University of Utah’s athletic director responds online after news that four-star athlete will announce his next commitment despite signing with Utes in December.
Transfer portal news relating to the University of Utah has elicited a response from the school’s athletic director, Mark Harlan, on social media.
Earlier this week, 247 Sports’ Blair Angulo reported that Salesi Moa, the four-star Fremont High athlete who signed with the University of Utah in December, was entering the transfer portal.
Moa, who was rated the No. 45 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class by 247 Sports composite, flipped his commitment from Tennessee to Utah during the early signing period and signed with the Utes.
Moa had enrolled at Utah in early January before entering the transfer portal — now, he won’t last until spring practice at the school.
Instead, Moa will announce where he is committed to next during Friday’s Polynesian Bowl, according to Rivals’ Greg Biggins.
Harlan responded to that announcement on social media platform X, saying, “Well, he was with us in class for a (last)week. Public announcement…seen it all now( probably not).”
Well, he was with us in class for a (last)week. Public announcement…seen it all now( probably not). https://t.co/JT7wE1qG0C
— Mark Harlan (@MarkHarlan_AD) January 16, 2026
It comes as the university deals with the fallout from Kyle Whittingham stepping down as Utah’s head coach, accepting the same position at Michigan and longtime assistant Morgan Scalley taking over the Utes program.
Whittingham’s departure — and arrival in Ann Arbor, Michigan — has led to plenty of coaching and player shakeup at Utah schools, from the Utes to BYU to Utah State, and even at Weber State.
He took several members of Utah’s coaching staff with him to Michigan, as well as multiple players who entered the portal and announced their commitment to the Wolverines.
According to CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer, Moa entered the transfer portal with a “do not contact” designation, which “typically signifies a player knows where he’ll transfer to upon entry.”
It’s widely believed that Moa will also commit to Michigan — that will be known Friday night during the Polynesian Bowl, which will air beginning at 7 p.m. MST on NFL Network.
Harlan’s tweet drew plenty of responses on social media, including many that jokingly referenced his post-game rant after the 2024 BYU-Utah game.
It was a popular enough topic on X that the social media platform created a trending news thread about the response.
The current college landscape — and how name, image, likeness and revenue share have forever changed collegiate sports — has been in the spotlight recently.
That was especially true earlier in January when Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. entered the transfer portal days after signing a contract worth a reported $4.7 million with the school, per CBS Sports.
With threats of legal action over a breach of contract, within 48 hours Williams announced on Instagram he was returning to Washington in 2026.
The college football transfer portal window, which opened on Jan. 2, will close Friday.
While players who wish to transfer must enter the portal by Friday’s deadline, they are free to commit to a new school anytime after the window closes.
Category: General Sports
