Gordon Monson: Here are the 25 most important athletes in the state of Utah

Who are the 25 — or 27, including a couple of ties — most notable athletes in the state of Utah right now? And by notable, I mean some magical mix of outstanding, watchable, talented, impactful, important to their team or sport or fan base, famous, infamous, and/or popular. Go ahead and argue over it. The criteria indeed is vague, undefined and unspecific enough to make room for nearly anyone’s and everyone’s opinion.

If I missed somebody, or somebodies, forgive me — and debate me — for I know not that I have sinned.

Regardless, here’s my list, ranked in inverted order:

25. Connor Mantz. Mantz is a former BYU runner who during his college career won national championships in cross country. He then moved on to running marathons and other distance races. He finished first at the 2024 U.S. Olympic marathon trials, and set an American record at the 2025 Houston half marathon, breaking a mark that had stood for 18 years. At the recent Boston Marathon, Mantz ran the second-fastest time ever for an American on that course, finishing fourth overall.

24. Hunter Woodhall. An athlete who attended Syracuse High School, becoming a top track competitor there, going on to win medals in the men’s 400 meters at the Summer Paralympics, a bronze in 2020 and a gold in 2024. He’s won other medals at various world events. His story is remarkable, made that way in part by the fact that he had both of his legs amputated as an infant due to a condition that made that measure necessary. He runs on blades, runs fast on blades, and is an international star.

23. (tie) Isaiah Glasker and Lander Barton. The BYU and Utah linebackers are both stellar defenders for their respective teams, Glasker having been named an honorable mention All-American by Sports Illustrated for the 2024 season and Barton following in his brothers’ footsteps as a standout at Utah. Glasker led the Cougars in total tackles with 70, 42 of them unassisted, and Barton led the Utes with 72.

22. Chase Roberts. BYU’s 6-4, 210-pound receiver caught 52 passes in 2024 for 854 yards, four touchdowns, and a 16.4 average. A number of Roberts’ receptions came at pivotal moments on pivotal downs to keep pivotal drives alive last season, helping the Cougars to their 11-2 record. He’s appeared to be something of a security blanket for BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff, and is projected to play a huge role for the Cougars in the 2025 season.

21. Avery Neff. A highly-touted gymnastics recruit for the Utes, Neff battled through a freshman season, overcoming injuries, to help Utah get to the NCAA finals. And her future as a Ute looks even brighter, a name to keep an eye on in the seasons ahead.

20. Rob Wright III. The point guard caused a Big 12 storm when he transferred from Baylor to BYU after a freshman season when he averaged 11.5 points and 4.2 assists for the Bears. As for BYU, Wright will fill the hole left by Egor Demin, bound to be a first-round pick in the coming NBA draft. Wright seemed to indicate that BYU presented a better opportunity to prepare him for a future as a pro, which rankled some in the Baylor program that fairly regularly sends players to the NBA. Either way, the Cougars are happy to have him.

19. Keanu Tanuvasa. The former Utah defensive tackle also caused a stir when he recently announced his transfer to BYU for reasons that are his own, spanning from religious to connection to certain Cougar coaches to NIL money. This upset more than a few Utah fans and pleased BYU fans, all of which lifted Tanuvasa’s profile to a level that will command the attention of many college football fans inside and outside the state.

18. Isaiah Collier. A Jazz up-and-comer who would be more up-and-arrived if he knew how to shoot straight and play a little defense. He doesn’t — not yet, anyway — but in his rookie season he was a relative bright spot for a team that had committed the endeavor to 1) developing whatever talent it had that had not already established itself, and 2) losing games for draft positioning. Two points there — the Jazz were, in fact, lousy, and Collier did develop. Just not his shooting accuracy, not from distance. When he put up a 3-point shot, he made fewer than one in four of them. But the point guard can pass, he does that first, averaging 6.6 assists. He’s bound to get better in that regard, and in his shot attempts, the Jazz hope, if he’s given the opportunity to do so.

17. Delaney Gibb. BYU’s freshman guard did more than make a name for herself in her first college hoops season, she caught the attention of every opposing coach and nearly every opposing player, being voted the Big 12’s freshman of the year. She was the league’s freshman of the week 10 times, averaging 17.4 points, a BYU freshman record. She led the Cougars in scoring in 19 of 30 games, and in assists in 17 games. Her future is beyond promising.

16. Spencer Fano. If quarterback is the most important position on the football field, the guy who keeps him safe isn’t far behind. That’s why this 6-foot-6 lineman from Timpview is so important to Kyle Whittingham and the Utes as they look to rebound from a rough 2024. Fano has all of the size and skills to be a first-round NFL draft pick a year from now.

15. Lindsey Vonn. The 40-year-old alpine skier who lives in Park City came out of retirement this past season, becoming the oldest woman in her sport to podium in a World Cup race, finishing second in a Super-G event. The list of her accomplishments in skiing is exhaustive, including World Cup championships and an Olympic gold medal. She hopes to be a part of the U.S. Olympic team next year in Italy before easing off into the sunset, although she’ll continue to be an advocate for female athletes and their sports.

14. Tony Finau. The kid who used to hit golf balls in his garage into a mattress hung on the wall because of financial limitations is now 35 years old, a PGA Tour veteran. It’s been a while since Finau has made a splash on tour, what with just one top 10 finish thus far in 2025, but the SLC native is still followed by golf fans here. Finau has earned just shy of $45 million in official money. No telling how much he’s made off the course. Not bad.

