Former Utah Stars Follow Coach Whittingham to Michigan

Players cite Whittingham's winning culture and NFL pipeline as reasons for transferring

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:35pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a college football game or competition, with sharp geometric shapes in navy, yellow, and red overlapping to create a dynamic, energetic visual representation of the sport.The arrival of several former Utah stars at Michigan signals a new era of Wolverines football under Coach Whittingham's disciplined leadership.Ann Arbor Today

Several former standout players from the University of Utah have decided to transfer and join Coach Kyle Whittingham at the University of Michigan. The players, including JJ Buchanan, Smith Snowden, and John Henry Daley, cited Whittingham's successful track record, disciplined coaching style, and ability to develop NFL talent as key factors in their decisions to follow him to Ann Arbor.

Why it matters

Whittingham's move from Utah to Michigan was a major offseason shakeup in college football, and his ability to bring several of his former star players with him highlights the strong relationships and trust he has built with his players over the years. This influx of experienced talent from Utah could give Michigan a significant boost as they look to compete for a national championship.

The details

JJ Buchanan, a true freshman standout at Utah last season, said the belief and mentorship Whittingham and his staff provided was a major reason he chose to transfer. Cornerback Smith Snowden also cited Whittingham's proven ability to develop NFL talent and the resources available at Michigan as factors in his decision. Meanwhile, All-American John Henry Daley noted Whittingham's 'old-school' disciplined approach and winning culture as appealing qualities that led him to Ann Arbor.

  • Whittingham left Utah to become the head coach at Michigan in January 2026.
  • The former Utah players announced their decisions to transfer to Michigan in March 2026, ahead of the upcoming season.

The players

JJ Buchanan

A true freshman standout at Utah last season who decided to transfer and follow Coach Whittingham to Michigan.

Smith Snowden

An All-American cornerback at Utah who cited Whittingham's NFL development track record and Michigan's resources as reasons for his transfer.

John Henry Daley

An All-American player at Utah who appreciated Whittingham's disciplined, 'old-school' coaching approach and decided to continue playing for him at Michigan.

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What they’re saying

“Man, I just think that, just the belief that not only him, but the entire coaching staff instilled in me, and from when I first got to college, I just think it's special. I think you don't find that at a lot of places and I just think that it was something that I couldn't give up.”

— JJ Buchanan, Former Utah Player

“I committed to Coach Whittingham from the University of Utah. I've seen what he's put in the NFL and seen what he continues to do. I know that he has a winning culture, and I think sky's really the limit for Coach Whitt at Michigan. I think that he has the opportunity to get the best guys in the country, and he's gonna really make things shake.”

— Smith Snowden, Former Utah Player

“I mean, you know what you get with Coach Whittingham, right? You know that you get discipline, you know that you get hard work, and we expect to win games, and that's something that I love. He's got a very old-school mindset, and that we're going to come in, we're going to attack every single day, and we're going to be tough. And it's not always going to be easy, but it's going to be worth it. And that's something that I love that you don't find everywhere. And that's something I wanted to continue to be a part of.”

— John Henry Daley, Former Utah Player

What’s next

The former Utah players will join Coach Whittingham and the rest of the Michigan team for spring practice and the upcoming 2026 season, as they look to help the Wolverines compete for a national championship.

The takeaway

Coach Whittingham's ability to attract several of his former star players from Utah to join him at Michigan underscores the strong relationships and winning culture he has built over his long tenure. This influx of experienced talent could give the Wolverines a significant boost as they aim to take the next step and compete for a national title under Whittingham's leadership.