Interesting the Keelan Marion is entering the portal. He was a very bright spot last year for BYU, especially returning TWO returns for touchdowns.
BYU football: Star receiver Keelan Marion enters transfer portal – Deseret News
NIL, honor code….Who knows. These kids aren’t looking after their future well. Listing to a podcast on this it sounds like he could come back to BYU is the money we’re right. Good riddance if that’s what this is all about. We need 100% committed players to BYU.
Yeah, it’s too bad he decided to leave. I’m always curious what motivates some of these players, particularly the ones that have had success in the past, to go somewhere else. The Hopper suggested the honor code but he has been okay with that so far so that is a thoughtless suggestion. NIL might make more sense and that is a distinct possibility. Anyhow we will probably never know unless he does an interview and even then we may not know that complete story. Good luck to him in his future endeavors.
On another note I was watching a little baseball on ESPN+ and saw that BYU was playing Arizona. The first names of some of the players intrigued me… Bryker and Crew, which got me thinking about the trend in the last couple of decades to come up with abstract, strange names for babies. Bronco Mendenhall had some interesting names for his boys, I think he named them after types of horses or something. That got me thinking that these kids were likely from Utah so I checked the roster and yes, that assumption was correct. So I dug a little further and I know Floyd will appreciate this but I started to draw conclusions that may not be one hundred percent accurate but they were working so I decided to make another comment that might seem presumptive but I beg to differ (excuse the run on sentence).
The football and basketball teams are experiencing some good success. I believe it is directly connected to their efforts in expanding the geographical recruiting umbrella. Yes, KY has upped the basketball recruiting because of his pedigree but the ball was already rolling with Pope. Football has been doing it for some time now and I think most people would agree that BYU has a successful football program.
So now to baseball. BYU was playing Arizona and won the game yesterday but lost today. Arizona is ranked #22, BYU is not ranked. So why isn’t BYU baseball at the same level as football and basketball or at least close?
My honest opinion and suggestion is that they need to, once again, expand the recruiting umbrella outside the state of Utah. The vast majority of players on the team are from the beehive state… they can do better. Arizona, for example has a big variety of players representing a number of different states. Yes, there are players from Arizona but the majority of players are from OUTSIDE Arizona.
I hope you can appreciate what I am saying (Floyd it’s for you, haha) and have said for a long time. I did notice a story on a former BYU player that is playing very well for the Oakland Athletics right now. Where is he from? I will let Floyd answer that question.
Go Cougars!
One thing that is different is how they do scholarships for baseball.
I dont know if this is college wide or specifically BYU.
I was told that the scholarships for baseball are not full scholarships, but partial ones. that may limit who they can attract.
Like I said, not sure that is college wide.
I see.
You didn’t answer the question though so I will for you.
You may hold that belief, but it doesn’t reflect the current reality. BYU has significantly revamped its recruiting strategy, actively pursuing top-tier 4- and 5-star recruits, especially those from Utah and Idaho—a notable departure from past decades. Interestingly, much of BYU’s recent success stems from Kalani Sitake reinstating “the Environment” originally cultivated by Lavell Edwards, a proud “Utahan.”
In addition, KY has brought in a system heavily influenced by NBA principles. His expertise in guiding players to the next level has become a tremendous asset for BYU’s recruits. On top of that, KY’s extensive NBA connections provide players with valuable insights and pathways toward achieving their professional aspirations. This was confirmed by both Wright III and AJ Dybantsa, as well as Denim(sp?).
Both Kalani and KY have repeatedly emphasized the importance of recruiting local talent, consistently referring to Utah as BYU’s “backyard.” The program enjoys strong recognition within the state and access to a deep pool of talented athletes. The coaching staffs of both football and basketball believe that prioritizing local talent is essential for sustained success. This approach not only solidifies BYU’s community ties but also enables the program to compete more effectively with other schools aggressively recruiting Utah’s top prospects. It’s a strategy rooted in relationship-building and fostering a sense of belonging.
