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Rex comes from a Cougar tight end heritage since his dad, Byron Rex, played the position in Provo in 1986 and 1989-92 (86 receptions, 1,223 yards and seven touchdowns in his career). Isaac Rex burst onto the scene in 2020, becoming a favorite target of then-BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, especially near the end zone. Isaac Rex had 37 receptions for 429 yards with 12 TDs last fall. Now he's looking to maintain that level of performance with a new quarterback tossing the ball around. "I'm just going to go out there and do the same thing, just play my game and help out the team as much as possible," Isaac Rex said. "I'm not going to put too much stress on it. There is obviously more pressure than there was last year, since I was thrown into kind of a weird spot with Matt (Bushman) getting hurt. It's going to be different having a year under my belt and honestly I feel like I will be more confident with the playbook and playing my game. I'm excited." He feels like he won't have to shoulder all of the load himself, given the guys that are around him. "We have so many weapons and we've got a million tight ends," Isaac Rex said. "It's going to be hard to cover us all or focus specifically on one person. I'm really glad I have a great supporting cast around me and a great team overall." - Daily Herald

(DS#19 TE) rSr/2024

TE Isaac Rex, Brigham Young
News Source: Daily Herald
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07/05/21 - Gunner Romney, rSr/2023, Brigham Young, 6-2, 183 (DS#82 WR) + More +

It got to the point last season that all BYU passing game coordinator Fesi Sitake could do was laugh. "I get it when it happens two times a year, but literally every game there were about two catches...some things just aren't meant to be," Sitake joked. "There are things in this life I try and I push and it's just not meant to be and I give up. These guys probably know 'you know what, it's just not meant for me to score touchdowns." BYU wide receiver Gunner Romney was responsible for the second-most receiving yards, but only got across the goal line twice. Chalk it up to bad luck or whatever you'd like - Romney was constantly stopped just short of the end zone.

Now that star receiver Dax Milne has left Provo for the pro ranks, and with a pair of top transfers coming in, what does Romney have to do to become the Cougars' go-to wideout? Sitake said it'll be nothing big. First, Romney will just have to make sure to string together an entire season. "He had a couple little nagging things that kept him out last year, but if he can string together a full season, that production will take care of itself," Sitake said. "He just needs to continue to get a little faster, a little bigger, a little stronger, a little more IQ at his position." Romney sat out two games last season and had limited production in a few other games due to minor injuries. Otherwise, he put up big numbers - except in the form of touchdowns. In the 10 games Romney played and started in, the junior had 767 receiving yards on 39 receptions for an average of 19.7 yards per reception. - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#82 WR) rSr/2023

WR Gunner Romney, Brigham Young
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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06/24/21 - Payton Wilgar, rSr/2023, Brigham Young, 6-3, 230 (DS#46 OLB) + More +

The Cougars lost not only the biggest leader in the linebacker room but one of the biggest leaders on the team in Isaiah Kaufusi, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts in May. But Clune isn't worried much. The first-year coach sees Keenan Pili and Payton Wilgar as the emerging leaders of the group. While the pair aren't super vocal in their newfound leadership roles, they set "great examples of hard work," Clune said. Pili said the new role was something that just came onto his shoulders.

"Obviously we had amazing leaders last year," Pili said. "Isaiah Kaufusi, we kind of looked up to him. That mentality was just tossed down to the next level and we're willing to step up and do what we can." Although the group lost one of the team's biggest leaders, they didn't lose much more top talent. The linebacker group returned a lot of experience. After Pili and Wilgar, the next men up are Max Tooley and Ben Bywater and are followed by some young, slightly unproven, but promising talent like Joh Wilson, Tavita Gagnier and Drew Jensen, among others. - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#46 OLB) rSr/2023

OLB Payton Wilgar, Brigham Young
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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06/21/21 - Jaren Hall, rJr/2023, Brigham Young, 6-0, 207 (DS#11 QB) + More +

So far in Hall's career, it has been getting hurt that has limited his opportunities the most. He missed all of last year, although he said last week that he's fine now. "You can't play worrying about injuries or else bad things continue to happen," Hall said. Not only that, he also said he is trying to be as proactive as he can be to give himself the best chance to stay on the field. "I'm taking a new approach," Hall said. "I've been reading books and learning from some of the best athletes in the world - the Tom Bradys, the Lebron Jameses - about how they stay healthy. I'm applying it, having a better diet consistently, having a good routine leading up to fall camp. I'm developing a better foundation for my body to maintain it all season long."

