All-American kick returner Keelan Marion of BYU enters the transfer portal?
It is a sign of the times.
BYU has won a lot in the transfer portal, but they’ll lose a big one with Marion if his move to test the transfer portal ends in a more favorable situation.
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Could he return?
A small chance.
But after BYU went through this with Kody Epps and worked out a deal for him to return, it actually didn’t work out for him in the end when he fought injuries, transferred to Western Kentucky, then retired from football before playing there.
BYU did not get a great return in re-upping with Epps and drawing him back from the portal in 2024.
Marion believes there might be a better option out there for him. He’s got every right to chase it and he’s a great kid who deserves all he can earn in what is today’s NCAA climate.
So, what does pass-game coordinator Fesi Sitake and special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga do to replace Marion, a first-class speed merchant who took it to the house several times last year including a dramatic kickoff return for a TD against Utah?
Well, first, Sitake has a solid stable of receivers returning, including WR1 Chase Roberts. He is surrounded by some intriguing talent, including JoJo Phillips, Parker Kingston, Dominique McKenzie, Cody Hagen, Tei Nacua,and LaMason Waller III.
Kingston has already proven capable of taking punts to the house and he could slip into Poppinga’s system seamlessly. McKenzie has the speed to make an impact.
The system Poppinga set up in special teams that freed up Marion was a huge part of his success as a kickoff returner. He averaged 16 yards a return at UConn but 26 per return last year for Poppinga and earned Big 12 first…
Source link : https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/04/20/byu-cougars-keelan-marion-transfer-portal-departure/
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Publish date : 2025-04-20 18:46:00
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