BYU Extends Five Offers to Transfer Wide Receivers

Hours be fore the transfer window closed, BYU starting wide receiver Kody Epps surprised many when he entered the transfer portal. BYU was already thin at wide receiver, making the loss of Epps even more meaningful as BYU prepares to join the Big 12 conference. After Spring camp, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said BYU was short as many as three or four scholarship wide receivers, and that was before Epps entered the portal.

When asked if there was a need to add receivers from the transfer portal, Roderick said, "Yes, but I want to make sure everyone knows that it's not because we're not happy with who we have. Our numbers are down right now, we don't have as many receivers in the room. We actually have three, maybe four scholarships available there that we haven't used yet. I don't think we'll use all of them, but we'll probably use a couple of them to bolster that room with depth."

It's possible that Epps could explore his options and decide to return to BYU, but if BYU's recruiting focus is any indication, the coaching staff is not expecting him back in 2023. On Monday, BYU offered five scholarships to wide receiver transfer in the transfer portal. Before Epps' departure, BYU was in the market for another wide receiver or two. The bar has been raised, however, as BYU will need to find at least two wide receivers: a starting-caliber player and another player to round out the depth at wide receiver, and perhaps more. Here are the five transfers that received BYU offers on Monday.

1. EJ Horton - Marshall

Last season, Horton finished with 245 receiving yards and a touchdown. He has received competing offers from the likes of Mississippi State, Colorado, Cal, and Liberty among others since entering the transfer portal.

I will be entering the portal on the 15th.. 6’1 180 4.3 40 can play all special teams @RivalsPortal pic.twitter.com/cXuWSIHfjC
— Ej Horton (@_IssaLilGoat) April 9, 2023

2. Keelan Marion - UConn

Keelan Marion was a sophomore at UConn last season. Marion was limited due to injury in 2022 and only tallied 89 receiving yards. In 2021 as a freshman, Marion racked up 474 yards on 28 catches including 5 touchdowns. Marion also returned punts and kicks on occasion for the Huskies.

3. Chance Morrow - Louisville

6'6 wide receiver Chance Morrow was a true freshman at Louisville last season. He didn't register any stats, but he was a coveted recruit coming out of high school. Morrow reported offers from Oklahoma, Miami, Ohio State, and Notre Dame before signing with Louisville.

BYU is his best offer since entering the transfer portal. He reports competing offers from Charlotte, Buffalo, Rhode Island, and some other small schools.

Javon Antonio - Northwestern State

Javon Antonio is a grad transfer from Northwestern State with one year of eligibility remaining. Since entering the portal, he has received offers from the likes of Georgia Tech, Colorado, Washington State, and Boston College among others.

One year grad transfer https://t.co/O6djYic4Y6 pic.twitter.com/HnrT9aKLD4
— ♈️on 4️⃣javon antonio (@7asavage) April 10, 2023

Elijah Smoot - UT Martin

BYU is the first Power Five school to offer UT Martin transfer Elijah Smoot since entering the transfer portal. Smoot has competing offers from UConn, Toledo, Liberty, ECU, and WKU. Smoot has one year of eligibility remaining. Smoot finished with 508 receiving yards in 2022.

Earlier WR Offers

This weekend, BYU hosted Eastern Michigan wide receiver Darius Lassiter for an official visit. Lassiter is the type of player that could replace Epps' production and compete for a starting spot. BYU identified another transfer on Sunday who could come in and start right away. BYU offered North Texas transfer Jyaire Shorter. Shorter has over 1,300 receiving yards in his career and he is coming off a career high 628 receiving yards in 2022. Shorter is a true deep threat - he averaged 27.3 yards per reception last season. Shorter has competing offers from Purdue and UCF.

BYU also extended an offer to Colorado transfer wide receiver Chase Sowell. Sowell spent just one season at Colorado before entering the transfer portal. He has four seasons of eligibility remaining. As of this article, BYU is Sowell's only Power Five offer. He has received competing offers from ECU, Charlotte, Kent State, UConn, North Texas, and Texas State since entering the transfer portal.

Stay tuned for more transfer portal updates in the coming weeks.

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