The BYU Cougars will kick off the 2025 season in 79 days against Portland State. As we continue counting down the days until kickoff, today we will profile the player who wears No. 79 - redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Kaden Chidester.
Kaden Chidester's background
If you like small town football players who love the outdoors and sport mullets, let me introduce you to offensive tackle Kaden Chidester. A product of Richfield High School, his bio at BYU's website lists his interests as hunting and fishing and reveals a picture of an impressive ginger mullet.
But Chidester isn't the same player today as he was in high school. His 247 Sports profile lists him as a three-star tight end (82 overall) in the class of 2022. He measured an impressive 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds before arriving at BYU. According to this insightful writeup from Jeff Hanson, Chidester attended a BYU football camp and the defensive coaching staff was so impressed with his size and natural ability that they offered him on the spot. And just as quickly, Chidester accepted on the spot.
Fast forward a couple of years and the former 240-pound tight end who was offered a scholarship by the defensive coaching staff is now a towering 6-foot-8 and 310 pounds. Yes, the redshirt sophomore has put on 70 pounds since arriving in Provo, and his measurables are off the charts for an offensive lineman.
Big thanks to @CoachPHadley for the edit! pic.twitter.com/chdxHZrpSY
— Kaden Chidester (@Kaden_Chid) September 16, 2021
Chidester's potential impact in 2025
Competition for the two-deep lineup at right tackle comes down to a competition between junior Austin Leausa, who appeared in 11 games last year with starts, and coveted Michigan transfer Andrew Gentry, also a junior.
Freshman Andrew Williams, a three-star talent with an impressive 87 rating at 247 Sports, will also be pushing for snaps at right tackle.
If Kaden Chidester is going to see the field in 2025, or even next year, he's going to have to earn it. But BYU has a history of turning overlooked, under recruited, small-town Utah talents into big-time contributors. Kaden Chidester has the size and the athleticism to play Power Four football. This year will likely be another one of learning and development, ensuring he's ready should his name be called.