Carsen Ryan’s Late Arrival at BYU Turned Out to Be Right on Time
When BYU hit the transfer portal last offseason, the headlines went to the big names - defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa from Utah and offensive tackle Andrew Gentry from Michigan. But as the season unfolded, it became clear that tight end Carsen Ryan might’ve been the most impactful addition not named Bear Bachmeier.
Ryan, a former standout at American Fork and Timpview, has taken the long road to Provo. After starting his college career at UCLA, then transferring to Utah in 2024, he finally found his stride with the Cougars in 2025. And what a difference he made.
With BYU’s tight end room struggling to produce - Keanu Hill, Mata’ava Ta’ase, and Ryner Swanson combined for just 31 receptions and 290 yards in 2024 - Ryan stepped in and filled the gap with authority. He finished the regular season as BYU’s third-leading receiver, hauling in 37 catches for 500 yards and three touchdowns. More than just stats, Ryan gave the Cougars a reliable target in the middle of the field and a physical presence in the run game.
“Carsen has been everything we expected him to be,” said offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick. “He’s been great.”
And he’s not done yet.
With the No. 12 Cougars (11-2) set to face No.
22 Georgia Tech (9-3) in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Dec. 27 in Orlando, Ryan is all in - no opt-out, no hesitation. While bowl season has increasingly become a time when top players choose to sit out to protect their NFL futures, Ryan isn’t wired that way.
“I am not in the position to do that, but even if I was, I feel like I would still want to play in this game,” he said. “You never know. Any game could be your last game playing football.”
That mindset speaks volumes. Ryan’s journey has been shaped by setbacks and second chances.
He played in just five games as a freshman at UCLA in 2022 before a season-ending injury. That year could be wiped from his eligibility if the NCAA grants his waiver request - but he’s not banking on it.
“I have applied, but I am treating this season like I am training to go full-go to the NFL right now,” Ryan said. “That’s the goal.”
He’s already preparing for the next step, selecting Carter Chow - son of longtime coach Norm Chow - as his agent for NIL and NFL Draft representation. But before any pro dreams take center stage, Ryan is focused on one last ride with his teammates.
“This game means a lot to me,” he said. “I would be upset with myself if I didn’t play in this game and give myself one more chance to have one more game with my brothers and have fun.”
That attitude seems to be shared throughout the BYU locker room. As of Friday, no major players had opted out of the bowl game, aside from a few backups planning to enter the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2.
“Everyone is excited, still,” Ryan said. “We still bring the same energy, same intensity to practice.
It is not a vacation or a week off for us. It is another serious game that we want to go out there and win.”
And it won’t come easy. Georgia Tech is no pushover.
The Yellow Jackets are coming off a tight 16-9 loss to No. 3 Georgia and boast the ACC’s Quarterback of the Year in Haynes King.
Ryan knows what kind of challenge awaits.
“They are a good team. They are good defensively.
They have a lot of really good players on that team. They all work together.
Everyone does their job. So it’s gonna be a tough game,” he said.
“They only lost three games this year, and those losses were to really good teams.”
For Ryan, this season has been about more than just football. It’s been a personal and professional reset - a fresh start that came at just the right time.
“I have loved it here. Every second I have been here has been fun,” he said.
“There have been ups and downs. With football, it has been a good year for me, and the relationships I’ve made with the coaches and players will last forever.”
He added, “I wish I could have had more time at this place. I wish I got here sooner. But everything happened for a reason, and I’m grateful for my journey and how I’ve gotten here, and that Kalani and his staff found a place for me here.”
That journey also included meeting his fiancée, Jayne Basso, during his time at UCLA. She’s finishing her degree in Los Angeles, and the two are planning to get married in June.
“We are excited to start this whole new chapter of our lives together,” Ryan said.
For now, there’s still one more chapter to write in his college football story - one more game, one more chance to suit up with his teammates, and one more opportunity to show what he can do on a national stage.
And if his season with BYU has been any indication, Ryan’s not just playing for the moment - he’s putting together a resume that could carry him straight into the league.