Corbin Kaufusi to play Football & Basketball in 2016-17

PROVO - Dave Rose and the BYU Basketball program made it official Friday that forward Corbin Kaufusi will be playing both football and basketball this upcoming academic year for the Cougars.

Corbin’s career at BYU comes full-circle as he originally planned on playing football for BYU when he signed his letter of intent back in 2011.

At Timpview High, Kaufusi was a two-sport star for the T-Birds. During his prep career, Corbin stood at 6’6”, and was listed at that height when he signed his letter of intent to play football. Now Corbin is standing at 6’10”, which ties for the tallest athlete to ever to play at BYU on the gridiron.

When Kaufusi came back from his mission, the football staff was planning on switching Corbin to the offensive line. With a lack of an immediate opportunity for him in football, and his sudden growth spurt while on the mission, Kaufusi switched to hoops.

In Kaufusi's first two seasons as a Cougar Cager, he showed significant improvement. But has Kaufusi reached his ceiling in basketball? That's why it's smart for Kaufusi to throw on the helmet and pads again by giving football a try. With the new approach to defensive line play and a larger need for more personnel at that position, Kaufusi could have an opportunity right away.

Kaufusi will be a scholarship athlete for the football program and will be a walk-on on with the hoops team. Dave Rose now has the flexibility to add another player to next year's roster with the scholarship left open by Kaufusi.

Corbin now follows in the footsteps of his older brother, Bronson, who for a season (2012-13) played both football and basketball as well at BYU.

Now graduated from the program, Bronson is currently preparing for next week’s NFL Draft. Could a permanent switch to the football field result in a similar career for the younger Kaufusi? Time will tell. But having a 6’10” defensive end that might have better athleticism than his NFL-bound older brother is definitely a nice developmental project for defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki and defensive line coach, Steve Kaufusi who knows his son’s talents better than anyone.

With proven rushers in Sione Takitaki, Sae Tautu, and Tomasi Laulile already in the fold along the defensive line and then the addition of three-star prospect Uriah Leiataua who returns from his mission, BYU’s defensive line will have good talent up front and Kaufusi will be another intriguing piece to that talented mix.

Mitch Harper is the Publisher of Cougar Nation and the lead BYU reporter for 1320 KFAN in Salt Lake City and hosts the weekly BYU podcast Cougar Center available on iTunes and 1320KFAN.com. Follow Mitch on Twitter at @Mitch_Harper.

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