BYU's Future at Quarterback is Coming Into Focus

The Cougars picked up a quarterback commitment on Sunday evening

On Sunday, BYU picked up a commitment from Arizona quarterback prospect Enoch Watson. The Cougars also wrapped up an official visit with coveted quarterback Maealiuaki Smith. With Watson on board, BYU's future at quarterback is coming in to focus. Today, we'll break down where BYU's future at quarterback stands as of today.

We already know where BYU's quarterback situation stands for 2023: Kedon Slovis will be the starter. After 2023, the starting job will be up for grabs. 

2024 BYU Quarterbacks

Credit: BYU Photo

For the purposes of this article, we'll only list the scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. While BYU has some preferred walk-ons that could eventually factor in, history suggests the scholarship quarterbacks will likely start for the Cougars. Here is a list of the scholarship quarterbacks that are currently slated to be on the roster in 2024:

1. Cade Fennegan
2. Jake Retzlaff 
3. Ryder Burton

Mission plans are personal and can always change, but as of today, it is anticipated that Enoch Watson will serve a mission and join the program for the 2026 season. Therefore, even with Watson in the fold, BYU is in the market for a quarterback that can join the program in 2024. As of this writing, BYU's top target is Maealiuaki Smith. Smith is extremely talented and he could be the future at quarterback if he picks BYU. In fact, he's talented enough to win the job outright as a freshman.

If BYU went into the 2024 season with those three at quarterback, Jake Retzlaff would compete with Cade Fennegan and Ryder Burton for the starting job. Retzlaff was brought in with the expectation that he could be the guy in 2024, but don't count out Ryder Burton. Burton has all the physical tools to be BYU's starter if he can master the playbook and get up to speed.

If BYU misses out on some of its top high school targets like Maealiuaki Smith, the Cougars could look to the transfer portal to find another quarterback.

2025 BYU Quarterbacks

Jake Retzlaff has three years to play two, meaning he has two seasons of eligibility and a redshirt available. If Retzlaff uses his redshirt in 2023, he will be on the roster in 2025. If Slovis goes down with an injury and Retzlaff is forced into action in 2023, Retzlaff will be a senior come 2024. Here is what the quarterback situation is looking like for 2025:

1. Cade Fennegan
2. Jake Retzlaff (Barring 2023 redshirt)
3. Ryder Burton

BYU will need another quarterback or two on the roster by 2025. That's one reason why signing a play-first quarterback in 2024 is a priority.

2026 BYU Quarterbacks

By 2026, Cade Fennegan and Jake Retzlaff will be graduated. BYU has two quarterbacks in the pipeline that will be on the roster in 2026:

1. Ryder Burton
2. Enoch Watson

Enoch Watson will be a freshman in 2026 and working his way back after serving a mission.

In the transfer portal era, quarterback rooms across college football will look very different every season. Finding some continuity through the high school ranks and developing players in the program will still be a vital ingredient to long-term success. That's why BYU's 2024 quarterback class is so important.

If recent history is any indication, BYU will find playmakers at quarterback as long as Aaron Roderick is leading the offense. After all, the last two quarterbacks have been drafted and Kedon Slovis is a candidate to be drafted in 2024. If Roderick can start to land recruits like Maealiuaki Smith, there's no reason why BYU can't continue its recent quarterback success.

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