New Mexico State Transfer Ethan Wood Commits to BYU Football
In a major early splash to open the 2025 spring transfer window, BYU Football has landed New Mexico State standout Ethan Wood. The versatile 6-foot-4, 215-pound wide receiver officially announced his commitment late Friday night, choosing the Cougars over offers from Utah, Arizona State, and Boise State.
Wood, a sophomore who turned heads with a breakout season in Las Cruces, tallied 64 receptions for 912 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2024. Known for his blend of size, speed, and a seemingly magnetic ability to find soft spots in defenses, Wood immediately becomes a centerpiece of BYU’s evolving offense under second-year head coach Jay Hill.
“This is the place where I can become the best version of myself — on and off the field,” Wood said in a statement released through BYU’s official channels. “The culture, the opportunity, and the belief the coaches have in me — it just felt right from the first conversation.”
Recruiting insiders had long speculated that BYU’s offensive system, with its emphasis on big, physical receivers and vertical passing concepts, would be an ideal fit for Wood’s game. Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick made Wood a priority from the moment his name hit the transfer portal, flying to Las Cruces the first night the portal opened.
Wood’s commitment marks the first addition of the spring portal cycle for BYU, who is looking to retool a roster that went 6-6 in its inaugural Big 12 season and narrowly missed out on a bowl game. With multiple veteran wideouts graduating, the need for an instant-impact receiver was urgent.
“Ethan brings exactly what we were looking for — dynamic playmaking ability, a team-first attitude, and a hunger to compete against the best,” Coach Hill said. “We’re building something special here, and guys like Ethan are a huge part of that vision.”
Sources close to the program described Wood’s official visit to Provo earlier this month as “a perfect storm.” He connected immediately with rising quarterback Ryder Burton, and reportedly spent over an hour in film study with Roderick, breaking down BYU’s passing concepts. Several current players took to social media after his visit, hinting that something big was coming.
Wood isn’t just a gifted athlete. Off the field, he’s earned All-Academic honors and is pursuing a degree in business management, another factor that made BYU’s reputation for academic excellence appealing.
Fans are already buzzing about Wood’s potential impact
