1st-best Utah tenure of 13 by the numbers.
Recruiter or developer?
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on offense and outperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
-4.3 pts
#131 of 208 · a typical amount
Defense vs. talent
+25.1 pts
#18 of 208 · more than most
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Roster construction · portal era
A typical amount of portal roster-building.
Portal arrivals
54
3.2★ avg rating
Portal departures
109
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-55
#116 of 187 FBS stints
Notable portal arrivals with a modeled NIL value
John Henry Daley On3 modeled · $2,000,000Devon Dampier On3 modeled · $2,000,000Wayshawn Parker On3 modeled · $1,000,000
On3’s modeled estimate (social reach / exposure), not money actually paid — shown per player, never totaled.
Who they bring in
Brings in smaller-than-position-typical players than most.
Recruits younger transfers than most — more of a development bet.
Avg. size (raw)
6′2″, 212 lbs
across 51 of 54 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
+1.3 lbs
#200 of 255 · less than most
Avg. class year
Jr
#202 of 255 · less than most
Top states: CA (15), TX (6), UT (6), WA (3), FL (3)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
57.7
position-weighted
Talent lost
59.5
position-weighted
Net
-1.8
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: Devon Dampier (QB) from New Mexico
Biggest loss: Peter Costelli (QB) to Troy
Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Dave Christensen → co-Aaron Roderick / co-Jim Harding · 2015
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 38.9% → 34.0% (-4.8 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 73% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: co-Aaron Roderick / co-Jim Harding → Troy Taylor · 2017the system held
2-season window either side.
1st-down pass rate: 36.3% → 38.1% (+1.8 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 55% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Troy Taylor → Andy Ludwig · 2019the offense improved
2-season window either side.
1st-down pass rate: 38.1% → 42.7% (+4.6 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 95% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
DC: Kalani Sitake → John Pease · 2015
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
DC: John Pease → Morgan Scalley · 2016
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Quarterback
211 lbs
6′1″ avg · #420 of 767 · a typical amount
Running back
211 lbs
5′11″ avg · #248 of 791 · a typical amount
Wide receiver
191 lbs
6′1″ avg · #504 of 791 · a typical amount
Tight end
242 lbs
6′3″ avg · #502 of 731 · a typical amount
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
308 lbs
6′5″ avg · #430 of 779 · a typical amount
Edge
254 lbs
6′4″ avg · #95 of 188 · a typical amount
Linebacker
229 lbs
6′2″ avg · #374 of 772 · a typical amount
Cornerback
184 lbs
6′0″ avg · #662 of 771 · less than most
Safety
202 lbs
6′1″ avg · #63 of 346 · more than most
Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows LS from high school
100%
#12 of 12 stints
Grows Tight end from high school
82%
#155 of 188 stints
Postseason detail2014: Beat Colorado State 45–10 Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl2015: Beat BYU 35–28 Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl2016: Beat Indiana 26–24 Foster Farms Bowl2017: Beat West Virginia 30–14 Zaxby's Heart Of Dallas Bowl2018: Lost to Northwestern 20–31 CFP2019: Lost to Texas 10–38 CFP2021: Lost to Ohio State 45–48 Rose Bowl Game Pres. by Capital One Venture X2022: Lost to Penn State 21–35 Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential2023: Lost to Northwestern 7–14 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl2025: Beat Nebraska 44–22 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
65 NFL Draft picks: Alex Smith (2005), Sione Pouha (2005), Chris Kemoeatu (2005), Paris Warren (2005), Jonathan Fanene (2005), Spencer Toone (2006), Quinton Ganther (2006), Eric Weddle (2007) + 57 more
7 player-seasons honored (All-America / national award): Britain Covey (2021), Devin Lloyd (2021), Clark Phillips III (2022), Jonah Elliss (2023), Spencer Fano (2024), John Henry Daley (2025), Spencer Fano (2025)