The BYU Cougars will kick off the 2025 season in 86 days against Portland State. As we continue counting down the days until kickoff, today we will profile the player who wears No. 86 - freshman tight end Cole Clement.
Cole Clement’s background
Clement played his high school football in the shadows of LaVell Edwards Stadium while starring at Springville High School. During his senior season of high school football in 2021 he hauled in 40 receptions for 743 yards and nine touchdowns. He joined BYU’s class of 2022 as a preferred walk-on then served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The 6-foot-4, 240-pound freshman is a bit of an enigma. He doesn’t have a recruiting profile at 247 Sports and his bio at BYU’s official website is blank. Now home from his mission, it’s time for Clement to force people to take notice of him.
Clement’s potential impact in 2025
Clement will be joining a BYU tight end room full of younger players with more impressive recruiting profiles and returning and/or more proven, practical college football experience. It’s hard enough for high-profile recruits to shake off the mission rust and make an impact in their first year back after two years of service. It’s going to be even harder for an unheralded guy like Cole Clement.
Adding to his uphill battle, Clement was originally recruited by former tight ends coach Steve Clark who has since been replaced by Kevin Gilbride. While Gilbride is going to give opportunities to the players who earn them, it’s not uncommon for position coaches to favor “their guys” who they have recruited specifically because they fit their system.
The most likely outcome for Cole Clement in 2025 is a redshirt year to get back into football shape and give him a year to get on the same page with coach Gilbride.