Corner JaTravis Broughton Not Returning to Utah Despite Initial Reports

Initial reports indicated that Broughton might return to Utah after withdrawing his name from the transfer portal, in all actuality his withdrawal was due to a name change

On Jan. 3rd, for a short moment, Utah fans around the country were delighted to see that JaTravis Broughton, one of the team’s transfer portal losses, might stay with Utah’s football program.

Initial reports surrounding the debacle on Jan. 3rd said that Broughton had withdrawn from the transfer portal and seemingly intended to recommit to the Utes.

Broughton, a 2023 starting cornerback for the Utes, initially entered the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 7th. One of the most experienced defensive backs on Utah’s 2023 roster, the senior corner played in all of Utah’s 2023 games except one contest against Weber St.

However, any excitement surrounding Broughton’s unexpected return ended after secondary reports detailed a different reality.

As @AMarkhamRivals pointed out, Utah CB JaTravis Broughton has changed his last name.

Part of a technicality, the Broughton entry has been withdrawn from the portal. JaTravis McCloud is in the portal. https://t.co/vlYoybMUNn

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) January 4, 2024

First announced by UteNation’s Alex Markham, in actuality, Broughton withdrew from the transfer portal due to a technicality with changing his legal name.

“I’m told that CB JaTravis Broughton is not coming back to Utah,” Markham wrote in a post on X, “The reports tonight that he is coming back, are due to a technicality with the transfer portal because of his name change.”

Now listed under the name, JaTravis McCloud, Broughton has been re-entered into the transfer portal and is thus not eligible to return to the Utes. McCloud was the original name Broughton used when the Utes recruited him out of high school in 2019.

In his sixth year of collegiate football, Broughton will be a experienced starter for whatever team lands him. However, contrary to initial reports on Jan. 3rd, this will not be the Utes. Broughton is currently being crystal-balled to land at TCU.