Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

The transfer portal dealt the BYU football team a tough blow this past week with two notable contributors opting to offer their talents elsewhere.

Senior receiver Keelan Marion announced his entrance into the portal last Friday with junior linebacker Harrison Taggart making known of his same intention a day later. Both players contributed heavily for the Cougars last season and were expected to help lead the team again during this coming year.

Marion had himself a breakthrough in 2024, logging 24 receptions for 346 yards and a touchdown. The 6-foot, 195 pound UConn transfer also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and was named a first-team All-American Return Specialist by several news outlets, including CBS Sports and Phil Steele.

Taggart, meanwhile, started 12 of the Cougar’s 13 games and played at middle linebacker where he was just one tackle removed from the top spot on the entire team with 69 total tackles. The 6-foot-1, 230 pound Corner Canyon High School product originally signed and played for Oregon before transferring to BYU prior to the 2023 season.

So why opt out just a few months before the start of the 2025 season?

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

Money is always well assumed to be a motivating factor in this crazy Name-Image-and-Likeness (NIL) era, which allows players to sell their personal brand. Players now have the opportunity to market themselves to the highest bidder while preparing themselves for a potential professional career, and who can blame them for doing as much?

Other potential factors involve discontent with the coaching staff, discomfort with the social and academic environment of the program, or a bevy of other things that will be undoubtedly rumored about, but probably not entirely confirmed.

But what is confirmed is that the potential departures of both Marion and Taggart isn’t good news for BYU football and its upcoming 2025 season campaign. Sure, both can opt back in after exploring offers, much like receiver Kody Epps did prior to the 2024 season, but for now it’s likely BYU will have to make do without either, leaving the Cougar coaching staff ardently looking for replacements.

Replacement options

Marion was looked at most to be BYU’s second wide receiver option behind Chase Roberts, expanding on his role of primary slot receiver from a season ago. Marion showcased a shifty and often electric ability to beat an opposing defense throughout the 2024 season and is coming off of an impressive spring practice session with the No. 2 receiver spot all but secured.

The good news is that BYU has some promising options at receiver who look poised to step into Marion’s vacated role.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

Parker Kingston is entering his junior season and has seen significant production as a punt returner evidenced by his two returned punts for touchdowns last season. Operating in a similar role as Marion, the 5-foot-11, 185 pound Roy High School product caught 13 passes last season for 193 yards and a touchdown.

Big things were anticipated from Cody Hagan when he signed as a 4-star prospect from Corner Canyon High School. Just months returned from his mission service for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last season, the 6-foot-1 speedster made waves during fall practices before incurring an injury midway through the season which preempted significant contribution.

Hagan sat out all of spring practices while nursing his soft tissue lower-extremity injury, but if he’s a full-go come fall, he’ll certainly make a strong bid to directly replace Marion. Simply put, the question regarding Hagan isn’t so much ability, but availability.

Other options include sophomore JoJo Phillips (6-5, 205), who played a complementary role at outside receiver throughout this past season and freshman Tei Nacua (6-2, 185), who is the younger brother of Puka Nacua, and is coming off an impressive spring football session.

As for Taggart’s replacement, sophomore Siale Esera is assumed by most to step up in hopes of mirroring or even surpassing Taggart’s production from a season ago.

Hampered with injury since arriving at BYU just prior to the 2023 season, the 6-foot-3, 245 pound Esera stood out big during this spring practice session and subsequently received consistent praise from the Cougar coaching staff. The Timpview product has also seen decent playing time and had several standout plays in BYU’s 36-14 win over Colorado in last year’s Alamo Bowl.

Other options at middle linebacker include sophomore Ace Kaufusi (6-4, 237) and sophomore Miles Hall (6-1, 230), and Choe Bryant-Strother (6-3, 238.)

Cougars embrace a Legend

It wasn’t all bad news for the BYU football team last weekend as top local prospect Legend Glasker announced his commitment to sign with the program on twitter. Glasker is the cousin of Cougar standout linebacker Isaiah Glasker and is a 6-foot-2, 175 pound athlete who was offered by a number of programs including Cal, Colorado State and Hawaii, among several others.

Legend Glasker is likely to play receiver at BYU and will sign as part of the 2026 signing class. According to MaxPreps, Legend Glasker caught 37 passes for 781 yards and 11 touchdowns for Lehi High School last season.