The BYU Cougars kick off the 2025 season in 25 days against Portland State. As we continue counting down the days until kickoff, today we will profile the player who wears No. 25 - redshirt senior strong safety Talan Alfrey - by providing three interesting, fun facts:
Fun fact No. 1 - He was in the same recruiting class as Zach Wilson
After starring at Auburn Mountainview High School in Washington state, Talan Alfrey was a three-star recruit with an 83 overall rating back in the class of 2018. Now entering his redshirt senior season, and with a two-year mission behind him, Alfrey was actually signed in the same class as Zach Wilson who is entering his fifth NFL season. Calling Talan a college football veteran sounds appropriate.
Fun fact No. 2 - He grinded his way into a part-time starting role
After appearing in one game in 2021, Alfrey was a something of a surprise starter in 2022 after earning more time on the field. He's a grinder. In 2022 he started nine of 13 games and registered 41 tackles and in interception, establishing himself in what appeared to be a multi-year starting role.
But the following season in 2023, he appeared in just three games due to injury while at the same time BYU added more talent in the secondary. Last year Alfrey faced stiff competition for snaps in a suddenly stacked safeties room and saw his role decline despite being named a co-captain. In 2024 he started one of 12 games and recorded nine tackles on the season.
The road for significant playing time as he enters his redshirt senior season is going to be tough. Raider Damuni, a former four-star prospect, is entering his junior season and appears to have the inside track to start. Alfrey will be battling for snaps at backup with sophomore Tommy Prassis who is coming off a 20-tackle freshman campaign. The fact that Talan Alfrey might not make the two-deep in his final season shows just how deep BYU is at the strong safety position.
Fun fact No. 3 - He's into mopeds...and pigs
Alfrey has one of the more enjoyable player profiles on BYU's team webpage. After providing additional information about his missionary service (Uruguay and California) and his family, he mentions he not only has a moped, but it's named Selina. Oh, and he's also a former pig farmer. Well done, Talan.