The 2021 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars were led by sixth-year head coach Kalani Sitake and played their home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium. This was the eleventh year BYU competed as an NCAA Division I FBS independent. The Cougars finished with 10 wins for the second year in a row.
Before the season Departures to NFL Quarterback Zach Wilson, offensive lineman Brady Christensen, and wide receiver Dax Milne all opted to forego their senior seasons and leave early for the NFL Draft.
Wilson became the highest draft pick in program history when he was selected second overall by the New York Jets. Christensen was selected in the third round by the Carolina Panthers, while Milne and two seniors, nose tackle Khyiris Tonga and defensive back Chris Wilcox, were each selected in the seventh round by the Washington Football Team, Chicago Bears, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, respectively. Seven other players signed undrafted free agent contracts with NFL teams. The five players selected marked the most in program history since 2002.
Coaching changes On January 4, 2021 it was announced that Jeff Grimes had accepted a job with Baylor University as the offensive coordinator. Offensive line coach Eric Mateos followed Grimes to Baylor. Aaron Roderick, previously serving as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Grimes, was promoted to offensive coordinator for the Cougars. Wide receivers coach Fesi Sitake was then promoted to passing game coordinator. Both Roderick and Sitake will retain their roles as position coaches for the quarterbacks and wide receivers, respectively.
On February 4, 2021 it was announced that Kevin Clune had accepted a job as the linebackers coach for the Cougars. With the new hire Ed Lamb shifted to coach the safeties on the defensive side of the ball, Preston Hadley to the defensive ends/Hybrids and Ilaisa Tuiaki to interior defensive line.
On February 5, 2021 it was announced that Darrell Funk had accepted a job as the offensive line coach for the Cougars.
2021 recruits Name Pos. Height Weight Hometown Notes Ricky Wolfgramm DL 258 Salt Lake City, Utah Mission prior to enrolling Quenton Rice DB 190 Las Vegas, Nevada Isaiah Glasker DB 205 South Jordan, Utah Mission prior to enrolling Nathan Hoke LB 225 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Mission prior to enrolling Kyson Hall WR 180 Spanish Fork, Utah Mission prior to enrolling Jovesa Damuni RB 180 Providence, Utah Mission prior to enrolling Raider Damuni DB 190 Provo, Utah Mission prior to enrolling Dallin Havea RB 230 Orem, Utah Mission prior to enrolling John Henry Daley DL 225 Alpine, Utah Mission prior to enrolling Logan Fano LB 225 Spanish Fork, Utah Mission prior to enrolling Sione Hingano OL 285 Chandler, Arizona Mission prior to enrolling Bentley Redden TE 220 San Clemente, California Mission prior to enrolling Weston Jones OL 255 Washington, Michigan Mission prior to enrolling Dylan Rollins OL 285 Missoula, Montana Joshua Singh DL 260 Orem, Utah Cooper McMullin DL 305 Carlsbad, California Maguire Anderson WR 185 Lutz, Florida
2020 returned missionaries Name Pos. Height Weight Year Notes Tysen Lewis OL 270 Talen Alfrey DB 185 Campbell Barrington OL 280 Donovan Hanna OL 230 Isaac Matua LB 205 Ethan Erickson TE 225 Brock Gunderson OL 265 Dallin Holker TE 222 Chase Roberts WR 195 Hunter Greer DL 235 Jake Jensen QB 210 Jaylon Vickers DB 183 Nick Nethercott DB 183 Cash Peterman K 180 Mike Petty DL 215 Beau Robinson RB 190 Tanner Wall WR 175 Viliami Tausinga LB 210 Cade Hoke LB 220 Jacob Bosco LB 235
2021 other additions Name Pos. Height Weight Year Notes Dean Jones DB 190 Originally Signed in 2020 |publisher=BYU Cougars |accessdate= 2020-12-19 Josh Larsen DL 230 Originally Signed in 2020 |publisher=BYU Cougars |accessdate= 2020-12-19 John Nelson DL 260 Originally Signed in 2020 |publisher=BYU Cougars |accessdate= 2020-12-19 Blake Mangelson DL 215 Originally Signed in 2020 |publisher=BYU Cougars |accessdate= 2021-3-3 Samson Nacua WR 195 Transfer from University of Utah Puka Nacua WR 190 Transfer from University of Washington Nick Billoups QB 193 Transfer from University of Utah Cade Fennegan QB 190 Transfer from Boise State University Jakob Robinson DB 165 Transfer from Utah State University Hunter Hill OL 285 Transfer from Utah State University Kaleb Hayes DB 190 Transfer from Oregon State University Tyler Little OL 260 Transfer from Butte College Cade Parrish OL 295 Transfer from Snow College