He said he started the process six months ago and is seeing the difference. "Getting healthy from my hip injury and with a lot of the changes I've made, it's been pretty eye-opening," Hall said. Hall added that he has an extra reason to stay fit. He's got to be ready to carry a newborn baby around, which he and his wife are expecting to arrive in the next couple of week. When it comes to football, Hall said he is focused on improving his all-around game. "It's about making all the plays, all the throws," Hall said. "It's taking all the abilities I have on the field and making those plays a little more effortless, make them come a little more smoothly. It's not necessarily doing something new but making everything come more fluidly." - Daily Herald

(DS#11 QB) rJr/2023 QB Jaren Hall, Brigham Young
News Source: Daily Herald
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06/10/21 - Baylor Romney, rJr/2024, Brigham Young, 6-1, 195 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Now that offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Aaron Roderick has had time to process the work his players accomplished over the course of spring practices, the only thing that is clear is that nothing is clear. The quarterback battle is ridiculously tight between Baylor Romney, Jaren Hall and Jacob Conover - and it won't be decided anytime soon. But really, that's the best situation the Cougars could have found themselves after losing former starter Zach Wilson to the NFL Draft and New York Jets. Any one of the three candidates can find himself leading the offense come Sept. 4 when BYU opens the 2021 season against Arizona.

And Roderick is of the same mindset. "The biggest takeaway [from spring practices] is that I have three good players," Roderick said. "It's really, really tight competition between Jaren and Baylor and Jacob Conover...I think we can win games with any of those three - I have a lot of confidence in them. And so, that would be my biggest takeaway, that the quarterback position is in good hands right now and it's going to take a little more time to sort it out. But I really feel good about the group." - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#999 QB) rJr/2024

QB Baylor Romney, Brigham Young
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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04/17/21 - Gerry Bohanon, rSr/2025, Brigham Young, 6-2, 225 (DS#43 QB) + More +

Junior Gerry Bohanon and sophomore Jacob Zeno are the top candidates for the job while redshirt freshman Blake Shapen and incoming freshman Kyron Drones are up and coming quarterbacks who will likely play supporting roles. Neither Bohanon nor Zeno took many snaps last year after seeing some playing time in Baylor's 2019 Sugar Bowl season when Brewer went out with injuries. They're both eager to prove themselves this spring. "The only way I know how to do it is to give it a true competition," Bell said. "So every single rep, everything we do in the offseason, everything we do in the weight room, everything we do from throwing the ball to handing off the ball, everything's a competition. I think they feel that, and I think that excites them."

Entering his fourth year on the squad, Bohanon is the most experienced of a relatively inexperienced group. He's shown a solid arm, but at 6-3 and 221 pounds he's mainly exhibited powerful running skills. In 2019, Bohanon carried 42 times for 272 yards and three touchdowns while also hitting 17 of 36 passes for 187 yards and two scores. "I try to bring energy," Bohanon said. "I want everybody to know when I'm out there, I'm going to bring excitement, I'm going to do what's best for the team, I'm going to make the right decision. I want them to be confident in me. I want to show that I'm confident in what I can do." Bohanon is excited to play in new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes' wide zone offense and likes what Bell brings to the table as quarterbacks coach. "Coach Bell is a really good coach," Bohanon said. "Every day, he's pushing everybody to be the best, he's always on top with the smallest things you pay attention to. He cares about our success as an individual and as a player." - Waco Tribune Herald

(DS#43 QB) rSr/2025

QB Gerry Bohanon, Brigham Young
News Source: Waco Tribune Herald
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04/07/21 - Isaiah Bagnah, rSr/2025, Brigham Young, 6-3, 256 (DS#128 DE) + More +

Boise State STUD Isaiah Bagnah was drawn to the blue turf in Albertsons Stadium long before he ever got a scholarship offer from the Broncos. Bagnah said Boise State was his go-to team when playing NCAA Football on his Xbox because of the uniquely colored turf. These days, the 6-foot-4, 236-pound redshirt sophomore is not only playing on The Blue, but he has a chance to fill one of the most unique positions on the defense. STUD (Stand-up Defensive End) is a position that was once manned by some of the most talented pass rushers in program history, including Curtis Weaver and Jabril Frazier, who is now a graduate assistant for the Broncos. Weaver ranks No. 2 in program history with 34 career sacks, and he signed with the Cleveland Browns last year. "It is exciting. You work hard and you love to see the results of it," Bagnah told reporters on Friday. "All I can do now is keep putting my head down and going to work." Bagnah joined the Broncos' talent-laden 2019 recruiting class, which included quarterback Hank Bachmeier, running back George Holani, safety JL Skinner and fellow STUD Casey Kline. - Idaho Statesman

