BYU LB Keenan Pili Will Enter NCAA Transfer Portal
Dec 9, 2022, 7:26 PM
BYU football linebacker Keenan Pili announced he is entering the Transfer Portal as a graduate transfer. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – BYU linebacker Keenan Pili announced he is entering the transfer portal.
“Dear Cougar Nation, Thank you for the experiences that will last a lifetime. Thank you to Coach Kalani, my position coaches, and all those who have mentored, trained, and provided me with opportunities to play the game I love at BYU. Thank you to my teammates for the great memories and relationships I’ve built and mostly thank you to my family for always supporting me,” wrote Pili in a social media post.
Thank you BYU💙 pic.twitter.com/LbMBuzXOnS
— Keenan Pili (@KeenanPili7) December 10, 2022
He continued, “I cherish the opportunity I’ve had to pursue my athletic and academic goals at Brigham Young University and hold my degree with pride. I’m grateful to our Heavenly Father for guiding me into a new chapter of life. After much prayer and consideration, I have entered the portal as a graduate transfer and look forward to the experiences to come.”
Keenan Pili has been part of BYU’s program for five seasons
The 6-foot-3, 237-pound Pili is the most productive BYU player who entered the transfer portal during the 2023 cycle. Pili has been at BYU for five seasons and played in four of those years. During his four seasons on the field at BYU, Pili has totaled 190 tackles, 11 for loss, and three sacks in his career with the Cougars.
Pili has started in 25 games during his four years on the field.
When players enter the transfer portal, they can return to the initial school they intended to leave if that university provides the opportunity. Earlier this week, BYU hired Jay Hill as its defensive coordinator and associate head coach to replace Ilaisa Tuiaki.
Pili has one year of eligibility remaining in his collegiate career thanks to the free year caused by the 2020 COVID season.
One year remaining
A signee in Kalani Sitake’s first recruiting class in 2016, Pili racked up 62 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 2022.
During his career at BYU, Pili suffered a season-ending ACL injury that sidelined him after the first three weeks of the season in 2021. When Pili went out, it altered how BYU ran its defense that season.
Pili is the seventh BYU football player to enter the transfer portal. BYU has yet to pick up any commitments out of the portal. The others include QB Jacob Conover (Arizona State), DE Logan Fano (Utah), OL Campbell Barrington, LB Tate Romney, WR Terence Fall, and TE Dallin Holker.
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 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s BYU football coverage on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
