Brody Laga, BYU's 5-star kicker, returns from his mission in demolished shoes

Return missionaries are perhaps the most unique aspect of BYU athletics in general. Serving for two years in some remote part of the world can be a major detour in the athletic career of many players. After all, where's the time to lift weights and do drills to stay fresh for football, when you're too busy running from stray dogs, knocking door-to-door, and eating food that almost certainly wouldn't be FDA-approved? So when an LDS recruit commits to BYU football, basketball, etc., there's often an understanding that that player might not actually begin his or her collegiate career for at least another two years, with plenty of exceptions, of course.

Some coaches believe that BYU's tendency to field older players (often not starting their freshman season before they've turned 20, or even 21) is an unfair advantage for the program, especially on the football field, where size and strength can make the difference between winning and losing. Many BYU football players have a wife and kid to go home to after the game -- how are 18 and 19 year-olds supposed to compete with that, right?

There's much more nuance to the whole missionary issue, but if it were truly such a severe advantage, the NCAA wouldn't have added a stipulation for religious service in the newly-proposed 5-year eligibility rule.

But upon further inspection of returned missionary and highly-coveted kicker prospect, Brody Laga, we may need to take a closer look to determine if his feet are in good enough shape to ever touch a football again, because all the steps through Brazil have eviscerated what used to be shoes.

Now, at the risk of sounding a little creepy, let's zoom and enhance on Laga's feet.

As a return missionary myself, I can attest that missionary shoes hardly last through mountains, deserts, or jungles. Two years on your feet will test a young man. And though it may be a bit performative to return home in what are certainly not his most presentable footwear, missionaries hold demolished shoes as a badge of honor. A symbol of the steps put in, the hours spent driving your legs, and the endless wear and tear of such service.

So yeah, it's safe to say Brody Laga didn't mail in his missionary service.

His return is great news for BYU football, which has become accustomed to high-quality kicking behind the reliable leg of Will Ferrin. Considering the fact that kicking prospects never receive ratings higher than 3-stars (just take a look at Laga's recruiting class), it's more important to consider that the Sailer Kicking Academy rated this Herriman, Utah, product a 5-star leg.

BYU football's special teams just got an extra kick, if not a tattered and well-worn one.

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