BYU Cougars: Wide Receiver Room Discussion

Breaking down the BYU Cougars Wide Receiver room in 2024

BYU Cougars WR Depth Chart

Chase Roberts

Chase Roberts was a 3⭐️ in the composites with an overall rating of 83.20. He is 6-foot-4 and weighs 210 pounds. Roberts was part of the 2019 class and served a two year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He came back in 2021 to play for the BYU Cougars and was the leading receiver in 2023. Roberts led the team with 42 receptions for 573 yards and five touchdowns and was the most reliable receiver for the team. He will look to improve on those stats with his two years of eligibility remaining.

Kody Epps

Kody Epps was a 3⭐️ in the composites with an overall rating of 86.20. He is 5-foot-11 and weighs 187 pounds. Epps was part of the 2020 class and in the COVID shortened season, he made headway and climbed the depth chart to see game action. In 2021, Epps was granted a medical redshirt season. For 2022, he proved himself to be a viable option for the team. In 2023, he missed four games due to injury. Epps has two years remaining and is an interesting option as a boundary position or the slot position for the upcoming season.

Keelan Marion

Keelan Marion was an unranked prospect in the composites. He is 6-foot and weighs 200 pounds. Marion was part of the 2019 class and initially committed to UCONN. He transferred to BYU for the 2023 season and saw action in all twelve games and was a rotational depth piece. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Parker Kingston

Parker Kingston was a 3⭐️ in the composites with an overall rating of 80.51. He is 5-foot-11 and weighs 185 pounds. Lyons was part of the 2022 class and saw limited action as a True Freshman. For 2023, Kingston earned playing time and compiled 19 receptions for 207 yards and one touchdown. In 2024, Kingston should be vying for a bigger rotational position and should have a role as a slot option. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

Keanu Hill

Keanu Hill was a 3⭐️ in the composites with an overall rating of 78.32. He is 6-foot-4 and weighs 215 pounds. Hill was part of the 2019 class and has been a rotational depth piece for the past three seasons. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

Tei Nacua

Tei Nacua is a 3⭐️ in the composites with an overall rating of 84.85. He is 6-foot-2 and weighs 175 pounds. Tei is the younger brother of Puka Nacua, wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams. Nacua will not be an early enrollee and will wait until the summer to join the team for camp. He attended Timpview High where he had 974 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He shows an innate sense to find soft coverages in zone and has a good catch radius. Since he will not be an early enrollee, Nacua will likely be a depth piece and given some time to catch up to his fellow receivers. 

Cody Hagen

Cody Hagen was a 4⭐️ in the composites with an overall rating of 89.56. He is 6-foot-1 and weighs 175 pounds. Hagen was part of the 2022 class, and after returning from his two year mission, he will see where he fits in the offense. Prior to his mission, Hagen was a highly decorated recruit. It will be interesting to see how he does in camp and if he is able to see the field this season.

Dominique McKenzie

Dominique McKenzie was a 3⭐️ in the composites with an overall rating of 87.38. He is 6-foot and weighs 165 pounds. McKenzie was part of the 2022 class, and has returned from his two year mission. While he fits that slot twitchy position, he has had two years off from playing football. The team will need to see how he looks once he gets into practice, and where he shapes up in this receiving room.

BYU Wide Receiver Battle

While it is unproven, BYU has a good receiving room. They will need to step up in some aspects, but the profiles that are here can make that next step. The top two receivers should be Chase Roberts and Kody Epps, and the third receiver option could come down to the returning players Keelan Marion and Parker Kingston.

Parker Kingston gives the Cougars more flexibility. Three wide sets with Roberts, Epps and Kingston would keep defenses honest, as they are all sure handed receivers and have some juice with the ball in their hands. Epps should slot in as a field stretching option and Kingston can work underneath. If the Cougars want size, Marion will likely take the third spot.

However the receivers are established during the season, these four guys give the Cougars a good safety net of pass catching options. They can help the younger receivers as well as returning missionaries. This gives the Cougars options for the new guys to be brought along slowly, and not rush them to get into the rotation.

The New Guys

Tei Nacua will be the name that Cougar fans will eagerly watch. Because he is not coming in early and waiting until the Summer, it is likely that Nacua will see little to no action. There is just too much to learn and without Spring camp under his belt, Nacua needs more time to learn. While it is not necessary to be an early enrollee to make an impact as a True Freshman, it forces Nacua to learn and adapt to college quicker. I can see the coaching staff not wanting to rush him.

The two returning missionaries are Cody Hagen and Dom McKenzie. As high school recruits, these were two decorated prospects and were prize signees for the Cougars. Two years removed from live reps is always a concern. Hagen was a guy who had multiple offers from Power 5 schools, and is someone who can step up to be the 3rd to 5th option in this receiving room. Cougar fans should be excited for this group as they have a great mix of veterans and young guys.

BYU Positional Outlook

The 2023 season is one fans would love to forget. The returning receiving room in 2024 should bring optimism. If they can get the run game going and take pressure off the quarterback to get ahead of the chains, these 2nd and 5 will open the playbook for the receivers to run quick slants, outs, curls and get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands quickly.

The offensive line won’t have to hold up for more than three seconds, and the entire receiving room can gain confidence and get easy wins; where before the receivers would be under pressure to perform in long yardage situations. Chase Roberts should lead the room and Kody Epps should be the deep threat guy to stretch the field to allow things to open up underneath for this offense to operate.