Estimated read time: 4-5 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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 — BYU football didn't receive a bowl invitation Sunday after the Cougars failed to reach postseason eligibility for only the second time in 19 seasons.
But the Big 12 debutants received still received good news: Tyler Batty is coming back.
The 6-foot-5, 273-pound defensive end who led the Cougars with 5.5 sacks in 2023 announced on social media that he would return for his senior season in 2024, stating simply in an Instagram post, "One. More. Year."
The All-Big 12 second-team honoree posted career highs in tackles (57), assisted tackles (30), tackles for loss (nine) and sacks (5.5) in the Cougars' first season under defensive coordinator Jay Hill en route to a 5-7 campaign.
Batty was among the 31 players honored during the Cougars' senior day celebrations against Oklahoma, but one of 16 players who had eligibility remaining. In four seasons — including the non-counting COVID-19 campaign of 2020 — the Payson High product has totaled 165 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks with three forced fumbles for the Cougars.
He also caught a 36-yard pass on a fake field punt from Ryan Rehkow against Oklahoma State.
Here's a look at other BYU players who have graduated, declared for the NFL draft, entered the transfer portal, or announced they will return to Provo for another year. Check back later for additional updates throughout the offseason.
Note: If a current player on BYU's roster is not listed, either he has not declared his intent to transfer or did not take part in senior day activities. There still may be players declare for the NFL draft that did not walk on senior day, but we'll assume they're on BYU's roster unless that changes.
Seniors with no eligibility remaining:
- Chaz Ah You, S (Saratoga Springs, Utah)
- Jacob Boren, DB (Salt Lake City)
- Jackson Cravens, DT (Provo, Utah via Boise State/Utah)
- Ian Fitzgerald, OL (Hawthorn Woods, Ill. via Missouri State)
- Kamden Garrett, CB (Las Vegas via Weber State)
- Eddie Heckard, CB (Las Vegas via Weber State)
- Atunaisa Mahe, DT (West Jordan, Utah)
- Paul Maile, OL (Salt Lake City via Utah)
- Simi Moala, OL (Inglewood, Calif. via Utah)
- Malik Moore, S (San Diego, Calif.)
- Kedon Slovis, QB (Scottsdale, Ariz. via USC/Pitt)
- Deion Smith, RB (Houston, Texas via Colorado)
- Max Tooley, LB (Bountiful, Utah)
- AJ Vongphachanh, LB (Pasco, Wash. via Utah State)
Players eligible for the NFL Draft/graduation
- Ryan Rehkow, P (Veradale, Wash.) — Committed to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl, Hula Bowl before declaring for the NFL Draft
- Caleb Christensen, CB (Smithfield, Utah) — Graduating in April
- Talmage Gunther, WR (Cedar Hills, Utah)
- Ammon Hannemann, LB (Highland, Utah)
- Caden Haws, DT (Little Rock, Ark.)
- Isaac Rex, TE (San Clemente, Calif.) — Declared for the NFL Draft
- Aidan Robbins, RB (Louisville, Ky. via UNLV) — Declared for the NFL Draft
- Kingsley Suamataia, OT (Orem, Utah via Oregon) — Declared for the NFL Draft
Returning to BYU
- Caleb Etienne, OL (New Orleans, via Oklahoma State) — Returning for his senior year
- Tyler Batty, DE (Payson, Utah) — Returning for his senior year
- Isaiah Bagnah, DE (Lethbridge, Alberta via Boise State) — Returning for his senior year
- Connor Pay, OL (Highland, Utah) — Returning for his senior year
- Keanu Hill, WR (Bedford, Texas) — Returning to BYU, but plans to move to tight end, per offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick
- Brayden Keim, OL (Sandy, Utah) — Informed coaches he is returning for 2024
- Ben Bywater, LB (Salt Lake City) — Returning for the 2024 season, he announced on Instagram
Entered the transfer portal
- Michael Daley, DE (Alpine, Utah) — Committed to Rice
- John Henry Daley, DE (Alpine, Utah) — Committed to Utah
- Austin Riggs, LS (Eagle, Idaho) — Committed to Rutgers
- Dom Henry, WR (St. Augustine, Fla.) — Committed to Florida Atlantic
- Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters, QB/RB (Hau'ula, Hawai'i)
- Dylan Rollins, OL (Missoula, Mt.)
- Maguire Anderson, WR (Lutz, Fla.)
- Quenton Rice, CB (Las Vegas, Nev.)
- Hobbs Nyberg, WR/RS (St. George, Utah)
- Kade Moore, WR (Lehi, Utah)
Committed to BYU From the transfer portal
- Sam Vander Haar, P, Pitt (Melbourne, Australia) — Committed Nov. 29, 2023
- Jack Kelly, LB/EDGE, Weber State (Kearns, Utah) — Committed Dec. 16, 2023
- Marque Collins, CB, Weber State (Sacramento, Calif.) — Committed Dec. 17, 2023
- Gerry Bohanon, QB, South Florida (Earle, Ark.) — Committed Jan. 4, 2024
- Treyson Bourguet, QB, Western Michigan (Tucson, Ariz.) — Committed Jan. 6, 2024
