BYU WR Darius Lassiter Weighs In On JUCO Waiver, Possible Return

SAN ANTONIO – Could BYU wide receiver Darius Lassiter make a return in 2025?

A week ago, that would have sounded like a crazy idea, as Lassiter was going through this year with the mindset of it being his last.

He needed a waiver last winter to officially be able to play this season, stemming from a dispute over a redshirt year at a junior college stop early in his career.

BYU WR Darius Lassiter shared his thoughts on the waiver granted to former JUCO athletes and the idea of possible return in 2025. pic.twitter.com/fqjjjn0Sl3

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 27, 2024

But that stop in the JUCO ranks at Butler Community College could possibly give Lassiter a chance to return to BYU in 2025.

Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia opened the door for this possibility to Darius Lassiter and other ex-JUCO athletes to get one more year of eligibility next season.

Pavia sued the NCAA, claiming their rule of counting years in junior college football toward NCAA eligibility violates an antitrust law. Being a JUCO athlete limited Pavia’s NIL opportunities.

Like most cases against the NCAA these days, Pavia won and was granted an injunction to play in 2025.

The lawsuit was initially an isolated case for Pavia.

However, since Pavia’s injunction, the NCAA is planning to give athletes who previously competed in the JUCO ranks and have expiring eligibility in the 2024-25 academic year an extra year in 2025-26 to avoid further lawsuits.

Will Darius Lassiter return to BYU in 2025?

So that means Lassiter could return to team up with Chase Roberts again in next year’s wide receiver unit.

Lassiter was asked his thoughts on the JUCO waiver and if he’s considered returning to BYU for next season after BYU’s final practice of the 2024 season in preparation for the Alamo Bowl.

“We talked about it a little bit, but [the coaches’] main focus was for me to be ready for the bowl game,” Lassiter said. “We’ll talk about that after the bowl game, and if that’s something I’d like to do, then we’ll see fit and keep it going.”

Lassiter, who is 24 years old, was asked if he would want to come back to BYU.

He replied, “It’s a possibility.”

Lassiter is gearing up for Saturday’s bowl matchup against the Colorado Buffaloes. He will miss the first half of the game due to an unsportsmanlike penalty he was called for in the Houston game on November 30.

But he will be available to play in the second half against the Buffs.

“We would be very excited to get those guys back”

Lassiter is one of a handful of BYU players who suddenly could have an extra year of eligibility due to their time at various JUCOs.

Along with Lassiter, First Team All-Big 12 offensive tackle Caleb Etienne, cornerback Mory Bamba, running back Hinckley Ropati, and tight end Ray Paulo fall under the waiver to give ex-JUCO players another year of eligibility.

“Well, I think that there’s still a lot out there to be decided on exactly what that ruling is,” said BYU defensive coordinator/associate head coach Jay Hill on Thursday. “But we do have a few really good players that fall into that on both sides of the ball, and we would be very excited to get those guys back if we can.”

No. 17 BYU vs. No. 23 Colorado

2024 Alamo Bowl

Date: Saturday, December 28th, 2024

Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. (MST)

TV: ABC

Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM — Extended pregame begins at Noon)

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.

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