The BYU Cougars will kick off the 2026 season in 80 days against Utah Tech. As we count down the days until kickoff, today we will profile the player who wears No. 80 - redshirt freshman tight end Jacob Nye.
Jacob Nye's background
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound tight end hails from Texas. BYU doesn't snag top recruits from the Lonestar State very often, but the Cougs coaching staff was able to land Nye from the football hotbed down south. As a senior at Melissa High School in 2025 he posted 47 receptions for 800 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Coming out of high school he was a three-star prospect with an 84 rating from 247 Sports. He flew under the radar with BYU's 2025 signing class with his 84 rating above just two other signees that year ahead of safety Landon Goff and punter Will Walker, who were rated 82s.
In high school Nye was a multiple-sport athlete who also competed in the 110-meter hurdles and the triple jump. Throw that level of athleticism on a frame that already has NFL size at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds as a redshirt freshman, and he could be a stud in the making.
Welcome to the Family @JacobNye25 🤙 pic.twitter.com/DqNrxScovV
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) February 5, 2025
Jacob Nye's past and present with BYU
Last season was a redshirt year for Nye and he didn't play in any games in 2025. He did cut his teeth participating on the scout team, which isn't uncommon for freshmen with "lower star" status in their first year of Power Four football.
It will be interesting to see how BYU's coaching staff uses him this year. A step forward for Nye would be to make an impact on special teams in his redshirt freshman campaign. Given his size and his track background, he could be an intriguing member of the special teams, provided he's got the mindset to hit and tackle guys as a tight end.
BYU's tight end room is pretty deep this year with transfers Walker Lyons (USC) and Roger Saleapaga (Oregon) already penciled in as starters. Every indication from the offensive coaching staff is these two guys are going to be on the field a ton in 2026. Behind them are guys like Keayen Nead and Noah Moeaki who both saw time last year.
Jacob Nye's 2026 campaign may be another one focused more on learning, developing, and honing his craft more than actually contributing on offense. But keep an eye on him for special teams as the coaching staff looks to smartly bring along in-house guys over a period of years.
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