BYU's Holliday List
One of the coldest lines in cinema history comes from Doc Holliday in 'Tombstone.' It's the beginning of the big fight that is brewing between the Cowboys and Wyatt Earp. When Earp needs help, Holliday is one of the first people to jump in line to help Earp.
At the time, Holliday had tuberculosis and was visibly sick. He's coughing, sweating, and not operating at 100%. When another member of the Earp clan asks Holliday why he is getting ready for a gunfight instead of at home in bed, Holliday hits us with this great exchange.
"Doc, you ought to be in bed. What the hell are you doing this for anyway?"
"Wyatt Earp is my friend."
"Hell, I've got lots of friends."
"I don't."
Chills. Literal chills. Every time I see it, it hits hard.
In real life, before the Cowboy War, Earp was a lawman and Holliday was a dentist. Earp was known for getting into a situation and starting a fight before the suspect could devise an answer or a plan. During one such occasion, Earp didn't see someone who was coming to shoot him from behind. Holliday, just a standby at the time, saw the man with the gun pulled at Earp. He quickly reacted, shot the gunman, and saved Earp's life. The two were close friends from that moment until the day Holliday died.
The movie does a good job of illustrating the actual relationship between Earp and Holliday. This line drives the whole thing home.
"I don't."
Holliday didn't need a million friends. If you have a million friends, you don't have any. Holliday had a few friends who were true ride-or-die. You can be a ride-or-die with lots of people, but only a few people get that privilege. It was true for Holliday. It's true for people today. And it's true for the BYU football coaches.
(I just wanted an excuse to throw in a 'Tombstone' clip but this transition rocks.)
In a transfer portal world where fans are looking at every player that hits the portal and fantasizing about them joining their favorite team, the BYU coaching staff is methodical with their offers and interests. The Cougars are looking to enhance their 2025 roster, but they aren't just going to ride or die with anyone who has a high star rating. The Cougars are looking to add specific players and specific positions. The portal net is small for BYU but if they hit then BYU is going to get considerably better over the next few weeks.
- Carsen Ryan - Tight End
Contrary to popular belief, the tight end position is still important to BYU. Why hasn't it been used? Because there haven't been any tight ends who have stepped up and commanded more usage within the offense. Jackson Bowers, through his fault or not, didn't pan out the way we all hoped. Ryner Swanson was great, but still just a 17-year old dude for a significant chunk of the season that was limited at the college level. Everyone else? Well.
Ryan would step in as one of the most talented tight end prospects that BYU has had in the last decade. He played some H-back at UCLA and played a lot of inline tight end at Utah this past season. BYU has packages for each of those things, and Ryan could fill both roles. He only has one year left, barring an exception from the NCAA, so he would have to assimilate quickly. If BYU can land him and if he gets comfortable, the restoration of the tight end might be on its way to Provo.
- Andrew Gentry - Offensive Tackle
Surely, you remember Gentry. He is the little brother of former BYU offensive lineman JT Gentry. He's the super highly recruited four-star prospect out of Colorado who signed with Virginia before his mission. He's the missionary who was called to Provo and somehow managed to flip to Jim Harbaugh and Michigan on his mission, not BYU. That guy. He's firmly on BYU's radar and BYU is in a great position in the early going.
He has played four of five offensive line positions in spurts at Michigan. This past season, he earned the starting right tackle spot midseason before suffering an injury in the second game he started. That injury cost him the rest of the season. BYU has a need at tackle. A healthy Gentry would slide right in. Better late than never.
- Cameron Calhoun - Cornerback
There are two reasons why this move would be so spectacular. A) He's an incredibly talented player and BYU really needs a cornerback to replace Jakob Robinson. B) He's one of Utah's best corners and I don't think we've ever lived in a world where BYU can take non-LDS corners from Utah. If that happens, it would be a double-win for the Cougars.
I'm still skeptical this happens. In my head, this story ends with Calhoun finding his way back to Salt Lake City with a revamped NIL package. Buuut... he's doing all the things that interested recruits do, so maybe my head needs to get on board. He will visit BYU in the coming days. If the Cougars are going to land the four-star, it starts with a strong visit.
- Taitai Uigalelei - Defensive Line
Defensive linemen with versatility? Out of the transfer portal?
The Arizona defensive lineman is exactly that. I've intentionally listed Uigalelei as a defensive lineman, not a defensive tackle or defensive end. He can do some of both, but I think he's most likely a three-tech dude at BYU. He eats blocks and can get to gaps quickly.
He's probably not going to become a first-round draft pick at BYU, but he has at least as much talent as anyone on the roster this past season, and probably more. This would be an important addition for the Cougs.
- Tre Spivey - Wide Receiver
He's really good. I want to cheer for the BYU version of Spivey. Wide receiver isn't some crazy need for BYU, but Fesi Sitake already had a relationship with Spivey from his high school days. If you can add a Spivey to your roster, you do it. So, pressing need or not, go get Spivey.
BYU, I'm told, is working on the details of a visit. Conversations are progressing but nothing is set in stone yet.
Rapid fire time...
- Tausili Akana - Edge Rusher
- Kaeo Akana - Edge Rusher
- Lance Holtzclaw - Edge Rusher
- Kyle Sfarcioc - Offensive Lineman
- There are a ton of names that could fill out the top 10. Known names like Isaac Wilson or Simote Pepa or guys with offers from out of nowhere like Jayvin James or Luke McGary. There really isn't a clear "OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A TOP 10 PRIORITY" kind of dude.
These are my* portal targets.
Hell, we've** got lots of portal targets.
I* don't.
*denotes BYU
**denotes everyone else
And that is our Holliday List.