2021 departures Name Pos. Height Weight Year Notes Zayne Anderson DB 210 Graduation Isaiah Kaufusi LB 220 Graduation Matt Bushman TE 240 Graduation Troy Warner DB 200 Graduation Khyiris Tonga DL 321 Graduation Jeddy Tuiloma DL 300 Graduation Chris Wilcox DB 195 Graduation Tristen Hoge OL 310 Graduation Chandon Herring OL 310 Graduation Bracken El-Bakri DL 286 Graduation Zac Dawe DL 271 Graduation Sam Lee LB 220 Graduation Kieffer Longson OL 315 Graduation Kavika Fonua LB 205 Graduation Samuel Allred DB 205 Graduation Kyle Griffitts TE 245 Graduation Brady Christensen OL 300 NFL Draft Zach Wilson QB 210 NFL Draft Dax Milne WR 190 NFL Draft Petey Tuipoluto DB 190 Mission Hirkely Latu DL 235 Transfer Chase Wester RB 195 Transfer Seleti Fevaleaki DL 270 Transfer Wes Wright DB 175 Transfer Chase Hughes LB 214 Joe Nelson WR 190 Chayce Bolli WR 190 Luc Andrada RB 175 Keanu Saleapaga OL 310 Andrew Slack OL 300 Hank Tuipulotu TE 240 Freddy Livai DL 260 Truman Andrus LB 215 Preston Lewis LB 240 Mo Unutoa OL 290 Tavita Gagnier LB 196
Schedule
Rankings
Broadcasting team The NuSkin BYU Sports Network is owned and operated by BYU Radio and features Greg Wrubell (play-by-play), Riley Nelson (analyst), Mitchell Juergens (reporter/sideline analyst), and Jason Shepherd (host) for the third consecutive year. Ben Bagley substituted for Shepherd when Shepherd had women's soccer or men's basketball broadcasts. The network is in charge of producing and broadcasting all BYU Football pre- and post- game shows, coaches shows, and live broadcasts.
Affiliates These affiliate stations broadcast the shows live as part of the network simulcast. BYU Radio – Flagship Station Nationwide (Dish Network 980, Sirius XM 143, KBYU 89.1 FM HD 2, TuneIn radio, and byuradio.org) KSL 102.7 FM and 1160 AM – (Salt Lake City / Provo, Utah and ksl.com) KSNA – Blackfoot / Idaho Falls / Pocatello / Rexburg, Idaho (games) KSPZ – Blackfoot / Idaho Falls / Pocatello / Rexburg, Idaho (coaches' shows) KMXD – Monroe / Manti, Utah KSVC – Richfield / Manti, Utah KDXU – St. George, Utah
Personnel Coaching staff Name PositionKalani Sitake Head coach Ed Lamb Assistant head coach/special teams/safeties coachAaron Roderick Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coachDarrell Funk Offensive line coachFesi Sitake Passing game coordinator/wide receivers coachSteve Clark Tight end coachIlaisa Tuiaki Defensive coordinator/Interior Defensive line coachPreston Hadley Defensive ends/Hybrids coachJernaro Gilford Cornerbacks coach Harvey Unga Running backs coach Kevin Clune Linebackers coach
Roster
Depth chart
Game summaries Vegas Kickoff: Arizona
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Uniform combination: royal helmets, royal jersey, royal pants w/ white accents
No. 21 Utah
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Uniform combination: white helmets, royal jersey w/ white stripes, white pants w/ royal accents
No. 19 Arizona State
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Uniform combination: white helmets, white jersey w/ royal stripes, white pants w/ royal accents
USF
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Uniform combination: white helmets, navy jersey w/ white stripes, white pants w/ navy accents
Utah State
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Uniform combination: white helmets, white jersey w/ royal stripes, royal pants w/ white accents
Boise State
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Uniform combination: navy helmets, navy jersey w/ white stripes, navy pants w/ white accents
Baylor
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Uniform combination: navy helmets, white jersey w/ navy stripes, navy pants w/ white accents
Washington State
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Uniform combination: white helmets, white jersey w/ navy stripes, white pants w/ navy accents
Virginia
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Uniform combination: royal helmets, royal jersey w/ white stripes, white pants w/ royal accents
Senior Day: Idaho State
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Uniform combination: navy helmets, navy jersey w/ white stripes, white pants w/ navy accents
Georgia Southern
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Uniform combination: royal helmets, white jersey w/ royal stripes, white pants w/ royal accents
USC
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Uniform combination: royal helmets, white jersey w/ royal stripes, royal pants w/ white accents
Independence Bowl: UAB
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Uniform combination: navy helmets, navy jersey w/ white stripes, white pants w/ navy accents
References