The Utah Utes face significant turnover in their defense for the 2026 season, with new starters and coaching changes. Despite past successes, questions remain about their ability to maintain a strong defensive performance.
Key points
Utah Utes face significant turnover in defense for 2026
Colton Swan promoted to defensive coordinator
Key players leaving include John Henry Daley and Lander Barton
Utes ranked No. 17 in points and passing yards allowed in 2025
Utah Utes linebacker Johnathan Hall (7) reacts after the play during game against Texas Tech at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.Utah Utes linebacker Johnathan Hall (7) reacts after the play during game against Texas Tech at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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When was the last time there were as many questions about a Utah defense as there were about a Utah offense?
That doesn’t happen much for a program that has built its reputation on having good defenses year in and year out, but with a host of new starters in key positions, especially on the defensive line, there’s a lot for Utah’s group to prove in 2026.
Despite poor performances against the run in the final two regular-season games and a run defense that was softer than usual throughout the year, the Utes still finished 2025 ranked No. 17 nationally in both points allowed (18.92 per game) and passing yards allowed (177.8 yards per game) en route to an 11-2 season.
The offseason brought a lot of change, however.
With Morgan Scalley taking the helm of the program and defensive ends coach Lewis Powell going to Michigan, there was a major coaching shake-up on the defensive side of the ball.
Linebackers coach Colton Swan was promoted to defensive coordinator and new defensive ends coach Inoke Breckterfield was brought in, along with safeties coach Derrick Odom.
The Utes will have to replace some important players, like defensive ends and , cornerbacks Blake Cotton and , linebackers and Levani Damuni, and safety Tao Johnson as they head into the new year.
Will it be the same old, reliable Utah defense in 2026, even with all the turnover? Time will tell, but the Utes made heavy use of the transfer portal and believe they have the right players in place.
Below is a position-by-position breakdown of Utah’s defense, plus our guess at a depth chart following spring camp.
Q&A
What changes have occurred in the Utah Utes' defense for 2026?
The Utes have experienced coaching changes, including the promotion of Colton Swan to defensive coordinator and the addition of new coaches, while also needing to replace key players from last season.
How did the Utah Utes' defense perform in the 2025 season?
In 2025, the Utes ranked No. 17 nationally, allowing 18.92 points and 177.8 passing yards per game, despite struggles against the run in the final games.
Who are the key players leaving the Utah Utes' defense?
Key departures include defensive ends John Henry Daley and Logan Fano, cornerbacks Blake Cotton and Smith Snowden, and linebackers Lander Barton and Levani Damuni.
What new players have joined the Utah Utes' defense via the transfer portal?
The Utes added defensive tackles Lucas Samsula, Jireh Moe, and Jamal Wallace from the transfer portal to strengthen their defensive line.
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Last season, defensive tackle was a bit of a weak point for the Utes, especially later in the season when Kansas State and Kansas ran wild on Utah.
The three main rotation tackles, Jonah Lea’ea (transfer to Michigan), Aliki Vimahi (graduated) and Dallas Vakalahi (transfer to Penn State), are gone, giving the room a new start, though the Utes return two contributors from last season’s team.
Karson Kaufusi and Pupu Sepulona are expected to be in the mix for starting jobs, with Utah hoping they can take the next step. Kaufusi played 177 snaps his freshman season with 13 tackles and 0.5 sacks, while Sepulona played 137 snaps his freshman season with 13 tackles.
As expected for true freshmen, there were growing pains along the way, but the biggest leap a college player usually makes is from freshman to sophomore year.
“Both those guys I thought had a pretty good spring and they’ve done some pretty good things to help us,” defensive tackles coach Luther Elliss said. “And right now our room’s tight. There’s great competition. We have a lot of talented guys and it still is to be determined who’s going to be the guy when it comes to fall.”
