the No. 9 prospect in the state of Utah. After serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he suited up for the Cougars in 2023 and recorded three tackles in three games.
Despite getting some run during his redshirt season in Provo and having family ties to BYU, Daley transferred to Utah in 2024. Last year with the Utes he had four tackles and a sack in seven games.
But this year, John Henry Daley has broken out.
Through six games he has been absolutely dominant. Daley has recorded 30 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 8.0 sacks.
With BYU’s complete lack of a pass rush from their defensive ends, the Cougars desperately need exactly what John Henry Daley brings to the Utes. If there was one player on the Utes roster that BYU could simply bring over, getting Daley back to Provo would be at the top of the list.
Smith Snowden, cornerback
The recruiting battle between BYU and Utah for Smith Snowden was intense.
Snowden is the son of former BYU running back Will Snowden. Smith was a four-star talent in the class of 2023 and the No. 3 prospect in the state of Utah when he signed with the Utes. Now in his third season, the talented junior plays on both sides of the ball.
As a freshman in 2023 he had seven tackles in 11 games. Last year he emerged in his sophomore campaign with 48 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two interceptions.
This year he continues to be excellent on defense, but he’s also being incorporated into Utah’s offense. On the season he has 17 tackles and five passes defended on defense, along with 13 receptions for 57 yards plus 40 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Now, mentioning Smith Snowden and BYU in the same sentence can be controversial. After the 2024 season ended, some accused the Cougars (and other schools) of tampering with Snowden to try to entice him to jump ship for Provo. Snowden ultimately didn’t end up with BYU, though many Cougar fans wish he had.
Logan Fano, defensive end
Remaining on the defensive side of the ball, Logan Fano is another former Cougar turned Ute that many BYU fans wish was still in Provo.
The former four-star recruit was a crown jewel in BYU’s 2021 recruiting class as the No. 4 talent in the state of Utah that year. But after suffering an ACL injury and missing his first season of college football, Fano hit the transfer portal and signed with Utah.
He has been really, really good for the Utes.
In three seasons he has appeared in 22 games with 65 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 8.0 sacks.
As BYU’s defensive ends struggle to get to the quarterback this year, it’s tough for Cougar fans to watch Logan Fano making an impact for their rivals to the north instead of doing it in Provo.