An Early Look at the 2021 BYU Football Roster
On signing day, BYU announced their 2021 signing class that consisted of 16 players - most of which will serve missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints before they enroll at BYU. They also announced those returned missionaries and gray shirts that will be part of the 2021 roster. Let's take an early look at the 2021 BYU football roster by position:
*Note: This roster includes returning players, scholarship newcomers, and 2021 PWO newcomers. It might exclude PWO returned missionaries.
Wide Receivers
Returned Missionaries (Number, Name)
- TBD Chase Roberts
Transfers (Number, Name)
NA
Returning Players (Number, Name)
- 85 Brayden Cosper
- 36 Talmage Gunther
- 84 Tevita Ika
- 86 Keanu Hill
- 2 Neil Pau'u
- 18 Gunner Romney
- 0 Kody Epps
- 22 Chris Jackson
- 1 Terence Fall
- 15 Kade Moore
- 13 Joe Nelson
- 26 Hobbs Nyberg
- 31 Jacob Boren
2021 Signees
- TBD Quenton Rice
Other Newcomers
- TBD Maguire Anderson
TBD Tanner Wall
TBD Nick Nethercott
Most of the wide receivers are returning for the 2021 season with the exception of Dax Milne. Milne declared for the NFL Draft following a 1,100+ yard season in 2020.
BYU will welcome home Chase Roberts who was a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school. I have 2021 signee Quenton Rice listed as a wide receiver, he could end up playing defensive back.
Offensive Line
Returned Missionaries (Number, Name)
- TBD Brock Gunderson
- TBD Campbell Barrington
- TBD Tysen Lewis
Transfers (Number, Name)
NA
Returning Players (Number, Name)
- 56 Clark Barrington
- 66 James Empey
- 71 Blake Freeland
- 75 JT Gentry
- 64 Brayden Keim
- 76 Harris LaChance
- 61 Keanu Saleapaga
- 63 Joe Tukuafu
- 68 Mo Unutoa
- 65 Chandler Bird
- 70 Connor Pay
- 72 Seth Willis
2021 Signees
- TBD Dylan Rollins
- TBD Elia Migao
Other Newcomers
- NA
BYU loses multiple starters along the offensive line. Newcomers aren't usually expected to play right away on the OL, but I had Elia Migao in my way-too-early two-deep a few weeks ago.
Running Backs
Returned Missionaries (Number, Name)
- TBD Oliver Nasilai
Transfers (Number, Name)
- NA
Returning Players (Number, Name)
- 25 Tyler Allgeier
- 20 Sione Finau
- 4 Lopini Katoa
- 21 Jackson McChesney
- 29 Chase Wester
- 19 Miles Davis
- 7 Hinckley Ropati
- 30 Luc Andrada
- 43 Theo Dawson
- 45 Chase Wester
2021 Signees
- NA
Other Newcomers
- TBD Austin Bell
BYU returns every running back in 2021 and they will add a few more faces to the fold. Austin Bell is a talented PWO out of Corner Canyon, and Oliver Nasilai is a very physical player that could play either running back or linebacker.
Tight Ends
Returned Missionaries (Number, Name)
- TBD Ethan Erickson
- TBD Donovan Hanna
- TBD Dallin Holker
Transfers (Number, Name)
NA
Returning Players (Number, Name)
- 83 Isaac Rex
- 32 Hank Tuipulotu
- 13 Masen Wake
- 96 Carter Wheat
- 82 Bentley Hanshaw
- 35 Ben Tuipulotu
2021 Signees
NA
Other Newcomers
NA
BYU will have a lot of young and talented tight ends on the 2021 roster. Isaac Rex was great in 2020, and players like Wheat, Tuipulotu, and Wake all showed flashes as well. BYU welcomes back Dallin Holker from his mission, Holker will immediately compete for a spot in the two-deep if he can shake off mission rust..
Quarterbacks
Returned Missionaries (Number, Name)
NA
Transfers (Number, Name)
NA
Returning Players (Number, Name)
- 3 Jaren Hall
- 17 Jacob Conover
- 19 Rhett Reilly
- 16 Baylor Romney
- 10 Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters
- 10 Mason Fakahua
2021 Signees
NA
Other Newcomers
NA
The storyline of the offseason will be the battle for starting quarterback. BYU has two quarterbacks with game experience in Jaren Hall and Baylor Romney, and a four-star QB in Jacob Conover who turned heads as the scout team QB last Fall.
Linebackers
Returned Missionaries (Number, Name)
- TBD Isaac Matua
- TBD Talan Alfrey
- TBD Michael Daley
Transfers (Number, Name)
NA
Returning Players (Number, Name)
- 33 Ben Bywater
- 17 Matthew Criddle
- 46 Drew Jensen
- 38 Jackson Kaufusi
- 41 Keenan Pili
- 94 Kade Pupunu
- 31 Max Tooley
- 49 Payton Wilgar
- 47 Pepe Tanuvasa
- 52 Josh Wilson
- 59 Truman Andrus
- 55 Chase Hughes
- 37 Malakai Fakahua
- 52 Preston Lewis
2021 Signees (Number, Name)
NA
Other Newcomers (Number, Name)
NA
The linebackers will be one of the most experienced group in 2021. BYU needs players like Payton Wilgar, Keenan Pili, and Max Tooley to become the leaders of the 2021 defense.
Defensive Line
Returned Missionaries (Number, Name)
- TBD Cade Albright
- TBD Brooks Maile
- TBD Bruce Mitchell
Transfers (Number, Name)
NA
Returning Players (Number, Name)
- 92 Tyler Batty
- 55 Lorenzo Fauatea
- 44 Seleti Fevaleaki
- 97 Solofa Funa
- 73 Caden Haws
- 21 Hirkley Latu
- 58 Uriah Leiataua
- 94 Freddy Livai
- 62 Atunaisa Mahe
- 88 Alema Pilimai
- 98 Gabe Summers
- 57 Alden Tofa
- 91 Earl Tuioti-Mariner
- 96 Garred Blanthorn
- 59 Fisher Jackson
- 78 Andrew Slack
- 75 JT Gentry
- 48 Alex Muti
2021 Signees
- TBD Enoka Migao
Other Newcomers
- TBD Josh Larsen
- TBD John Nelson
- TBD Joshua Singh
BYU has to replace multiple starters along the defensive line in 2021. BYU needs players like Atunaisa Mahe and Lorenzo Fauatea to progress and fill the void left by four-year starter Khyiris Tonga.
Defensive Backs
Returned Missionaries (Number, Name)
NA
Transfers (Number, Name)
NA
Returning Players (Number, Name)
- 3 Chaz Ah You
- 43 Chapman Baird
- 25 Keenan Ellis
- 27 Tavita Gagnier
- 22 Ammon Hannemann
- 11 Isaiah Herron
- 20 Hayden Livingston
- 0 D'Angelo Mandell
- 12 Malik Moore
- 26 Mitchell Price
- 10 Morgan Pyper
- 7 George Udo
- 29 Shamon Willis
- 15 Caleb Christensen
- 37 Wes Wright
- 5 Micah Harper
- 13 Jacques Wilson
- 10 Javelle Brown
2021 Signees
NA
Other Newcomers
- TBD Dean Jones
On paper, the safety position looks like the biggest need heading into the 2021 season. BYU is still in the market for a transfer portal DB after they missed on Gunner Maldonado.
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