However, when it comes to baseball, BYU tells a different story. The program has struggled to find its footing, facing challenges such as spring snowstorms—like yesterday’s in Salt Lake City—that force the team to play numerous road games, negatively impacting win percentages. Furthermore, BYU’s inability to offer full scholarships for baseball players creates additional obstacles in recruiting top-tier talent. While I haven’t personally heard Platt elaborate on his recruiting strategy, it’s evident that baseball remains a lower priority for the school.
It’s important to note that BYU’s national recognition in football was built on the talent of athletes from Utah and Idaho, forming the bedrock of its success.
As for your perspective on Utah’s athletes, I know you’ve held a steadfast stance on this for quite some time. If you choose to maintain that view, that’s your prerogative, though I genuinely believe it contrasts with the vision the brethren outlined in the most recent general conference.
But ultimately, it is your decision to choose how you respond to things in life.
What? The brethren have outlined a vision and it contrasts with mine? What do you mean
by “contrast”? I don’t think it contrasts or contradicts at all. Last time I checked there are more members of the church outside the United States than inside and that goes for the promised land of Utah as well. Time to rethink the bubble and realize there is another world outside the borders of the beehive state. I love visiting and have spent enough time there to know of the many great things Utah has to offer but in so doing I recognize that a good number of people there are a bit delusional when it comes to real world stuff, like doing unto others as you would have them do unto you and loving your fellow man as you do your Heavenly Father…
Just saying… and curious to know what you mean by the vision outlined in the most recent general conference. What is that and how does it relate to BYU sports? Are you talking NIL stuff and spending money on sports?
I think our recent growth in athletics has to do with recruiting from more areas of the country and world. All while doing better recruiting in Utah. But, I’m not sure what you mean that there is a connection with this and General Conference? Please clarify.
So now the news is that Harrison Taggart is entering the portal. That’s two starters in less than a week. This has got to be a UIL money issue. I guess BYU football doesn’t have the UIL sugardaddies that basketball has.
I am not sure, but it seems to me with this new NCAA Scholarship limit of 85 active for the team and basically 20 can be on the scout teams (105 total), it now makes the coaches look at who they keep or cut loose.
For example: Does Jay Hill use his resources to continue to build and put into Taggert, who is a Senior, or does he go with someone like Siale Esera who is younger and has a big upside?
Where does Hill and BYU put their valuable scholarships?
I am NOT SAYING this as factual, but in talking with my Friend who worked in the Utah AD office, he believes it may get closer to this concept than we might think. Add to that the NCAA and Power Five conferences reached a $2.8 billion settlement that will allow schools to directly compensate student-athletes starting as early as July 2025.
NCAA, Power Five conferences reach deal to let schools pay players
The days of Amatuer sports is over, I am afraid.
Another portal casualty is announced. Joshua Singh defensive tackle has entered the portal. He was going to be a part of the two deep on the depth chart. This is getting to be a bit troubling. Tomorrow is the deadline so hold your breathe until the end of the day. Losing guys that weren’t going to play much is one thing but losing guys likely to play a lot leads
me to believe this is a money thing. None of the 3 that have recently announced we’re going to get chopped with the NCAA roster reductions.
Maybe Taggart is leaving because the word coming out of Spring camp is that Esera was giving him a lot heat to retain his starting spot. It could be an ego thing with him. With Marion it is the money. He was going to be the number 2 wideout and he was going to be the kick return guy again. Not sure what would motivate Singh since the Dline is being rebuilt and he played a lot last year so he figured to have an even bigger role this year. Maybe not big enough and he wants to be a guaranteed starter. I can’t imagine in his case he could command that much in UIL money.
The troubling thing is that the coaching staff isn’t bringing anybody in that I am hearing about. They said coming out of spring practice they were happy with the roster. I am wondering if that is still the case.
