Title: “Diamond in the Rough: BYU Lands Hidden Gem from Manti”
In the crisp mountain air of central Utah, a star was quietly rising. Nestled in the town of Manti—a community better known for its pioneer heritage than football headlines—stood 6-foot-4, 200-pound wide receiver Eli Taggart, a name few outside of the 3A ranks had heard. Until now.
Last night, Brigham Young University made headlines across Cougar Nation with a surprise commitment: Taggart, a rangy, physical wideout with hands like Velcro and deceptive 4.5 speed, announced via a short video filmed on the turf of LaVell Edwards Stadium that he would be suiting up in royal blue. The video, simple yet powerful, showed Taggart catching a fade route in slow motion before turning to face the camera. “I’m coming home,” he said. “Go Cougs.”
To many fans, it was a question mark: Who is this kid?
To BYU’s receivers coach Fesi Sitake, it was a calculated move—the culmination of months of quiet observation, late-night film reviews, and small-town visits. “He’s a diamond in the rough,” Sitake said in a statement. “You don’t measure a player’s worth by stars or exposure. You measure it by hunger, and Eli’s starving to prove himself.”
Taggart’s journey to Provo didn’t follow the standard recruiting playbook. With no Nike camps or ESPN showcases to boost his profile, Eli played his senior season under the Friday night lights of Manti High with a chip on his shoulder. And he delivered—racking up 1,102 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns, and a staggering 19.6 yards per catch, often drawing double teams despite being Manti’s only true deep threat.
“He’s got that ‘go-up-and-get-it’ mentality,” said Manti head coach Kade Parry. “He’s not afraid of contact. He blocks like a linebacker and runs routes like he’s been doing it in the SEC. BYU’s getting a baller.”
The Cougars, currently reloading after a tough Big 12 season, have made it a priority to find homegrown talent that fits their culture. Taggart’s profile checks every box: high character, high ceiling, and a toughness molded by farm work, long drives to regional combines, and a self-made highlight reel that blew up only after a regional scout shared it with BYU’s staff on a whim.
“He’s raw,” one BYU assistant admitted off the record. “But raw doesn’t mean unready. We’ve had NFL receivers who didn’t show half this kid’s grit.”
Taggart plans to enroll early, hoping to get a head start on the Cougars’ weight program and earn a spot on special teams. But his real goal is bigger. “I’m not coming to sit,” he said in a local interview. “I’m coming to compete. I believe I can be WR1.”
It’s a bold claim—but then again, so was BYU’s decision to take a chance on a small-town receiver without a single Power Five offer before theirs.
And sometimes, bold is exactly what you need to uncover a diamond in the rough.
