Utah Utes defensive end John Henry Daley. Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Utah All-American DE John Henry Daley to enter transfer portal

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Dec 30, 2025 2:30 PM ET

The Utah Utes are in a state of flux.

Their long-time head coach, Kyle Whittingham, is now the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. Their new head coach, Morgan Scalley, has been an assistant coach at Utah for 18 seasons, and he's been the defensive coordinator for the last 10 seasons.

He's never been a head coach, though, so the Utes are absolutely entering a time of uncertainty.

Perhaps that's why All-American defensive end John Henry Daley has decided to transfer.

Daley is a 6-foot-4, 255-pound redshirt sophomore who earned first-team All-Big 12 honors as well as his All-America honors.

He's a Utah native, but he announced on Tuesday that he will be entering the transfer portal.

Grateful for the opportunity. Go Utes! pic.twitter.com/VJEAKdxu0H
— John Henry Daley (@JohnHenryDaley1) December 30, 2025

Utah Utes losing a big-time playmaker in John Henry Daley

Daley finished this season with 48 tackles, including 17.5 tackles for loss, and 11.5 sacks.

A former 3-star recruit from American Fork, Utah, he committed to BYU out of high school, but he played in just three games as a freshman for the Cougars, totalling only three tackles.

He transferred to Utah for the 2024 season and played in seven games for the Utes as a redshirt freshman, notching four tackles and a sack.

This 2025 season has been Daley's breakout campaign. Alongside his other honors, he was named a Chuck Bednarik Award semifinalist as well as a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Both of those awards are presented to the player who is essentially college football's player of the year.

Daley will, without a doubt, be one of the biggest names in the college football transfer portal.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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