Brigham Young University (BYU) is a private university in Provo, Utah, owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although it is entirely voluntary, members of the church are strongly encouraged to embark on missionary service, and that’s no different with the BYU Cougars football team.
Why Do BYU Football Players Serve Latter-Day Saint Missions?
Players who are members of the church, roughly half of the team each year, often participate in missionary service. Missions are two-year-long, self-funded trips of service to hundreds of major cities in the world across six of seven continents.
On the current roster, 56 players have served missions across 32 different countries, learning 14 unique languages in the process.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season With CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
BYU student-athletes usually fulfill their missionary service in one of two ways:
- Following their high school graduation, differing their enrollment to BYU until after they have served.
- Midway through their collegiate careers, taking a break from studying and athletic competition to serve.
Missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are assigned to their service areas by church headquarters. These assignments come without any prior requests or preferences from the missionaries themselves, meaning they often don’t know where they’ll go or if they’ll need to learn a new language.
Due to these global service experiences, over 60% of BYU’s student body speaks a second language, a unique aspect of the university’s culture.
Notable players who have served missions in BYU history:
- Tyler Batty, DE, 2020-present
- Isaac Rex, TE, 2019-23
- Jaren Hall, QB, 2018-22
- Brady Christensen, OT, 2017-20
- Taysom Hill, QB, 2012-16
- Daniel Sorensen, S, 2008-13 (served mission from 2009-10)
- Dennis Pitta, TE, 2004-09 (served mission from 2006-07)
- Austin Collie, WR, 2004-08
- John Denney, LS, 2001-04
- Chris Hoke, DT, 1994-2000 (served mission from 1995-96)
- Chad Lewis, TE, 1993-96
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.