BYU quarterback Baylor Romney (16) is about to throw in the first half of the Independence Bowl NCAA college football game against the UAB in Shreveport, La., Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Matthew Hinton, Associated Press)
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PROVO – Not everyone who leaves school at the end of the year completes their graduation or supports the NFL draft.
For some, it’s just time for a change of scenery – a transfer or some other move. We’ve talked about several BYU football players who have chosen the NFL draft – like running back from Tyler Allgeier and center James Empey – and others who have chosen another year like running back from Lopini Katoa. You can read about it here.
But others will look to another place to play or otherwise move away from the program for the next season.
Let’s start with the (backup) quarterback.
Baylor Romney, QB, El Paso, Texas
Romney announced on New Year’s Eve that he had played his final snapshots for the Cougars. The Redshirt runner-up, who played three seasons at BYU, ended his final season with 779 yards and six touchdowns, including 195 yards in a 15-of-23 pass in the Cougars’ 31-28 loss to UAB in the Independence Bowl .
Originally from the Mormon colonies in Mexico and graduating from high school in El Paso, Texas, the quarterback is primarily a backup during his time at BYU, starting 1,793 yards and 14 air touchdowns and just three Interceptions.
He is best known, however, as the older brother of wide receiver Gunner Romney, as well as a starting backup quarterback and then No. 23 Boise State 28-25 when he first started his career in 2019 when he got 63.5% of annual passes for Completed 747 yards and seven touchdowns with just two interceptions.
“The last four years have been full of ups and downs, but I’m grateful for the memories I made and the person I became playing football at BYU,” Romney wrote on Instagram. “My teammates have become my brothers and I will miss them the most. I am grateful for the lifelong relationships I have made. Thank you to all of my coaches, family and friends for your love and support!
“I’m not sure what’s next, but it’s time for me to move on and I’m looking forward to the next challenge.”
Romney’s wife Elise, a pole vaulter on the Cougars track and field team, recently graduated from BYU and, according to her Instagram bio, recently enrolled in the physician assistant program at Rocky Mountain University in Provo. Romney’s brother also faces a similar decision – stay or go, with the junior eligible for the NFL draft in April.
Baylor Romney could also support the design. But he’s more likely to find another program – he’s already on the NCAA transfer portal, a source KSL.com has confirmed. It’s also unclear whether Romney plans to continue playing football after suffering a host of injuries – particularly head injuries – during his tenure at Provo.
The move clears up a crowded quarterback room at BYU, but only marginally. Quarterback Jaren Hall is expected to return for his junior season to a group that currently includes former four-star recruit Jacob Conover, fellow student Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters, the transfer of Boise State Cade Fennegan, the Utah- Transfer Nick Billoups and the California native belong to Rhett Reilly.
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