It’s got to be tough when you are getting enough to cover your tuition and board expenses and just getting by like other college students and then all of the sudden you are being offered six and seven figure incomes to play a sport, particularly at this young age. Young adults have a hard enough time making logical, rational decisions in every day life and this just compounds their situation. Everyone will say it’s a good thing and they deserve to get paid and good for them, etc. but I’m not so sure.
We will see how the NIL thing plays out over time but already the corruption and dishonesty is rampant as schools accuse each other of tampering, etc. The Hopper will say it’s great because it is part of the free market economy but when I look at the overall landscape of our culture and society right now I don’t particularly like what I see.
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UIL ?? Are you talking about NIL? Name Image and Likeness seems to be what you are referring to. The football program has expanded its financial footprint in a big budget way. I am not sure that all of the new funds have been spent wisely on ancillary staff positions. My guess is that whoever the new AD is will need to comb through the spending and make some rational adjustments. BYU bb is able to spend more per player on NIL than fb. There are 5-7 donors who like bb and feel that the bb staff is more professional than the fb staff. I will say it again …. Keeping ARod is not only a bad move from a coaching and program standpoint, but it is really bad from a NIL standpoint. Some big donors understand football and they want a first class OC in the saddle. Sitake is stubborn and Holmoe wouldn’t “make” him change so the program isn’t fully NIL funded at this point.
My guess is that 2-3 mil is being withheld in NIL from 4 individuals because of ARod. Hope he is worth it to Sitake!??
As long as we play within the rules I’m fine with it. I’ll enjoy watching basketball next year with AJ and the others who are there because of the NIL and other reasons like who the coach is and the environment. Oh, you mean that NIL has given other teams a shot like BYU at being an elite team besides the usual colleges?
I’m a half glass full guy and you are a half glass empty guy with a leak in it. “Tampering” ??? Ya, sounds like a Democrat making up their own rules 
. The same things those schools and media have been doing for decades. Let’s not get caught up in it too.
We have a pretty deep football team at every position except one that no one is talking about, quarterback. I assume we think he’s going to be healthy the entire year. But if he gets hurt, who is next up?
NIL, my bad. UIL is an acronym for something to do with Texas HS sports I have seen the acronym for so long I sometimes mistakenly refer to NIL as UIL.
Losing Taggart may not be so bad because Esera supposedly has more upside, but Taggart was plenty good last year, just overshadowed by the outside LBS. Marion in my opinion is a bigger loss because I doubt there is anybody on the current roster who can adequately replace him as a return man. As a receiver I think there are a few good options but he was dynamic as a return man.
Not sure what Singh is thinking unless he is looking at a major role with a mid major. He is probably a 2nd string guy again at BYU but would have gotten lots of reps.
Found this interesting article about why Marion departure.
Patrick Kinahan: BYU football cashed out on Marion | KSL.com
What do you all think? Has the age of corruption hit amateur sports?
What is your reason that this is something about corruption? The corruption was the schools, leagues and NCAA making big money on the backs of those doing all the work and not being paid for their work on the field. The scholarship is for their education and they basically were slaves when it came to their work.
With that said, seems like there are ways to make it work better for college. Make the contracts annual and not semi-annual minimum. Maybe even multi year contracts with bonuses and no “out” clauses. But, paying whatever the market will bare is fair and right, not corruption.
Look at the definition of “Professional” and “Amateur” and that should answer your question.
So, you are saying BYU is a “Corrupt” school for not paying their athletes in the past?
Second, People look at only the Scholarship money players got, but they forgot things like paid tutors, nutritionists, medical doctors, rehab and PT, a place to live, food, stipends, personal apparel for working out, shoes, I could go on and on.
It is kind of the grip people have for government workers, when you add in all the benefits. The “Total” package is a lot more than just the scholarship..
You’re getting old. Hard to carry on a conversation with you now. Do you understand that there is no “amateurs” anymore. Becoming professional doesn’t mean corruption. And how you got the rest out of what I wrote who knows.