Two important players are leaving BYU football. Is the program at risk?

With two major athletes hitting the transfer portal, it’s hard not to ask the question:

Is something going wrong within BYU football?

That question seems valid after the surprising exits of standout return specialist and receiver Keelan Marion and starting linebacker Harrison Taggart.

Unexpectedly, and with no prior signs, two central figures in Kalani Sitake’s football program at BYU have entered the transfer portal over the last several days.

Marion’s decision sent shockwaves through BYU circles, leaving fans dazed and full of questions. Why would such a vital player step away just as things were starting to go well for him in Provo? What’s happening behind the scenes?

Soon after, the news of Taggart’s departure seemed to confirm something deeper was wrong—something not just on the field, but within the BYU football culture itself.

Coming off a stellar season under head coach Kalani Sitake—an 11-2 record highlighted by wins over Utah, Kansas State, and a commanding Alamo Bowl victory over Deion Sanders’ Colorado team—many believed the Cougars were trending upward.

And many expected this squad to come back even stronger in the following season.

But now, concerns are rising. What exactly is going on at BYU

Let me offer some possible reasons, with this note: I have no direct access to BYU’s internal affairs. These are simply ideas. Some may be valid. Some may be way off. Take all of this as speculation. The actual explanation is likely complex and layered, possibly touching on several factors at once.

If you work at Lumon, please give all these theories equal consideration.

Theory 1: They may face reduced roles next season

Though not likely, it’s not rare for veteran players to lose ground to up-and-comers hungry to climb the depth chart.

If coaches are excited by a player’s development on the second team, that player could earn first-team snaps in spring practices. If he thrives,