Utah transfer Devonta'e Henry-Cole picks BYU as final destination

PROVO — Shortly before BYU basketball’s tipoff against Saint Mary’s, BYU football found its transfer portal running back.

Utah’s Devonta'e Henry-Cole announced his commitment to the Cougars on Saturday night, choosing BYU over a reported offer from Utah State. His commitment included just two words: Sept. 3 — the date of BYU’s Thursday night season-opener on the Hill at Rice-Eccles Stadium — and a hashtag: #Committed.

Multiple sources close to the BYU program confirmed to KSL.com Henry-Cole's commitment.

Henry-Cole joins a running back room at BYU that includes Lopini Katoa, Jackson McChesney, walk-on Alec Wyble-Meza and Sione Finau, who recently underwent knee surgery.

Henry-Cole has been hampered by injuries during his four years with the Utes, including missing the entire 2018 season. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry for 188 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games as a redshirt junior in 2019, including a career-high 79 yards and a receiving touchdown against Washington State.

The 5-foot-11, 196-pound native of Boca Raton, Florida, played in just one game as a true freshman in 2016, then broke out for 279 yards and two touchdowns on 55 carries a year later.

During his time at Utah, Henry-Cole was taught by missionaries and baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with former Utah star Chase Hansen performing the baptism in 2018.

A sociology major at Utah, Henry-Cole is not listed as a graduate transfer in the NCAA transfer portal, according to a source with knowledge of the portal. He's spent four years on the Hill, with one year of eligibility remaining — but he saw significant playing time in just two seasons.

A source close to BYU expects Henry-Cole to be eligible this fall, but it's unclear if that is by NCAA waiver or graduate status.

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