BYU basketball has seen exceptional recruiting success under head coach Kevin Young in Provo. Young has secured top-tier talent such as NBA prospect Egor Demin, alongside promising college athletes like Elijah Crawford and Brody Kozlowski. The start of the Young era at BYU has been outstanding by all measures, fueling anticipation among fans for the upcoming basketball season this fall.
Despite the recent surge in basketball momentum, BYU fans are questioning the state of football at their beloved school. Traditionally a football powerhouse, BYU’s gridiron program has struggled recently with a disappointing 5-7 season, entering the 2024 campaign with subdued expectations. Sportsbooks are setting modest win totals, typically around 4 to 4.5 wins, reflecting uncertainties, particularly at the quarterback position. Unlike the buzz surrounding basketball under Kevin Young, football under Kalani Sitake lacks national excitement.
However, optimism for Cougar football’s future can stem from several factors. First, BYU has a history of resilience and has bounced back from setbacks before. Second, Sitake has shown the ability to recruit and develop talent, which could lead to improvements on the field. Third, the program’s affiliation with the Big 12 Conference promises increased competition and exposure, potentially revitalizing enthusiasm. Ultimately, while recent seasons may not inspire immediate confidence, BYU fans can look ahead with hope that the program will regain its football prominence.
There are a few reasons for optimism that we will roll out at Cougar Sports Insider over the next few weeks, but today we are going to focus in on where everything get started – the recruiting trail.
1. The quality of early commitment continues to get better.
As of now, BYU has secured commitments from seven players, including kicker Will Walker. While Walker had offers only from BYU and Utah State, it’s common for kickers to have fewer offers compared to other positions. Nevertheless, Walker is highly regarded as one of the top kickers from Utah in over a decade. Although kicker commitments may not generate much excitement, securing Walker’s commitment is seen as a strong addition to BYU’s recruiting class.
Apart from the kicker, four out of the six committed players have received scholarship offers from Power Five schools. The exceptions are Sale Fano and Tyler Payne. Fano, a Westlake product, holds offers from Washington State and several Mountain West Conference schools, indicating he’s a recognized prospect. Just a few years ago, defensive prospects without multiple scholarship offers were typical in development scenarios.
Tyler Payne is coming off a spectacular performance at Utah’s Under Armor Next Camp. National Analyst Greg Biggins raved about Payne’s performance. He told ESPN 960’s Ben Criddle that Payne will be in the four-star conversation by the time all is said and done. Payne, the son of former BYU kicker Matt Payne, is the real deal. He led the state of Utah in tackles as a junior last year and is primed to do the same in 2024.
Kelepi Vete, Blake Bryce, Nolan Keeney, and Cale Breslin each received multiple offers from top football programs. Despite Vete’s brother being committed to Stanford, Vete opted for BYU over Stanford. Bryce had offers from Stanford, UCLA, Kansas, NC State, and other major programs. Breslin chose BYU over an offer and official visit from Wisconsin, known for success with big running backs like Harvey Unga. BYU ultimately secured their commitments, which is quite thrilling.
2. And let’s dedicate a little more time to Nolan Keeney
Keeney has all the tools to be a high-level college quarterback. He is 6-4 and 220 pounds, that’s elite size. He moves well with his feet and can make every throw on the field. He has the potential to continue to climb up the quarterback rankings this year. Keeney was hurt for a large chunk of his junior season. He suffered a collarbone injury that caused him to miss most of the regular season. He fought his way back in time for the playoffs and led his team to the championship game before aggravating the shoulder. He’s healthy now and ready to make some noise for Tualatain. He’s also bigger and stronger than he was a year ago. His trajectory continues to point upwards.
BYU initially missed out on early quarterback targets like Grady Adamson, Luke Carney, and Shaker Reisig, which was disappointing, especially Adamson’s departure. It seemed BYU might need to adjust their approach. They reassessed Nolan Keeney and swiftly offered him a scholarship, which he promptly accepted. Since then, Keeney’s 247Sports ranking has improved a few spots, placing him ahead of those earlier targets in the 2025 QB Class. He now ranks 46th among quarterbacks in his class and shows potential for further advancement. This upward trend bodes well for the future of BYU football.
