Former Utah running back Devonta’e Henry-Cole officially joins Utah State program

Utah Utes running back Devonta’e Henry-Cole (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on a pass from quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) against Washington State at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — The official word is out: former Utah running back Devonta’e Henry-Cole will play for Utah State this fall, if there is a season.

Henry-Cole joins the Aggie program as a graduate transfer and is immediately eligible, with one year of eligibility remaining, Utah State announced Wednesday.

He previously had signed with BYU as a graduate transfer, joining the Cougars’ 2020 recruiting class, but a source confirmed to the Deseret News’ Jay Drew on July 20 he was seeking a release from his national letter of intent with BYU.

Henry-Cole had 469 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 90 carries during his time at Utah, which included a redshirt season. He graduated from Utah in April with a degree in sociology.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound running back will join former Ute teammate and quarterback Jason Shelley at Utah State. Shelley transferred to the USU program earlier this offseason and is immediately eligible, with two years left to play. Not long after Shelley transferred to Utah State, Henry Colombi, the most experienced candidate to replace NFL first-round draft pick Jordan Love at quarterback, entered the transfer portal and is headed to Texas Tech, where he’ll be reunited with former Aggie coach Matt Wells.

Henry-Cole joins a Utah State backfield that is returning fellow senior Jaylen Warren, who rushed for 569 yards and five touchdowns last season in his first year with the Aggies program as a JUCO transfer from Snow College.

Henry-Cole’s addition to the USU program is the latest recent transfer from the University of Utah. In addition to Shelley this year, tight end Caleb Repp, wide receiver Siaosi Mariner and linebacker Nick Heninger joined the Aggies last season as graduate transfers.

Both Repp (Atlanta Falcons) and Mariner (Las Vegas Raiders) signed NFL undrafted free agents deals in the spring, while Heninger will play his final college season at USU, after amassing 32 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble last year for the Aggies.

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