(DS#128 DE) rSr/2025

DE Isaiah Bagnah, Brigham Young
News Source: Idaho Statesman
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04/01/21 - Kedon Slovis, rSr/2024, Brigham Young, 6-3, 223 (DS#16 QB) + More +

It's from that realization that Slovis opens spring focused on finding his stride ahead of a third collegiate season that could be his last before the NFL comes calling. While Slovis still led the Pac-12 in passing yards (1,921) and touchdowns (17), his development was notably stunted by the circumstances of the pandemic. The shortened season ended on an especially difficult note, as Slovis had three passes intercepted in the Pac-12 title game against Oregon, the last of which ended with him sustaining a shoulder injury. That injury has since healed, and Slovis should have no limitations this spring. The pertinent question now is whether that confidence has returned. "Even though I felt good and I thought I got to a place [in 2020] that would be sustainable for football season, it wasn't really a place that I felt confident as a thrower," Slovis said. "I think more than anything, confidence is everything." So this offseason, Slovis set about rebuilding his own. After training with the same local coach since sixth grade, Slovis began working at the 3DQB training facility in Huntington Beach, where Tom Brady, Drew Brees and other top NFL quarterbacks have fine-tuned their mechanics. - Los Angeles Times

(DS#16 QB) rSr/2024

QB Kedon Slovis, Brigham Young
News Source: Los Angeles Times
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03/27/21 - *Zach Wilson, Jr/2021, Brigham Young, 6-2, 214 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Zach Wilson entered the Indoor Practice Facility wearing headphones and looking cool, calm and collected as he smiled and laughed his way through a few stretches and warm ups during BYU's Pro Day on Friday. Then, he put on a clinic at the Indoor Practice Facility. Wilson never appeared to give NFL reps and scouts a reason for new doubts and bump himself down from the NFL Draft projection boards. In fact, the junior Cougar quarterback seems to have cemented himself as a Top 3 pick. In total, 31 of the NFL's 32 teams were represented in Provo to watch the former Cougars, a record for a BYU Pro Day. The action in the IPF most likely played a hand in the 2021 Draft order.

The lone exception on Friday? The Jacksonville Jaguars and their new coach, Urban Meyer, cementing the notion that the Jags will choose Clemson's Trevor Lawrence with the top pick on April 29. While Wilson was making some warm-up passes, news broke that the San Francisco 49ers made a trade with the Miami Dolphins for the No. 3 pick. The Dolphins were bumped down to No. 12, but, approximately half an hour later, made another trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for the No. 6 pick. It was reported the Eagles would have liked to trade for the No. 3 pick if they could get Wilson. The Niners trade is perceived to be to get a top quarterback, but it's unknown if Wilson will still be available by then. - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#2 QB) Jr/2021

QB *Zach Wilson, Brigham Young
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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03/25/21 - Chris Jackson, rSr/2023, Brigham Young, 5-09, 181 (DS#179 WR) + More +

BYU junior wide receiver Chris Jackson saw limited action in 2020, although he did have receptions in six different games. Five of them went for nice gains, totaling 38 yards. The sixth was one that Jackson would probably love to have back. That was when he tried a little too hard to make a big play at Coastal Carolina and ended up being tagged with a 16-yard loss. But that was in the past, when he was trying to get acclimated to playing Division I college football after transferring from Mount San Antonio College in the midst of pandemic adaptations. Now he feels like he is in a better position to contribute. "Last year I didn't get a chance to do spring ball," Jackson said during Monday's press conference. "This year I do so I have more time to just learn the system and learn how the coaches want me to do things. Last year we had to learn quick because everything was just moving really fast. We had to wear those masks on the helmets and couldn't breathe. It's way better this year." With BYU's top receiver from 2020 - Dax Milne - deciding to head to the NFL, Jackson knows there are opportunities to other players to step up. - Daily Herald

(DS#179 WR) rSr/2023

WR Chris Jackson, Brigham Young
News Source: Daily Herald
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03/25/21 - Atunaisa Mahe, rSr/2024, Brigham Young, 6-0, 305 (DS#98 DT) + More +

