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Top 10 memorable Division-I transfers to play BYU football

BRANDON HEANEYbrandon heaney

Heaney transferred to BYU from Air Force where he was enrolled as an option quarterback. After one season, coaches moved him to safety and he decided to transfer, initially walking on to have a spot at BYU.

He started at cornerback at BYU as a sophomore in 2001, when he totaled a personal season-high of 46 tackles on the squad that went 12-2.

Heaney grabbed three interceptions in 2002, then suffered a season-ending injury in the 2003 opener. A medical hardship waiver allowed him to reclaim his senior year, and in 2004, Heaney grabbed one interception and recorded 39 tackles.

 

UONA KAVEINGAuona kaveinga

Kaveinga initially spurned BYU for USC, but after seeing sparse playing time in 2008 and 2009 for the Trojans, Kaveinga’s heart turned back to playing in Provo. He was immediately seen as a leader.

Kaveinga didn’t rack up the biggest number of tackles, but when he hit, you heard it. His first game as a Cougar featured several bone-crushing hits that forced a fumble and put a few Ole Miss Rebel running backs on the sideline.

He totaled 106 tackles in two seasons as a linebacker and forced four fumbles as a junior, anchoring a linebacking corp that boasted a top-5 run defense both years he was at BYU.

 

KELLY POPPINGAKelly_Poppinga

Kelly Poppinga came to BYU from Utah State known as NFL-er Brady’s little brother, and in my estimation was a key cog in the first really solid Bronco Mendenhall defense of 2007 — when #BroncoD became a reality.

As a junior in 2006, Poppinga played a reserve role, totaling 36 tackles and two sacks. But in 2007, as a senior leader, the man now commonly called K-Pop racked up an impressive number of tackles: 113. Poppinga combined with Bryan Kehl to provide a really solid run defense for the Cougars.

Poppinga has coached at BYU in various roles since 2009, becoming a full staff member in 2011 when he became outside linebackers coach. He currently holds that role and is the special teams coordinator as well.

 

UANI ‘UNGAuani unga

Known at Oregon State as Devin, Uani ‘Unga transferred to BYU in 2011 and sat out his required transfer year. After contributing in 2012 with 28 tackles, he was named a captain by his fellow teammates as a senior and became BYU’s workhorse tackler.

‘Unga tallied an obscene 143 (62 solo and 81 assisted) tackles in 2013 with 7.5 for loss.

He is currently trying to overcome a leg injury suffered in the bowl game against Washington, but ‘Unga was invited to the NFL Combine and should get a shot at an NFL roster this summer.

 

 

AARON WAGNERaaron wagner

The Canadian prep Aaron Wagner transferred to BYU after two seasons at Washington State. Wagner totaled 34 tackles as a Wazzu Cougar and saw decent playing time on 2003’s team that went 10-3.

After sitting out in 2004, Wagner appeared sparingly in 2005 and recorded 15 tackles. But his senior leadership helped on the 2006 defense as BYU went 11-2, the Cougars’ first 10+ win season since 2001. Wagner had 75 tackles that season, including five for loss, and had two pass breakups.

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7 Comments

  1. Brett Hein

    April 18, 2014 at 11:12 pm

    I left off one of my favorites as a younger lad — Levi Madarieta, who transferred from Washington.

  2. Leif

    April 19, 2014 at 6:44 am

    Under Aaron Wagner you wrote that he played on the 2003 team that went 10-3. I don’t believe that is correct. I believe we had a losing record that year.

    • DJ

      April 19, 2014 at 11:28 am

      He’s referring to the Washington State Cougars. They went 10-3.

  3. Jared

    April 20, 2014 at 4:14 am

    Jeff Holtry honorable mention.

  4. James

    April 21, 2014 at 8:05 pm

    Without question the best returner? Dye was great, but Vai Sikahema should not be brushed over so easily.

    • Brett Hein

      April 23, 2014 at 10:27 am

      Perhaps not — but Dye returned more kicks for TD’s and his average yards per return was double Sikahema’s.

  5. Levi

    July 11, 2014 at 10:16 pm

    Bret you left me off? OUCH jk man