13. Richie Saunders. Everybody around here, BYU basketball fan or not, is familiar with the whole Tater Tot sensation. Saunders, who was named an All-Big 12 player this past season, advancing his talents from his sophomore to junior year in a major way, became something of a darling during the NCAA Tournament, leading the Cougars to the Sweet 16 for the first time since Jimmer Fredette did that in 2011. In the midst of averaging 16.5 points, Saunders signed an NIL deal with Ore-Ida, the company that came up with the Tater Tot in the 1950s, a potato product that was in part conjured by Saunders’ great-grandfather, F. Nephi Griggs. It got to the point where a Tater Tot truck circled the Marriott Center, and the Cougars ate, as a part of their dietary protocol, the food item that was discovered as it was first made from leftover potato scraps at the Ore-Ida plant. Saunders recently announced he will return to BYU for his senior season.

12. Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley (tied). Guenther just turned 22 and has a promising future for Utah Hockey Club, having scored 27 goals and totaling 33 assists in 2024-25. The RW has a lightning-quick shot, which makes him difficult to defend and fun to watch. He signed an eight-year deal with UHC in September. Cooley is 20 and scored 25 goals last season for Utah Hockey Club. He’s in line for a big contract this summer.

11. Devon Dampier. There’s a chance this ranking might be a bit low for the new Utah quarterback, given his multifaceted skills — running and throwing — and, on the other hand, arm or foot, it might be too high, considering he’s never played a down for the Utes, having made his name in the Mountain West with the New Mexico Lobos last season before transferring. Either way, the spotlight will burn bright and hot on Dampier. The Utes badly need a quarterback who can lift an offense that needs lifting. That could be enough to jolt Utah football back to doing what it usually does, what it’s expected to do — win a whole lot more than it loses.

10. Clayton Keller. Utah Hockey Club’s captain and leading scorer during the 2024-25 season, the RW got 30 goals and 60 assists. Keller is an NHL All-Star, at the age of 26 and at a mere 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds. He already has hit the 500-point milestone, reaching that mark against Winnipeg at the Delta Center in April.

9. Jordan Clarkson. Here’s an athlete who in the later stages of his career has more charisma than most at any stage, and even after a season that was shortened by a foot injury, Clarkson stayed connected to fans. They just plain like the dude. His jersey outsells every other Jazz player. And his usefulness would be boosted if he played for a decent team that favored winning over development and tanking. He averaged 16.2 points in 2024-25, playing in just 37 games. His Filipino heritage on his mother’s side has made him a basketball sensation in that country.

8. Karel Vejmelka. The Czech goaltender was a pleasant surprise in the Utah Hockey Club’s inaugural season here, allowing 2.58 goals with a save percentage of .904. He was rewarded for that effort in March with a five-year contract, meaning he’ll likely be around for a while. Good goaltending is highly valued in the NHL, making goalies if not stars, centerpieces for any emerging or established team.

7. Walker Kessler. One thing the 7-foot Jazz center has proved is that he’s a valuable piece of his team’s future — unless, of course, the Jazz get a better offer in trade from another outfit. But Kessler had a fine most recent season, scoring 11.1 points per game, hauling 12.2 rebounds, blocking 2.4 shots, and passing for 1.7 assists. He also made 66.3 percent of his own shots.

6. Jake Retzlaff. Plays the most important position in all of team sports for BYU football, the quarterback having led the Cougars to their stellar 11-2 season in 2024, establishing them as a legitimate presence in the Big 12. It is said — believe it if you want — that had Retzlaff been healthier toward the end of the season, BYU might have won all of its games.

5. Ally Sentnor. She is a big fish in what some might see as a smaller pond. The No. 1 pick in the college draft a year ago, she lights up highlight-reel goals for the Utah Royals. Sentnor’s without question the most talented player in the franchise, and one of the best female players on God’s soccer-ball-kicking planet. She attempts all kinds of wild stuff as either a forward or midfielder out on the pitch and is a gas to watch.

4. Mikhail Sergachev. The man’s won two Stanley Cups, is the top defenseman on the Utah Hockey Club, was traded to Utah and might have brought a negative vibe along with him, but did the opposite, helping the Club at least contend for a playoff spot this past season. He kills penalties effectively and is what amounts to an unofficial quiet captain on a team that needs his kind of leadership.

3. Diego Luna. Real Salt Lake’s best player is taking off on the world stage, a 21-year-old MLS All-Star who’s willing to take risks to create a double-shot of excitement and excellence on the pitch. Not intimidated by either his young age or diminutive size, Luna is a brave player who’s tough to get the ball away from. He won’t outrace anyone in open space, but he can out-quick folks in the penalty box. Moreover, the player has some splash and panache to him, hanging out at Coachella, and brought in by Disney for a promotion for its Star Wars series “Andor” on account of an actor in said series who shares his same name. Apparently, there was room for two Diego Lunas on that stage. He’s the face of RSL.

2. Lauri Markkanen. He’s the frontline player on the Jazz, an NBA All-Star who would continue to advance his game even more if the Jazz turned him loose in an authentic effort to … you know, actually win games. Although pleasant, Markkanen blows nobody away with an outgoing personality, but he’s simply one of the best, if not the absolute best, pro athlete around these parts.

1. AJ Dybantsa. OK, this young guy is the country’s top basketball prospect. He hasn’t played a single game for BYU yet, but when an athlete is projected by respected analysts to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, an athlete who has looked as skilled and determined and promising as Dybantsa has in the prep ranks, as well as in assorted elite camps, and created this kind of buzz, he gets the nod for the top spot here. He’ll either prove to be an outrageous disappointment or, more likely, show everyone what he’s capable of doing and being. However it turns out, all eyes will be and are on him.

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