BYU Football Will Host Priority Recruit Jax Tanner On An Official Visit
May 12, 2025, 9:07 PM | Updated: May 13, 2025, 7:50 am
Jax Tanner (middle) from Meridian, Idaho, lined up an official visit to BYU football. (Courtesy of KSL Sports)
(Courtesy of KSL Sports)
SALT LAKE CITY – Jax Tanner is a name for BYU football fans to remember on the recruiting trail.
The three-star offensive lineman in the class of 2026 from Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, Idaho, is gearing up for a busy schedule of official visits. BYU is one of the teams Tanner plans to visit.
Jax Tanner lines up official visits
Tanner told Brandon Huffman of 247Sports he plans to visit BYU on June 19.
Meridian (Idaho) Rocky Mountain offensive lineman Jax Tanner finalized his official visit schedule https://t.co/lVW4rSyZi2 pic.twitter.com/txKeHwgOKe
— Brandon Huffman (@BrandonHuffman) May 12, 2025
Along with BYU, Tanner has official visits lined up at Michigan (May 31), Oregon (June 6), and Tennessee (June 13). Two of those programs reached the College Football Playoff last season, while Michigan won the National Championship two years ago.
It’s stiff competition for BYU to land Tanner on the recruiting trail.
The 6-foot-4, 275-pound prospect has film as an interior offensive lineman and offensive tackle during his prep career at Rocky Mountain High School.
Tanner has dominated on the prep scene in Idaho since his freshman season. He hasn’t given up a sack in the past two years, and last season, he recorded 115 “pancake blocks.”
Connections to the BYU football program
Tanner does have connections to BYU. His father is former BYU linebacker Mike Tanner, who played for the Cougars from 2000 to 2003. He emerged as the starter at middle linebacker near the end of the 2002 season. That starter status carried over into 2003 as he was the middle backer in the first year of Bronco Mendenhall’s 3-3-5 scheme.
The elder Tanner is the linebackers coach on the Rocky Mountain High School staff.
Along with ties to BYU football in the past, Tanner also has a connection to the current program.
Tanner’s older brother, Gage Tanner, will join the BYU program this summer after he completes his mission service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Gage Tanner was a standout linebacker at Rocky Mountain High School in Idaho. He returns home from his mission in Ghana on July 9.
Jax Tanner participated in the Under Armour Next Camp at West High School over the weekend. He was one of the top performers in a camp loaded with talented offensive linemen. One of the best battles featured Tanner going up against Oregon commit Viliami Moala.
Jax Tanner shares his thoughts on BYU
Tanner shared his thoughts on BYU to KSL Sports.
“It’s an amazing program,” Tanner said of BYU to KSL Sports on May 10 at the Under Armour Next Camp. “You’ve got Coach Kalani (Sitake) and Coach (TJ) Woods. Being an LDS school is super appealing because I’m of the LDS faith. It’s where my dad played and where my brother is going to play after his mission.”
Plans to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Whichever school lands a commitment from Tanner, he plans to serve a mission for the Church before enrolling.
“It’s one of the biggest things for me,” Tanner said, explaining why he wants to serve a two-year mission before enrolling at a school. “I’ve been blessed with so much in my life. God gave me everything in my life, I can hopefully give two years back to him to repay it.”
Tanner is a three-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings and the 502nd prospect in the country. He’s the 30th-ranked interior offensive lineman prospect nationally in 247Sports’ rankings for the 2026 class.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