Atunaisa Mahe arrived in Provo in 2018 and, after redshirting a year, had a solid freshman season in 2019 - playing in 13 games with two starts - so it only made sense that the West Jordan product would continue to see growth in 2020. Except, Mahe never took the field during the Cougars' historic 2020 season due to an injury, and now has spoken out as to why. As the team was preparing for the 2020 season, the defensive lineman was diagnosed with a venous thrombosis, a blood clot, in his brain. "I just noticed that when I was running, my left side of my arm started getting real numb," Mahe said. "I thought I was just dehydrated. Previously to that, I had had a headache for three days and [then] we were lifting and I just essentially felt a little relief. And so I felt good, we went conditioning afterward." But when Mahe had gotten back home, he said his entire left side of his body shut down. "The only word I could say was 'help,' " Mahe said. Luckily, Mahe's roommate was able to get him to the emergency room and the staff was able to figure things out. What turned out to be even more fortunate for Mahe was, instead of the blood clot being in an artery, which results in a stroke, it was in a vein. Initially, doctors were going to try surgery to remove the blood clot, but decided to try a less invasive technique first and put Mahe on blood thinners. - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#98 DT) rSr/2024

DT Atunaisa Mahe, Brigham Young
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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03/10/21 - Puka Nacua, rJr/2023, Brigham Young, 6-2, 210 (DS#31 WR) + More +

It's only about four miles from Orem High School to LaVell Edwards Stadium but that hasn't resulted in a lot of Tiger football players becoming BYU Cougars. Until now, that is. The only player from the Orem dynasty (four straight state titles in Class 4A and Class 5A) currently on the BYU roster is freshman defensive back Ethan Slade. The Cougars appear to be about to get an influx of Tiger talent (as well as a former Timpview star). The 2018 Utah Valley Football Players of the Year, superstar wide receiver Puka Nacua, announced on his "pukaizded" Instagram account Monday evening that he and his older brother, former Thunderbird receiver Samson Nacua, are both transferring to BYU. Puka Nacua is a sophomore transferring from Washington (16 receptions, 319 yards, 3 TDs in two years), while Samson Nacua is a senior transferring from Utah (82 catches, 1,015 yards, 11 TDs in four years). Slade's reaction to the news on Instagram was a replay that said "LESS GO" Their older brother, Kai Nacua, was a standout safety at BYU and now plays for the San Francisco 49ers. - Daily Herald

(DS#31 WR) rJr/2023

WR Puka Nacua, Brigham Young
News Source: Daily Herald
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03/10/21 - Samson Nacua, rSr/2022, Brigham Young, 6-3, 206 (DS#98 WR) + More +

The worst-kept local secret in college football came to fruition on Monday evening. Brothers Samson and Puka Nacua, wide receiver transfers from the University of Utah and University of Washington, respectively, announced their intention to transfer to BYU. Samson Nacua played in 45 career games for the Utes, hauling in 82 passes for 1,015 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Puka Nacua caught 16 passes for 319 yards and three scores in six games between the 2019 and 2020 seasons. The Nacua brothers arriving in Provo should ease the loss of Dax Milne, who declared for the NFL Draft following a junior season in which he caught 70 passes 1,188 yards and eight touchdowns. - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#98 WR) rSr/2022

WR Samson Nacua, Brigham Young
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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03/04/21 - Uriah Leiataua, rSr/2022, Brigham Young, 6-3, 252 (DS#92 DE) + More +

With the NCAA granting an extra year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors on the BYU football team who played in the 2020 season had to make a choice about whether to return or to move on to the next things in life. Most chose to leave on a high note after the Cougars put together an excellent year but two - defensive lineman Uriah Leiataua and defensive back Jared Kapisi - elected to return. Was it a tough call? Not for Leiataua. "During fall camp last year, I had a really big injury," Leiataua said during a teleconference on Monday. "I broke my leg. (Defensive coordinator) Ilaisa Tuiaki came to me right after it happened and said he wanted me to sit out the rest of the year and that the team would work on getting me a sixth year." The NCAA made things much simpler with its eligibility decision, allowing Leiataua to get back without having to worry about getting the medical hardship waiver. - Daily Herald

(DS#92 DE) rSr/2022

DE Uriah Leiataua, Brigham Young
News Source: Daily Herald
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02/28/21 - Samson Nacua, rSr/2022, Brigham Young, 6-3, 206 (DS#98 WR) + More +

Another University of Utah wide receiver has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, and this one is going to hurt. Samson Nacua, a senior with 45 career games played, entered the transfer portal on Friday afternoon, a source with access to the transfer portal told The Salt Lake Tribune. Nacua is the second depth-chart receiver to leave Utah this month after Bryan Thompson entered the transfer portal on Feb. 2. Thompson, who will be a redshirt sophomore in the fall, announced his commitment to Pac-12 South rival Arizona State on Feb. 18. In those 45 career games, Nacua registered 1,015 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. His five touchdowns in 2018 led the Utes, while his four scores in 2019 were tops among wide receivers. - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#98 WR) rSr/2022

WR Samson Nacua, Brigham Young
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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