You don't usually see it happen like this. One day, a four-star pass rusher is the crown jewel of a recruiting class for the University of Utah. The next, he’s wearing royal blue and white in Provo. It’s the kind of move that makes message boards explode.
Hunter Clegg isn't just another body on the depth chart.
Honestly, he’s the type of athlete BYU has historically struggled to keep in-state. At 6-foot-4 and roughly 245 pounds, the American Fork product has that rare "twitch" coaches obsess over. He’s fast. Like, track-star fast for a defensive end. But the road he took to LaVell Edwards Stadium was anything but a straight line.
The Stanford, Utah, and BYU Carousel
Most people forget that Clegg’s recruitment was a total whirlwind. Originally, he was all-in on Stanford. It made sense—high academics, Power Five football, the whole package. Then, things shifted. He committed to the Utes, and for a while, it looked like Kyle Whittingham had secured yet another elite local defender to anchor his defensive line.
Then came the mission.
Clegg served for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Armenia/Georgia mission. Two years away from the weight room is a lifetime in football. But while he was halfway across the world, his perspective changed. When he got back in December 2024, he didn't head to Salt Lake City. He flipped.
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"BYU isn’t the same as when I left," Clegg said after his return. He felt a shift in the program's energy under Kalani Sitake and defensive coordinator Jay Hill. It wasn't just about religion or being close to home; it was about the direction of a program entering the Big 12.
What Hunter Clegg Brings to the Edge
Let's talk about the tape. If you watch his high school highlights from American Fork, you see a kid who plays with a relentless motor.
He doesn't just run around tackles; he goes through them.
- Explosiveness: He has a first step that catches offensive linemen leaning.
- Versatility: He can play in a two-point stance or with his hand in the dirt.
- Pursuit: He doesn't give up on plays, often chasing down running backs from the backside.
During the 2025 season, we started to see those flashes translate to the college level. Even with the "mission rust" that everyone talks about, Clegg found his way onto the field. He actually made his first career start against the very team he decommitted from—Utah. Talk about a "welcome back" moment. He didn't just play; he recorded his first career sack in that game.
The Jay Hill Factor
You can't discuss Hunter Clegg BYU football impact without mentioning Jay Hill. When Hill took over the defense, he made it clear that the Cougars needed to get more athletic up front. He wanted "long, fast, and mean" players.
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Clegg fits that mold perfectly.
The defense Hill runs is aggressive. It requires ends who can win one-on-one matchups without needing a complex blitz package to get home. In 2025, Clegg finished the season with 10 total tackles and a sack, but the stats don't tell the whole story. His 10 quarterback pressures in limited snaps showed he was consistently disruptive.
Managing the "Mission Rust"
It’s a real thing. You can’t go two years without high-level conditioning and expect to dominate on day one. Some guys never get their speed back. Others take a full year just to feel like themselves again.
The BYU coaching staff has been smart with him. They didn't overwork him early. In 2025, he played in all 13 games, including the bowl win against Georgia Tech, but his snap counts were monitored. This approach was designed to keep his legs fresh while he rebuilt the muscle mass he lost abroad.
Going into the 2026 season, the training wheels are likely coming off.
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Why This Matters for the Big 12
BYU is in a different world now. In the old Independent days, you could get by with "try-hard" guys and great scheme. In the Big 12, you're facing NFL-caliber tackles every Saturday. You need Sunday-level talent to compete.
Hunter Clegg is that talent.
He is part of a young core—alongside guys like Tausili Akana—that represents the "New BYU." These are recruits who had offers from everywhere but chose Provo because they believe the program can actually win the conference.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you’re following Clegg’s career, keep an eye on these specific indicators of growth over the next few months:
- Weight Gain: Look for him to settle in around 255-260 pounds. If he can keep his speed at 그 weight, he becomes a nightmare for Big 12 tackles.
- Hand Usage: As he shakes off the mission rust, his technical hand-fighting will improve. Watch if he starts winning with more than just a speed rush.
- Third-Down Snaps: His value is highest as a pass-rush specialist. If he starts staying on the field for first and second down run-stopping, it means the coaches trust his strength.
Hunter Clegg's journey from American Fork to BYU (via a few other stops) is a reminder of how volatile recruiting can be. But for the Cougars, it was a massive win that is just beginning to pay dividends on the field.
Keep an eye on #90. He’s just getting started.