The Utah roster story
In 2016, 42 of 137 roster spots were filled by Utah players not previously rostered elsewhere in the data. On the 2026 roster, 31 of 104 fit the same definition. The number of players previously rostered elsewhere changed from 2 to 25.
The median hometown distance moved from 579 mi in 2016 to 519 mi on the 2026 roster.
Before and during the portal era
2016–18 compared with 2021–25
- In-state, not rostered elsewhere
- Previously rostered elsewhere
| Measure | 2016–18 | 2021–25 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state, not rostered elsewhere | 33.8% | 30.8% | |
| Previously rostered elsewhere | 1.9% | 14.5% |
The 2026 roster
- 732 miAverage hometown distanceAverage hometown distance among 101 located players.
- 30.8%In-state30.8% of players with a known home state are from Utah.
- 29.7%Backyard29.7% of players with a located hometown grew up within 100 miles of campus.
- 24.0%Previously rostered elsewhere24.0% of the roster appeared on another college roster in an earlier season.
Where Utah ranks
Homecoming Radius over time
The median hometown-to-campus distance, by season. The dotted line is the FBS median.
Roster composition over time
Where the in-state lens draws the line: home-state players with and without an earlier college roster, out-of-state players with and without one, and players with unknown geography. This chart begins where stable athlete IDs make transfer detection possible; the radius chart above carries the official-archive geography farther back.
Where do Utah's players come from?
| Season | Roster | In-state | Rostered elsewhere | Radius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 104 | 30.8% | 24.0% | 519 mi |
| 2025 | 116 | 33.6% | 20.7% | 519 mi |
| 2024 | 110 | 35.8% | 17.3% | 518 mi |
| 2023 | 122 | 32.8% | 11.5% | 564 mi |
| 2022 | 117 | 35.1% | 10.3% | 505 mi |
| 2021 | 126 | 32.0% | 12.7% | 567 mi |
| 2020 | 141 | 39.9% | 5.7% | 507 mi |
| 2019 | 129 | 32.0% | 6.2% | 579 mi |
| 2018 | 110 | 35.8% | 1.8% | 539 mi |
| 2017 | 129 | 37.5% | 2.3% | 534 mi |
| 2016 | 137 | 30.7% | 1.5% | 579 mi |
| 2015 | 134 | 33.8% | 2.2% | 553 mi |
| 2014 | 133 | 36.1% | 2.3% | 565 mi |
| 2013 | 122 | 41.8% | 0.8% | 532 mi |
| 2012 | 121 | 40.0% | 0.0% | 539 mi |
| 2011 | 124 | 41.9% | 0.0% | 514 mi |
| 2010 | 123 | 43.9% | 0.0% | 496 mi |
| 2009 | 110 | 39.1% | 0.9% | 522 mi |
In-state shares use players with a known home state. Radius uses located hometowns.
Where the roster grew up
Located hometowns on the 2026 roster, with campus marked and the Homecoming Radius circled.
Homecoming Radius: 519 mi