Top college football players join the transfer portal for a variety of reasons, the majority of which are connected to playing time, or a lack thereof, and the desire to optimize their income in today’s world of revenue sharing and name, image, and likeness possibilities.
However, for new BYU tight end Roger Saleapaga, an Orem High graduate who spent the previous two seasons at Big Ten powerhouse Oregon, the decision was much easier.
“I just wanted to get back home again,” the 6-foot-4, 245-pounder told the Deseret News following the Cougars’ third spring training in March. “That’s the bottom line, really. “
The last time college football fans saw Saleapaga, he was hauling a touchdown pass in the Ducks’ devastating 56-22 defeat to Indiana in the Peach Bowl, sometimes known as the College Football Playoff semifinals on January 9. But that highlight was not representative of his stint in Eugene; he caught only three passes for 26 yards in 2025 as UO’s third tight end.
Saleapaga, a four-star prospect out of Orem according to Rivals. com and a three-star recruit and the country’s No. 32 tight end according to 247Sports, played in 11 games as a freshman but did not catch a pass.
Saleapaga has two seasons of eligibility left, plus a redshirt to use. On January 12, he joined the transfer portal and quickly received a call from BYU, which had extensively courted him out of high school.
“I had a sensation that BYU was going to be the first school to call. … I ended up taking a trip, and practically immediately I knew, “Yeah, I’m coming back home. “”
— Roger Saleapaga, BYU’s new tight end
“I had a feeling BYU was going to be the first school to call,” he said. “… I ended up paying a visit, and nearly immediately I said, ‘Yeah, I’m coming back home. ‘”
Saleapaga’s brother, Keanu, played offensive and defensive lines for BYU from 2017 to 2021, having transferred to the Cougars from La Mirada High in California. The whole Saleapaga family relocated to Utah County during Keanu’s career, thus Roger grew up there.
“I’ve pretty much known about BYU and been in and out of their buildings my whole life,” Saleapaga remarked.
During his freshman year at Oregon, Saleapaga converted to the religion that supports BYU, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is the only member of the church in his family.
“I’ve been in (the church) for almost two years now,” he says. “Yes sir, I adore it. “
