BYU finalized its 2025 football signing class on Wednesday as a much-diluted National Signing Day arrived, and there was no doubting who the Cougars' coaches believe is the gem of the group.
That would be four-star athlete McKay Madsen of Clovis, California, a 6-foot-2, 235-pounder who played linebacker, wildcat quarterback, receiver and running back for his prep team in the Fresno area.
Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said Madsen will play running back for the Cougars when he returns from a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, calling Madsen "a huge signing" and a win over dozens of top-flight programs that wanted him, most recently Oregon and UCLA.
"Very, very good football player. Super excited about him. He is an unbelievably explosive guy, can do a lot of things," Roderick said. "He does it all for his high school team. He is a really good receiver, he breaks tackles, he can make you miss. … And we are fired up about him. He is going to go on a mission first, but I expect him to be a great player at BYU."
Lone Peak free safety Landan Goff returns a punt for a touchdown during a 6A semifinal game against Skyridge held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. On Wednesday, Goff became part of BYU's 2025 signing class. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Also signing with BYU on Wednesday were tight end Jacob Nye (Melissa, Texas), cornerback Jordyn Criss (Arlington, Texas) and safety Landan Goff (Lone Peak High). Goff is expected to go on a mission first, while Criss and Nye will join the program this summer.
"We really feel good about our program right now. Obviously there are still things we can accomplish.
We stay humble, keep working hard, and stay hungry. That's going to be our key," said BYU coach Kalani Sitake, whose squad went 11-2 in 2024 and smoked Colorado 36-14 in the Alamo Bowl. "But I do like where we sit right now."
Combined with the 18 recruits who signed during December's early signing period , BYU's 2025 signing class now includes 22 prospects. Ten of the 22 will serve missions ; tight end Ryner Swanson, who caught 10 passes for 91 yards last season, has already departed on his mission to Kenya.
The group includes one four-star recruit (Madsen) and 19 three-star recruits, according to 247Sports.com. This class's composite average is 86.15, the highest for BYU since 247Sports.com began compiling that metric.
"More than anything, I want to give a deep appreciation to our coaching staff. These guys have been working tirelessly. They have been on the road recruiting really, really hard, getting one of the best classes in BYU history," Sitake said.
Landing Madsen was the icing on the cake, Sitake said, and a tribute to the hard work of his staff, but especially running backs coach Harvey Unga. Sitake and Roderick said Madsen is not only an outstanding football player, but a state champion in some track and field events such as the shot put and discus.
"I think the defense would be happy to have (Madsen) as well, but we really like him as a running back. He plays wildcat quarterback, he is a really good receiver, he does everything," Roderick said. "Guys like that on offense, man, are fun to coach because there are so many different things you can do with them.
"And you can literally line him up anywhere on the field and he can do a lot of things to help you win games. He is extremely explosive. The guy can run. … Super explosive kid. Harvey did a really good job. He was pretty relentless. The whole staff was involved in recruiting McKay. We had everybody involved. But I thought Harvey did a great job down the stretch, because we were up against a couple of top-five teams. We can't wait to have him here."
BYU's got several experienced cornerbacks returning in 2025, but Hill said the coaches couldn't pass on the opportunity to get Criss, the 6-foot-2, 165-pound speedster from Texas.
"He has great length, great speed," Hill said. "I wouldn't be surprised if he is competing with some of the faster guys in the state of Texas this year in track. So super excited about him, his playmaking and the length that he adds to our secondary."
Goff played corner for Lone Peak but is projected to play safety for BYU, Hill said. Goff's sister, Lexi, is a member of BYU's track and field team.
"Well, I liked him a lot. We had him in summer camp. I have been watching him over the years. He fits our program perfectly," Hill said of the all-around athlete who was also Lone Peak's punter. "… I do love his athleticism. He is fast. Last year he ran a 10.9 100 meters and I wouldn't be surprised if he is much faster than that this year."
Nye, the 6-5, 240-pound tight end, caught 44 passes for 734 yards and 13 touchdowns last year in Texas. The Cougars are also bringing in Utah transfer Carsen Ryan to bolster the tight ends room that loses Swanson to a mission and Mata'ava Ta'ase, Ray Paulo and Keanu Hill to graduation. December signees Blake Bryce and Jackson Doman are going on missions first, while Tucker Kelleher is already in Provo.
"If you just look at the whole tight end group, everybody we signed this year are good receivers. It is no secret — we would like to throw the ball to the tight end more," Roderick said. "Last year we didn't do it as much. That is not really who our guys were. They did a good job playing for us. But those (new) guys are all good receivers. We feel like we can teach them to block. I am excited about each one of them."
