Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO — Former Weber State head coach Jay Hill is loading up in his first season as defensive coordinator and associate head coach at BYU in a way that has never been seen at his new university.
Former Corner Canyon star Harrison Taggart committed to BYU on Saturday, becoming the Cougars' program-record 20th addition from the transfer portal. But he's not the only Taggart coming to Provo.
His younger sister Madelynne, a star sprinter who recently graduated from Corner Canyon, also committed to run track at BYU after finishing a senior year that included a personal best 12.37-second 100-meter dash, according to athletic.net, and top-six finishes in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles that included a 43.8-second runner-up finish in the 300.
And yes, his sister's commitment played a role in big brother Taggart's commitment as the duo posted their announcements online mere moments apart and used the hashtag #siblings along with a photo in corresponding BYU gear.
Committed #gocougs#siblingspic.twitter.com/Yc0vxtsPIm
— Harrison Taggart (@HarrisonTaggar4) June 4, 2023
For Harrison Taggart, the former four-star recruit, he returns to his home state after a freshman season at Oregon where he played in just three games and played a total of nine snaps on defense and one on special teams for the Ducks. He chose the Ducks for the "environment and the coaches," he told the Oregonian at the time, and now finds himself coming home to another smaller college town, as well.
"I like the college-town feel and the family feel on the football team," Taggart said of his initial commitment.
Taggart was a consensus top-40 prospect at outside linebacker when he signed for Dan Lanning's squad after earning MaxPreps second-team All-American honors and first-team all-state selection by the Deseret News. He posted three games with double-digit tackles and five-plus tackles in 10 of 14 games while leading the Chargers to a 12-2 record and runner-up finish in the 6A state playoffs as a senior.
He's the latest transfer in a long list of additions for the Cougars, who took in six or fewer transfers in each of the first four seasons of the portal era: five in 2018, one in 2019, six in 2021 and six in 2022.
The 20 incoming transfers in 2023 is more than the rest of the portal era combined, according to BYUtv.
In addition to a handful of junior college transfers, like quarterback Jake Retzlaff, tight end Ray Paulo and cornerback Jayden Dunlap, Taggart joins a loaded class that includes:
- USC/Pitt quarterback transfer Kedon Slovis
- UNLV/Louisville running back Aidan Robbins
- Colorado running back Deion Smith
- Eastern Michigan wide receiver Darius Lassiter
- UConn receiver Keelan Marion
- Oklahoma State offensive lineman Caleb Etienne
- Utah interior lineman Paul Maile
- Utah State lineman Weylin Lapuaho
- Missouri State interior lineman Ian Fitzgerald
- Weber State lineman Jake Eichorn
- Boise State edge rusher Isaiah Bagnah
- Weber State defensive lineman Nuuletau Sellesin
- Southern Utah defensive lineman Wyatt Dawe
- Boise State nose tackle Jackson Cravens
- Utah State linebacker AJ Vongpachanh
- Weber State cornerback Eddie Heckard
- Weber State cornerback Kamden Garrett
- Southern Utah cornerback Dylan Flowers
- Utah State safety Crew Wakley
"What got my attention was that this program was big on family, and had a team that was so together," said Marion, who is close friends with Robbins. "I also knew that BYU could offer me an opportunity, which also got my attention.
"People will say this and that about the school, but until you go see it for yourself, you don't know."
