BYU secures a commitment from UCLA transfer Choe Bryant-Strother, the brother of former BYU basketball standout Elijah Bryant.
BYU landed a notable transfer Thursday, when former UCLA linebacker Choe Bryant-Strother announced his commitment to the Cougars on Instagram.
Bryant-Strother, the brother of former BYU men’s basketball star Elijah Bryant, was sought after by BYU in 2020 after graduating from Greater Atlanta Christian School, where he was ranked as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports.
Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 235 pounds, he ultimately committed to UCLA, opting for the Bruins over several prestigious programs such as Michigan, Tennessee, LSU, Miami, Texas A&M, and others.
He went on to see action during his four seasons at UCLA, playing sparingly overall while recording 38 career tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack.
Over the last two seasons, Bryant-Strother appeared in 24 games for the Bruins, his most productive years, racking up 29 tackles, two forced fumbles, a sack and a fumble recovery.
Bryant-Strother began his college career during the disrupted 2020 season and took a redshirt year in 2021, leaving him with two years of eligibility.
His addition boosts the depth of BYU’s linebacker group, which is led by Ben Bywater, Jack Kelly, Ace Kaufusi, and Harrison Taggart, with Maika Kaufusi and Isaiah Glasker also potential contributors.
Bryant-Strother could also serve as an edge rusher. BYU has long struggled to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks, ranking among the worst in the Power Five conferences. Last season, BYU was ranked 129th in sacks, with only 11, averaging less than one per game.
