A recent ruling from the NCAA, which allows an additional year of eligibility to players who "competed at a non-NCAA school for one or more years", could prove huge for BYU next season. In most cases, this ruling applies to players who attend a junior college before receiving a D1 offer.
One familiar player for the BYU Cougars could use this ruling to return for one final season. Darius Lassiter, who attended Butler Community College in Kansas, could use a waiver and return to an absolutely stacked 2025 wide receiver room. BYU returns Chase Roberts, Parker Kingston, Keelan Marion, Dom McKenzie, Tei Nacua, Jojo Phillips, and several other underclassmen to boost an offense that was dominant for most of the 2024 season.
Adding Lassiter to that group would be all that much better. He was the second leading receiver in terms of yards, second to Roberts, with 703. He was also tied with Roberts for the most TD receptions with four. Bringing back both receivers would give senior quarterback Jake Retzlaff a whole slew of weapons. For an offense that, according to ESPN, was the 40th-best scoring offense, returning Lassiter could be a big help to maintain or even increase that ranking.
Lassiter has a big play ability that is nearly unrivaled, including a massive TD catch against Oklahoma State to cap off a miraculous comeback victory. I have little faith that BYU fans need a reminder of that one. Here it is in case you were under a rock.
THE CUT: Colorado - Alamo Bowl pic.twitter.com/96QmwzQhKA
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) January 1, 2025
We can find some insight from Darius in one of BYU fans' favorite trends from this season, "THE CUT", a movie-like highlight reel put together by the fantastic BYU social media team. Following BYU's dominant bowl win over Colorado in the Alamo Bowl, Darius said, "Everybody counted us out, it felt good to get that 11th win. They gonna be back next year, maybe me too." Lassiter, ever the jokester, has teased a return a few times. We can only hope.
Darius, we love you and want you back. If not, we will always remember you and wish you the best in the NFL.