PROVO, Utah\u00a0\u2013 An underrated standout during the 12-win season for BYU football in 2025 was John Taumoepeau.<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive tackle started in nine games and had 42 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery in his senior campaign.<\/p>\n
John Taumoepeau is seeking one more year with BYU football through a waiver<\/p>\n
Now, with his senior year at BYU in the rearview mirror, he would be preparing for a potential pro opportunity. Instead, he\u2019s looking at getting another season at BYU.<\/p>\n
Taumoepeau posted a message on X saying as much.<\/p>\n
Cougar nation need yall help ! Working on getting my Juco year back and need all the resources and connections I need. Please Pray for the NCAA to allow me to play with my brothers at BYU 1 more time\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffelove yall cougar nation pic.twitter.com\/g9l7bjnZYL<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John Taumoepeau (@john_taumoepeau) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cCougar nation need yall help (sic) ! Working on getting my Juco year back and need all the resources and connections I need. Please Pray for the NCAA to allow me to play with my brothers at BYU 1 more time,\u201d Taumoepeau posted on X.<\/p>\n Taumoepeau is a former transfer from Snow College. He was on the Snow College roster from 2021 to 2022.<\/p>\n He transferred to BYU in 2023, sat out that season, and played in 2024 and 2025, as the BYU program won 23 games over that stretch.<\/p>\n Last year, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia received an extra year of eligibility after suing the NCAA<\/a>, claiming that time spent in junior college that counted toward his NCAA eligibility violated antitrust law.<\/p>\n Pavia went on to win the case and played in the 2025 season for Vanderbilt, earning a spot as a Heisman Trophy finalist.<\/p>\n At the time, there was widespread misunderstanding that Pavia\u2019s situation would result in a blanket waiver granting extended eligibility to all former junior college players. That didn\u2019t happen, as former BYU wide receiver Darius Lassiter didn\u2019t receive an extra year<\/a>.<\/p>\n Could Taumoepeau get a similar outcome as Pavia? If it happens, it would be a pleasant surprise and a welcome boost to the interior of the BYU defensive line, which already has Keanu Tanuvasa and Anisi Purcell committed to return next season.<\/p>\n Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE<\/a>).\u00a0Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12\u20133 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.<\/p>\n Follow Mitch\u2019s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter)<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram:<\/a>\u00a0@Mitch_Harper.<\/p>\n Want more coverage of BYU sports? Take us with you wherever you go.<\/p>\n