BYU has its first quarterback of the Big 12 era.
Former USC and Pitt quarterback Kedon Slovis will transfer to BYU, the team announced Saturday morning. The fifth-year quarterback automatically becomes the presumed replacement for departing starter Jaren Hall.
“We are pleased to announce Kedon Slovis will be joining our football program,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said in a news release. “He’s an extremely talented quarterback with a wealth of experience as a successful starter at the Power 5 level.”
That said, BYU may not be finished in the quarterback transfer market this cycle, according to multiple sources close to the team.
Slovis spent the first three seasons of his career at USC before transferring to Pitt in 2022. He tallied 9,973 yards, 68 touchdowns and 33 interceptions in those four seasons.
Slovis became a nationally recognized name in 2019 after he beat out highly touted recruit JT Daniels for the starting job as a freshman. He threw for 3,502 yards and 30 touchdowns to just nine interceptions that year.
He also played against BYU during that season, finishing with 281 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in a loss at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
“Kedon is an effortless passer, great leader and one of the most accurate quarterbacks in college football,” BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said. “I’ve enjoyed watching his calm demeanor. He is always poised, never too high or too low. I have been so impressed with his methodical approach to this decision to come to BYU. I can’t wait for him to join us in January.”
By the end of 2019, Slovis was on the radar as a potential first-round draft pick and a Heisman Trophy contender.
But, from there, his career slowed. In 2020, he did not surpass the 2,000-yard threshold and never again threw for 2,400 yards. In his final year at USC, Slovis nearly lost his starting job to now-Ole Miss quarterback, and Corner Canyon alum, Jaxson Dart.
By the time Lincoln Riley took over the USC program, Slovis entered the transfer portal. At the time, the expectation was he would spend one more year in college before entering the NFL draft.
At Pitt, though, Slovis completed a career-low 58% of his passes. He threw for 10 touchdowns to nine interceptions as the Panthers went 8-4 in the regular season.
Slovis was one of a handful of high-profile transfer quarterbacks to visit BYU during this transfer cycle. Notre Dame quarterback Drew Pyne was also on campus, according to multiple sources close to the team, but transferred to Arizona State.
Slovis is joining a quarterback room that lacks experience, which is a main reason why BYU wanted to go to portal for its first year in the Big 12.
Cade Fennegan, Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters and Nick Billoups are the current quarterbacks Slovis will compete with for the job as of now. Maiava-Peters started BYU’s bowl game in Hall’s absence, but admitted after the game he would not be the presumed starter going into the offseason.
Neither Fennegan nor Billoups has thrown a pass at BYU thus far.
Injuries have been a concern for Slovis through his time at USC and Pitt. He dealt with a concussion early in his career and then had hamstring, elbow and neck injury throughout his USC tenure. At Pitt, he missed a game early in the year for an injury.
