BYU football: Cougars add former four-star quarterback to roster

Oct 16, 2015; Provo, UT, USA; Fans and players file in to Lavell Edwards Stadium for the game between Brigham Young Cougars and Cincinnati Bearcats. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2015; Provo, UT, USA; Fans and players file in to Lavell Edwards Stadium for the game between Brigham Young Cougars and Cincinnati Bearcats. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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BYU football released an updated schedule today, and there was an interesting name that appeared – a former four-star quarterback.

Austin Kafentzis, a former Utah prep football star, is the newest member of the BYU football team.

Kafentzis enrolled in spring classes at BYU, which began on Tuesday. His name then appeared on the roster section of BYU football’s official website.

He originally committed to Gary Andersen and the Wisconsin Badgers as a sophomore at Jordan High School (UT). He enrolled at the university early, in January of what would have been his last year of high school. Kafentzis did this in order to be part of the Wisconsin track team (he’s a talented javelin thrower).

Unfortunately for the signal caller, Andersen departed to Oregon State shortly after. He decided not to follow Andersen to the Beavers, but things didn’t end up working out with the Badgers.

The new staff wanted him to consider a position change, which he didn’t want. Understandable when considering he was a four-star prospect.

So Kafentzis went to Nevada, burning his redshirt. But before he ever played a meaningful snap, the coaching staff that recruited him had departed. Once again, Kafentzis was a man without a coach.

Next, he went to Arizona Western and tried to evaluate Division I universities. He completed just four passes for 15 yards with Arizona Western.

He told the Deseret News that the offense didn’t really match his skill set.

Kafentzis set 15 different prep records with the Beetdiggers of Jordan High School. This includes the record for total yards, with an astronomical 19,678.

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After a long journey, he’s back in Utah. And apparently he’s been around BYU football for awhile.

“I went out to their spring practices,” he told the Deseret News. “I’ve always loved BYU, their history – especially at the quarterback position.”

Kafentzis joins quarterbacks Tanner Mangum, Beau Hoge, Cody Wilstead, Koy Detmer and Young Tanner. Joe Critchlow will join the team this fall after returning from his LDS mission.

Kafentzis will be a sophomore this season for the Cougars.