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BYU Football Roster Reveals Newcomers Who Arrived For 2021 Season

Aug 5, 2021, 11:59 AM

BYU Football Newcomers...

BYU Football newcomers on the 2021 roster: Kaleb Hayes (left), Chase Roberts (middle), Puka Nacua (right). (Photos courtesy of Getty Images)

(Photos courtesy of Getty Images)

PROVO, Utah – Another fall camp beginning means another wave of newcomers joining the BYU football roster.

BYU updated its 2021 football roster on Wednesday night, hours after players arrived for check-in day. The team is set to take the practice field on Thursday morning for the first practice of Camp Kalani.

Here are the newcomers that have joined the BYU football roster this fall. This list doesn’t include newcomers who were part of the BYU program this past spring or previous season.

Newcomers on the 2021 BYU Football roster

Listed in alphabetical order

Maguire Anderson, Wide Receiver

A preferred walk-on from Florida, Anderson is the son of former BYU WR RJ Anderson. Anderson is a dual-sport athlete who also excelled in soccer during his prep career.

Nick Billoups, Quarterback

Billoups transferred to BYU after a year with rival Utah. A prep standout out of San Clemente, California, Billoups was a walk-on with the Utes, where he was switched to safety this past spring. He will compete at QB during camp at BYU.

Ethan Erickson, Tight End

A former three-star recruit in the class of 2019, Erickson was a two-sport athlete at Kahuku High School. He served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan.

Cade Fennegan, Quarterback

Fennegan transferred to BYU after one year at Boise State. He entered the Transfer Portal after the July 1 cutoff date, so he will have to redshirt this year despite new NCAA rules that allow undergrad transfers a one-time waiver to play immediately.

Brock Gunderson, Offensive Line

Out of Cypress, Texas, Gunderson was a three-star recruit in the class of 2019. He received offers from Purdue, Air Force, Army, Utah State, UNLV, and others. For the past two years, Gunderson served a mission in El Salvador for the Church.

Kaleb Hayes, Cornerback

Hayes transferred to BYU from Oregon State. He played in 17 games, starting in eight, over the past three years with the Beavers. Hayes arrives at BYU as a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility remaining.

Cade Hoke, Linebacker

Hoke is the son of former BYU and Pittsburgh Steeler great Chris Hoke. Hoke committed to BYU as a preferred walk-on; he then served a mission in Brazil.

Tyler Little, Offensive Line

Little’s path to BYU is a unique one. He hasn’t played a down of football since middle school.

After serving a mission for the Church, Little was originally going to enroll at a Junior College to play basketball. However, the JUCO he was set to attend canceled its basketball season due to COVID-19. Little then enrolled at Butte College for the winter/spring semester and took on football after being nudged in that direction by a friend. Little has great athleticism but is a raw prospect that needs to learn the game of football.

Cooper McMullin, Offensive Line

McMullin committed to BYU as a preferred walk-on back in June. He prepped at San Marcos High School in California.

Puka Nacua, Wide Receiver

Nacua comes to BYU via Washington out of the Transfer Portal. He has the opportunity to be one of the top wide receivers for the Cougars this season and in the years to come.

Samson Nacua, Wide Receiver

Older brother to Puka Nacua, Samson arrives at BYU after five years with the University of Utah. He has one season of eligibility remaining as a graduate transfer. He has a chance to contend for a starter role in the wide receiver room.

Cade Parrish, Offensive Line

Parrish was a late addition via Snow College. Once committed to the University of Arizona, Parrish has three years of college eligibility remaining.

Quenton Rice, Cornerback

Quenton Rice switches from wide receiver to cornerback in his first year at BYU, following his father’s footsteps. His dad, Rodney Rice, was a BYU great in the late 1980s.

Chase Roberts, Wide Receiver

A former Under Armour All-American, Roberts returned home from his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this past March. He served his mission in Canada.

Jakob Robinson, Cornerback

Robinson transferred to BYU after one year at Utah State. Will contend for immediate playing time in the secondary.

Dylan Rollins, Offensive Line

Rollins, the Montana Gatorade Player of the Year, is a rare Montana high school prospect to earn a scholarship from an FBS program.

Joshua Singh, Defensive Line

Singh received PWO offers from Utah and Washington before committing to BYU as a preferred walk-on this past December after completing his high school career at nearby Orem High.

Viliami Tausinga, Linebacker

A signee in the class of 2018, Tausinga was officially announced by BYU this past May. He will begin his career with the linebackers. Could be a prospect that competes at the defensive line eventually in his BYU career.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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BYU Football Roster Reveals Newcomers Who Arrived For 2021 Season