Why former 4-star tight end recruit Roger Saleapaga left Oregon for BYU
Tight end Roger Saleapaga explains why he left Big Ten power Oregon and "came back home" to BYU after two seasons with the Ducks.
BYU tight end Roger Saleapaga in action during spring camp in Provo on Feb. 27, 2026. | Aaron Cornia, BYU Photo Top college football players have various reasons for entering the transfer portal, most of them related to playing time, or lack thereof, and the desire to maximize their earnings in this day and age of revenue sharing and name, image and likeness opportunities.
But for new BYU tight end Roger Saleapaga , an Orem High product who was at Big Ten powerhouse Oregon the past two seasons, the decision was much more simple. “I just wanted to get back home again,” the 6-foot-4, 245-pounder told the Deseret News after the Cougars’ third spring practice in March. “That’s the bottom line, really.
” The last time college football fans saw Saleapaga, he was catching a touchdown pass in the Ducks’ humbling 56-22 loss to Indiana in the Peach Bowl, otherwise known as the College Football Playoff semifinals on Jan. 9. But that highlight wasn’t really indicative of his time in Eugene; he caught only three passes for 26 yards in 2025 as UO’s third tight end.
Oregon tight end Roger Saleapaga (83) pulls in a touchdown pass against Indiana defensive back Devan Boykin (12) during the Peach Bowl college football playoff semifinal, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. | Danny Karnik, Associated Press Saleapaga, who was a four-star recruit out of Orem, according to Rivals.
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