No quarterback is a guaranteed prospect. There is not a more difficult position to project in all of football. But a player with Keeney’s size, arm talent, an upward trajectory, and a clean bill of health going into his senior year? That’s the kind of bet that is easy to feel good about.
3. A strong summer of official visits.
BYU welcomed visits from highly rated recruits like four-star offensive lineman Alai Kalaniuvalu, four-star offensive lineman Aaron Dunn, four-star athlete Micah Matthews, and three-star linebacker Cyrus Polu, marking a robust beginning to the official visit season. While none have committed yet, they also remain uncommitted elsewhere. BYU finds itself in a favorable position at this stage of recruitment. It’s an encouraging situation to be in as they continue their efforts.
4. The biggest official visits are still coming.
BYU has significant official visits lined up for the upcoming week, featuring Nusi Taumoepeau, Lamason Waller, Taani Makasini, Stevie Amar, Jayden Savoury, McKay Madsen, Semi Taulanga, Kendall Wall, and Ulavai Fetuili. These prospects, who are currently uncommitted, represent key targets for the Cougars in this recruiting cycle. Securing any of them would be a substantial boost for BYU.
Optimism surrounds BYU’s chances with several of these players. They have shown long-standing interest in Taumoepeau, Waller enjoys a strong rapport with Fesi Sitake, Madsen expressed BYU as a dream school upon receiving an offer, and Taulanga has a strong connection with Sione Po’uha. All of these recruits hold offers from Power Four programs and would significantly enhance BYU’s recruiting class this year.
Visits aren’t signings, so there is no reason to celebrate yet. But visits aren’t nothing either. Official visits are an important part of the recruiting process. It’s very, very rare that a school can land a commitment without an official visit. It’s not reason for celebration, but it’s reason for optimism, without question.
5. It’s still only June…
As of today, June 14, the recruiting statuses of Ryner Swanson (who committed on June 15 last year), Therrian Alexander (August), Ephraim Asiata (December), Naki Tuakoi (February), Faletau Satuala (January), Devoux Tuataga (September), Kinilau Fonohema (December), Sani Tuala (December), Ikinasio Tupou (December), and Tei Nacua (December) were all uncertain for BYU in the 2024 class. Despite their eventual commitments, which occurred after June 14, these ten highly sought-after players received interest from Power Four programs. This history serves as a reminder that concerns about early June outcomes are premature, as there are still many opportunities for developments in the 2025 class.
6. There are legacy players still in the mix.
Tahj Crutchfield, a three-star cornerback and son of Tony Crutchfield, has recently made several unofficial visits to BYU, including one last week. He is familiar with the BYU program due to his family ties.
On the other hand, Austin Pay, the son of Gary Pay and younger sibling of Connor Pay and Trevor Pay, won’t be making an official visit to BYU over the summer, which initially concerned BYU fans. However, he plans to visit during the season. Austin discussed his plans with Jake Hatch of Locked On Cougars, mentioning his upcoming visit to BYU later in the year. He has already participated in multiple spring practices and engaged with coaches during camps.
There are still reasons to feel optimistic about BYU’s chances of landing Crutchfield and Pay both.
When it comes to football recruiting, the pieces are there. It’s a longer cycle than what basketball has been. Hoops is in the midst of transfer portal bonanza trying to get their 2024 rosters built out. Football’s 2024 rosters are, mostly, in tact already. They are building for 2025. Basketball doesn’t have a single commitment for 2025. The two programs are at different spots in the recruiting calendar. There is no reason not to be excited about the future of basketball, but football’s future looks promising too.
The Cougars are recruiting better today than they have in the last decade. They still have work to do in order to compete for a Big 12 Championship but they are recruiting better than they ever have. They are in a strong spot given where they are in the recruiting calendar and could really start to see the momentum pick up in the coming days and weeks. BYU is on the right track.
