The BYU Cougars will kick off the 2025 season in 90 days against Portland State. As we continue counting down the days until kickoff, today we will profile the player who wears No. 90 - defensive end Hunter Clegg.
Hunter Clegg’s background
Christmas came early last year when Hunter Clegg flipped his commitment from the University of Utah to BYU in late December. The coveted edge rusher out of American Fork was a four-star recruit back in 2023 and the No. 4 prospect in the state of Utah, per 247 Sports. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before enrolling in school, and decommitted from the Utes to the Cougars upon returning from his missionary service.
The 6-foot-4, 245-pound true freshman is one of the most prominent recent examples of just how quickly BYU has elevated its recruiting profile both nationally and against their in-state rival. He had scholarship offers from some of the country’s most prestigious programs, including Oregon, Washington, LSU, USC, Michigan, and a host of others.
Hunter Clegg could have played almost anywhere. He chose BYU.
Clegg’s potential impact in 2025
It’s never an exact science predicting where a freshman will fit in the depth chart, especially one that’s still knocking off the mission rush. As with any freshman returned missionary, Hunter Clegg will have a lot to prove to see significant time on the field this year.
But the door's open for Clegg to see the field this year.
BYU graduated both of its starting defensive ends from last year in Tyler Batty and Isaiah Bagnah, and the competition will be fierce among a talented but largely unproven defensive end corps to see who will get the lion’s share of the reps this year. More experienced players like Bodie Schoonover and Logan Lutui likely have the inside track to starting.
Hunter Clegg has the potential to be a long-term contributor, if not flat-out difference maker, on BYU’s defense. Making the two-deep lineup and getting some rotational reps as a freshman would be a successful season for the freshman, and given his talent he could potentially do just that.