Although the bulk of this class had committed before BYU's 11-2 season, Sitake said the success certainly didn't hurt , especially with late commits such as Madsen and offensive linemen Andrew Williams (Kirksville, Missouri) and Austin Pay (Lone Peak). Williams, 6-8, 277, is already enrolled and working out with the team; Pay is going on a mission first.
Also Wednesday, BYU announced eight incoming transfers, headed, of course, by Utah transfer defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa. Hill called the 6-4, 301-pound Tanuvasa "maybe the best defensive lineman in the country."
BYU coach Kalani Sitake talks with Utah Utes defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa after the game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. Tanuvasa is one of eight transfers to join the Cougars for the 2025 season. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Other transfer portal additions include long snapper Garrison Grimes (Baylor), defensive end Hunter Clegg (Utah), the aforementioned Ryan (Utah), defensive end Anisi Purcell (Southern Utah), defensive end Tausili Akana (Texas), offensive lineman Kyle Sfarcioc (Southern Utah) and Andrew Gentry, a former four-star offensive lineman from Michigan .
"I can tell you one thing. We have a really good team. We are not going to make a lot of statements about what is going to happen this fall, but we are excited about the program and where we are at," Sitake said, wrapping up the news conference. "I am excited about the talent we have remaining on this team, and the talent that we added."
Jacob Nye, tight end, 6-4, 235 Melissa, Texas (Melissa High)
McKay Madsen, linebacker, 6-2, 235 Clovis, California (Clovis North High)
Jordyn Criss, cornerback, 6-2, 165 Arlington, Texas (Seguin High)
Landan Goff, safety, 6-3, 185 American Fork, Utah (Lone Peak High)
Hunter Clegg, defensive end, 6-4, 240 American Fork, Utah (American Fork High)
Garrison Grimes, long snapper, 6-4, 225 American Fork, Utah (American Fork/Baylor)
Carsen Ryan, tight end, 6-4, 252 Provo, Utah (Timpview High/Utah)
Anisi Purcell, defensive end, 6-3, 266 Bountiful, Utah (Bountiful High/SUU)
Kyle Sfarcioc, offensive lineman, 6-4, 295 Peoria, Arizona (Liberty High/SUU)
Tausili Akana, defensive end, 6-3, 220 Laie, Hawaii (Skyridge High/Texas)
Andrew Gentry, offensive lineman, 6-7, 327 Littleton, Colorado (Columbine High/Michigan)
Keanu Tanuvasa, defensive lineman, 6-4, 301 Mission Viejo, California (Mission Viejo High/Utah)
Will Walker, kicker, 6-5, 210 Riverton, Utah (Riverton High)
Tyler Payne, linebacker, 6-1, 220 Pleasant View, Utah (Weber High)
Blake Bryce, tight end, 6-5, 235 Camarillo, California (Newbury Park High)
Kelepi Finau (Vete), defensive lineman, 6-5, 250 Oakland, California (Oakland High)
Cale Breslin, running back, 5-11, 186 Las Vegas, Nevada (Faith Lutheran High)
Sale Fano, edge rusher, 6-4, 225 Saratoga Springs, Utah (Westlake High)
Nolan Keeney, athlete, 6-5, 226 Tualatin, Oregon (Tualatin High)
LaMason Waller, wide receiver, 6-1, 178 Hesperia, California (Oak Hills High)
Tucker Kelleher, tight end, 6-6, 225 Alpharetta, Georgia (Alpharetta High)
Ulavai Fetuli, edge rusher, 6-4, 245 Laie, Hawaii (La Habra High, California)
Jackson Doman, tight end, 6-6, 220 Canby, Oregon (Canby High)
Kendal Wall, edge rusher, 6-5, 215 Herriman, Utah (Mountain Ridge High)
Andrew Williams, offensive lineman, 6-8, 277 Kirksville, Missouri (Kirksville High)
Vincent Tautua, edge rusher, 6-3, 250 Honolulu, Hawaii (St. Louis High)
Taani Makasini, linebacker, 6-1, 200 Provo, Utah (Timpview High)
Kingston Keanaaina, running back, 6-0, 205 Union City, California (St. Francis High)
Austin Pay, offensive lineman, 6-7, 295 American Fork, Utah (Lone Peak High)
Siosiua Finau (Vete), offensive lineman, 6-6, 280 Oakland, California (Oakland High)