Temple North Texas FootballNorth Texas defensive lineman Ethan Day (90) before a game against Temple, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, Denton, Texas. The Utes snatched up Day via the transfer portal in the offseason. | Jessica Tobias, Associated Press
To help bolster the room, Utah added three defensive tackles from the transfer portal — Wyoming’s Lucas Samsula, San Jose State’s Jireh Moe and Tennessee’s Jamal Wallace.
Samsula had 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks while starting seven games for the Cowboys.
“Lucas, he’s a big, strong guy that he’s not going to be moved. It’s crazy, when he plays high, he’s not getting moved,” Elliss said. “So he continues to work on that pad level on his inside hands and things of that nature, but he had a really good spring of what he’s doing in far as creating the havoc in the run game.”
Moe had 28 tackles and 1.5 sacks in his freshman season for the Spartans, and though at 6-foot and 280 pounds he may be on the smaller side for a defensive tackle, he had an impressive spring.
“He’s a pretty special player. Like you said, for his size, the things he does is pretty exceptional and he’s so explosive. I think the biggest thing he has is a feel for the game, so he just flows with the game, and he does what he does really well,” Elliss said. “... I’m excited for the opportunity he has and what he’s going to do this year on the field because as crazy as it is, he’s one of the hardest guys to block on the field just because he is so explosive, so quick.”
Wallace is also competing for a starting spot, or at least a spot in the rotation.
Four of those five players, Wallace being the exception, are underclassmen, so there will have to be at least a few that make that next-level jump in order for the Utes’ defensive tackle room to return to form. Just like last year, it’s one of the biggest question marks on the defense.
On the edges, the Utes lost two productive starters — Daley to Michigan and Fano to the NFL. It’s going to be tough to replace that level of production — the two combined for 16 sacks and 92 tackles in 2025.
Just like in the defensive tackle room, the Utes have two players with experience that they’re counting on to fulfill a big role — Kash Dillon and Lance Holtzclaw.
Holtzclaw, a senior, played 341 snaps last season and was one of Utah’s highest-rated players on defense with a 73.8 PFF grade while totaling 26 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Dillon, a redshirt sophomore, didn’t receive as good of a PFF grade (61.9) but had 35 tackles and 3.5 sacks last season.
Utah brought in North Texas starter Ethan Day (53 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble) to help round out the room.
Defensive line is usually a strength for the Utes, but just like the offensive line, there will be a completely new starting four on the field that will need to prove themselves.
Out of spring, Dillon, Holtzclaw and Day are battling for the two starting spots, but all three will play.
“I think they’re playing physically,” said new defensive ends coach Inoke Breckterfield. “I think that was one of the biggest things we stressed, going in and playing physical against the run game. I thought that showed up. I like the veteran leadership we have. I like the older guys in the room.”
“Ethan Day’s been a great addition to the group. I think they’re working hard. I think they’re figuring things out. Kash and Lance, the only two kind of real veterans coming back, I think they’ve taken a step forward.”
Linebackers
Two spots, held by longtime linebackers Lander Barton and Levani Damuni, have opened up in 2026.
Utah returns starter Johnathan Hall this season, who will be a key piece of Utah’s defense and provide veteran leadership as the “quarterback of the defense.” Last year, Hall led the team in tackles with 67 and added 2.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.
“Since last year, I’ve definitely been focusing on being a great leader and taking that next step. I feel like this year for sure, just being more vocal, being more vocal and being a team player for sure and having everybody on the same page on the defense,” Hall said.
Starting alongside Hall will be a new full-time starter, but someone who has been in the program for three seasons — senior Trey Reynolds. Reynolds started four games last year and totaled 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two interceptions. Cyrus Polu, who played 96 snaps last season, has generated significant buzz in spring camp as Utah’s third option.
As it usually is, Utah’s linebacking corps feels like it is in good hands.
Cornerbacks
Last season, cornerbacks coach Sharrieff Shah had to replace Cam Calhoun and Zemaiah Vaughn, and did so by starting Scooby Davis and adding Blake Cotton from the transfer portal.
