Locked On Utes host JT Wistrcill joined Brice & Bianucci on 103.9 & 98.3 ESPN The Fan to weigh in on the growing controversy surrounding transfer portal tampering in college football. The segment, hosted by Brice Larson and Jordan Bianucci, (weekdays from 7-10am) addressed reports alleging that BYU has attempted to entice Utah players, including standout defensive back Smith Snowden, into entering the transfer portal.
Wistrcill, a former intern inside the Utah Athletic Department, did not mince words when asked about the validity of the reports.
“I do believe the reports. Because, at the end of the day, this is what I don’t like it when we do this with the media. When they have history of accuracy in their reports, but then they report something we don’t like and then all of a sudden we’re like, oh, this isn’t true,” he said. “So I do believe the reports when it’s coming from that many different outlets, when there’s smoke, there’s fire, So I do believe the reports.”
While Wistrcill acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, he also stressed that BYU is not the only program engaging in this type of behavior.
“I’ll also just say, like with BYU, I don’t feel like BYU is doing something that not everyone is doing based on what’s been reported in the current college landscape. That’s why Utah can’t go to the NCAA and be like, hey, they’re trying to come in and get some of our players over here. Well, everyone’s doing this, so you can’t really police it in a way, So that’s what makes it challenging.”
He pointed to recent social media posts from Smith Snowden and Dallas Vakalahi—both of whom publicly reaffirmed their commitment to Utah—as evidence supporting the reports.
The pride and tradition of the Utah Utes will never be entrusted to the timid or the weak
Go Utes
-Smith Snowden pic.twitter.com/bX5cRslF1v
— Smith Snowden (@SnowdenSmith) April 26, 2025
Good to be back… 1Luv pic.twitter.com/kUK09skwh5
— Dallas Vakalahi (@DVakalahi) April 24, 2025
“If there was no validity to this, why are they tweeting that out?” Wistrcill asked.
He closed by highlighting the significance of keeping Snowden in the fold: “Smith Snowden is an incredible defensive back. I generally think that’s the type of loss where I’m not sure if Utah could really reach their ceiling without Smith Snowden.”
Find the entire interview with JT Wisrcill below:
