Seven Four-Star Recruits Headline the Newcomers on BYU's 2023 Football Roster
Ever since BYU accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 back in 2021, the coaching staff has worked around the clock to bring more talent into the program. If the last few years is any indication, the recruiting trends are heading in the right direction. As part of this week's Big 12 Media Days, the BYU football program released the first official roster for the 2023 football season. Seven four-star recruits headlined the 58 newcomers on the roster. Of the seven blue-chip recruits, four came from the high school ranks and three came from the transfer portal.
High School Ranks
Four-star tight end Jackson Bowers, who signed with BYU in December, turned down fellow finalists Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Alabama, Auburn, and Ole Miss when he committed to BYU.
Siale Esera, a four-star recruit per Rivals, is a Provo native. Esera committed to hometown BYU over competing offers from the likes of UCLA, Michigan, Utah, Tennessee, Oregon, Stanford, Michigan State, and Nebraska among many others.
Speaking of hometown heroes, former four-star recruit Raider Damuni has returned from his mission. Damuni returned home in time to participate in Spring camp earlier this year. Damuni turned down Utah, Oregon, Nebraska, Wisconsin and many others before signing with BYU.
BYU flipped Texas running back LJ Martin, a four-star recruit per ESPN, from Stanford on signing day. He turned down a host of fellow Big 12 schools Baylor, Texas Tech, Kansas, and Kansas State when he committed to BYU.
These four high school recruits represent incremental improvements for BYU on the recruiting trail. You could argue that BYU wouldn't have landed these three without Big 12 membership and you'd be right. From now on, transfers be an important ingredient to building a college football roster, but the foundation will always be built on high school recruiting.
Transfer Portal
Speaking of transfers, three four-star transfers headlined BYU's 2023 transfer class. BYU's transfer class ranks 21st nationally and third in the Big 12 behind only Oklahoma and TCU.
Aidan Robbins, who transferred from UNLV, ran for more than 1,000 yards last season. Robbins was ranked the second-best transfer running back in the country when he committed to BYU. Robbins is primed to be the starting running back in Provo in 2023.
Defensive back Eddie Heckard, who followed Jay Hill to BYU, picked BYU over a host of Power Five suitors. Heckard will be one of the most important players on BYU's defense in 2023. Heckard turned down NFL opportunities to play his last year of college football at BYU.
The last, but certainly not least, addition to BYU's transfer class was Oregon transfer Harrison Taggart. Taggart was a four-star recruit out of high school when he picked Oregon over a host of Power Five suitors. After one season in Eugene, Taggart entered the transfer portal before committing to BYU. He was rated as a four-star transfer by 247Sports.
Below is a complete list of the newcomers on BYU's 2023 roster.
2023 Signing Class
*Bold font indicates four-star recruit
- 12 - Jake Retzlaff (Quarterback)
- 18 - Ryder Burton (Quarterback)
- 19 - Jojo Phillips (Wide Receiver)
- 27 - LJ Martin (Running Back)
- 29 - Jayden Dunlap (Cornerback)
- 41 - Jackson Bowers (Tight End)
- 42 - Ray Paulo (Tight End)
- 54 - Siale Esera (Linebacker)
- 90 - David Latu (Defensive Tackle)
- - Miles Hall (Linebacker)
2023 Transfers
*Bold font indicates four-star recruit
- 3 - Aidan Robbins (Running Back)
- 5 - Eddie Heckard (Cornerback)
- 5 - Darius Lassiter (Wide Receiver)
- 7 - Kamden Garrett (Cornerback)
- 10 - Kedon Slovis (Quarterback)
- 10 - AJ Vongphachanh (Linebacker)
- 11 - Harrison Taggart (Linebacker)
- 13 - Isaiah Bagnah (Defensive End)
- 17 - Keelan Marion (Wide Receiver)
- 20 - Deion Smith (Running Back)
- 21 - Dylan Flowers (Cornerback)
- 38 - Crew Wakley (Safety)
- 41 - Sione Moa (Linebacker)
- 44 - Will Ferrin (Kicker)
- 54 - Paul Maile (Offensive Line)
- 56 - Nuuletau Sellesin (Defensive End)
- 56 - Jake Eichorn (Offensive Line
- 61 - Weylin Lapuaho (Offensive Line)
- 65 - Ian Fitzgerald (Offensive Line)
- 69 - Simi Moala (Offensive Line)
- 76 - Caleb Etienne (Offensive Line)
- 91 - Jackson Cravens (Defensive Tackle)
- 98 - Wyatt Dawe (Defensive Tackle)
Prior Signees
Former coveted recruits like Raider Damuni and John Henry Daley will bolster the BYU defense. They will wear no. 33 and no. 46 respectively.
- 19 - Ace Kaufusi (Linebacker)
- 20 - Nukuluve Helu (Running Back)
- 27 - Marcus McKenzie (Cornerback)
- 32 - Ty Burke (Safety)
- 33 - Raider Damuni (Safety)
- 34 - Maika Kaufusi (Linebacker)
- 42 - Petey Tuipulotu (Safety)
- 46 - John Henry Daley (Defensive End)
- 73 - Weston Jones (Offensive Line)
- 77 - Jake Griffin (Offensive Line)
- 79 - Kaden Chidester (Offensive Line)
- 80 - Koa Eldredge (Wide Receiver)
- 88 - Devin Downing (Wide Receiver)
Other Newcomers
- 16 - Cole Hagen (Quarterback)
- 29 - Jake Hill (Wide Receiver)
- 31 - Kevin Doe (Wide Receiver)
- 32 - Chase Hopkins (Running Back)
- 39 - Landon Rehkow (Punter, Kicker)
- 49 - Nason Coleman (Tight End)
- 49 - Lucky Finau (Linebacker)
- 50 - Kason Krebs (Linebacker)
- 96 - Nic Harris (Deep Snapper)
- 97 - Matthias Dunn (Kicker)
- 99 - Mata'ava Ta'ase (Tight End)
- - Naseri Danielson (Defensive Back)
Follow us for future coverage:
Facebook - @CougsDaily
Twitter - @Cougs_Daily and Casey Lundquist at @casey_lundquist
Instagram - @cougs_daily