Though it was an up-and-down season early on, the group played fairly well from the middle of the season on, though there was room for improvement — Snowden had a PFF grade of 69.3, Cotton 64.8 and Davis 58.2.
NCAA FB: Utah Utes Spring Practice
Utah cornerbacks coach Sharrieff Shah during Utah Utes football spring practice in Salt Lake City, on Thursday, March 19, 2026. | Anna Fuder
This year, Shah was essentially given a blank slate. Davis is the only impact returner from last season’s cornerback room, so there will be new starters at two spots in the room.
Cornerback was a priority position for the Utes in the transfer portal, with Shah targeting length — Akron transfer Elijah Reed is 6-foot-3 and Hutchinson Community College transfer Earl Parker is 6-2.
Utah also brought in USF transfer James Chenault (6-foot) and Lamar transfer Nick Brown (6-foot).
Davis, who had two interceptions and two pass deflections, is penciled in at one outside cornerback spot. At nickel should be Rock Caldwell, who had a good season at safety last year, stepping up due to injuries, but is back at cornerback and getting good reviews from coaches.
There’s going to be good competition in the room this fall for the other outside cornerback spot. Reed, who totaled 47 tackles, two interceptions, a sack and four breakups with a 77.3 PFF grade, could be a good option.
“I’m actually pretty pleased. Because we lost Smith (Snowden), so you’re looking at the nickel position and Rock Caldwell and Nick Brown, that’s a guy that’s really stepped up,” Scalley said of the cornerback room. “He’s got to have a heck of a summer, though, because he’s just a little bit too light. But speed-wise, really good.
“Caldwell, smart, heady football player. His length is an issue and he’s gotten faster. So I really like the nickel position.
“Eli Reed on the outside, Scooby leading, Bobo Chenault. So we’ve definitely got the guys there and Sharrieff’s doing a great job coaching them up. So yeah, I know I mentioned that early on and the progress has been great.”
Safeties
The safety position could be the defense’s strength this year.
Rabbit Evans, who started five games in 2024 after transferring to Utah, was poised to have a big 2025 before his season was cut short with a season-ending injury against Wyoming.
Now healthy, Evans should get his chance to be the full-time starter.
“So glad to have Rabbit back. His game has helped me a lot. I’ve learned a lot from Rab. His footwork is awesome. He’s super physical,” said safety Jackson Bennee. “It’s just good to see him back. I can’t imagine what an injury like that would do to you. Not only physically, just mentally, that’s just a hard thing to go through. So he’s had a great attitude the whole time. I love Rab.”
Colorado running back Isaiah Augustave is stopped by Utah safety Rabbit Evans during game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. | David Zalubowski, Associated PressColorado running back Isaiah Augustave is stopped by Utah safety Rabbit Evans during game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. | David Zalubowski, Associated Press
Bennee, who led the Utes with four interceptions and finished the season with a 74.1 PFF grade, is another candidate for a starting position. Evans and Bennee should be a strong starting safety tandem with solid depth behind them.
Nate Ritchie, a program veteran, suffered a season-ending injury of his own in the West Virginia game, but is back for the 2026 season, and sophomore Nate Tilmon has been turning heads this spring.
The Utes have a deep group at safety, and it should be the strength of the team.
Utah’s projected defensive two-deep
(Note: This two-deep is this reporter’s best guess and is based on coaches’ comments and past experience, not practice viewing.)
**NB:** Rock Caldwell (R-Sr.); James Chenault (Jr.)
**S:** Jackson Bennee (Jr.); Nate Tilmon (So.)
**S:** Rabbit Evans (Sr.); Nate Ritchie (Sr.)
In case you missed it
What will Utah’s offense do for encore after productive 2025? A position-by-position breakdown of Utah’s offense, plus our stab at a depth chart following spring camp.
