Local Standout Kash Dillon is Set to Officially Visit BYU

"It’s down to BYU and Utah," Dillon told Cougs Daily. "I’d like to announce by mid-July if not sooner." Dillon held competing offers from various Power Five programs like Washington, Arizona State, Washington State, Arizona, Oregon State, and Vanderbilt among others. Regardless of his multiple opportunities out of state, he has decided to play his college ball in the state of Utah.

BYU's new defensive staff has made Dillon a top priority since they were hired. They will have one more chance to make a strong impression this weekend when Dillon takes his BYU official visit.

New Defensive Staff Made an Early Impression

Kash Dillon has been in contact with BYU for a long time. He received a BYU offer back in 2021 from Coach Hadley. While Dillon has seen his recruiting profile take off in the last 18 months, BYU has turned over its defensive staff. After last season, BYU hired Weber State head coach Jay Hill as its new defensive coordinator. In the few months since they were hired, Jay Hill and defensive ends coach Kelly Poppinga have made an impression on Kash. "Whenever I talk to Coach Poppinga or Coach Hill, they say how excited they are about me and I have the skills they’re looking for in an Open End," Dillon said. "They are always telling me how aggressive this defense is and point out that they have big plans for me coming off the edge getting after the QB."

Dillon has grown especially close with BYU defensive ends coach Kelly Poppinga. "It’s really good," Dillon said on his relationship with Coach Poppinga. "I feel like we get each other. He understands what my strengths are and tells me how [my strengths are] what they're looking for. I’m excited to see how he’ll be able to develop them even more."

He's also established relationships with Justin Ena, Jan Jorgensen, and Jay Hill. "Reviewing film with Coach Poppinga and Coach Jorgensen really helped me understand the potential they see in me. I feel a lot of love from all of them and know that I’m a priority for them."

Scheme and fit within a defense is one of Dillon's top priorities in his recruitment. "Last year I played in a 3-4 defense and I didn’t feel like I could influence the game as much because I was double teamed almost the entire game" Dillon said in an earlier interview with Cougs Daily.

Under BYU's prior defensive staff, the defensive line was often tasked with taking on double teams in three-man fronts. That left Dillon feeling like BYU's previous scheme wouldn't have been the best fit. "Because of that, I wasn’t really considering BYU as an option," Dillon said in the same earlier interview. "This new staff has me excited and I’m really looking forward to how the scheme will look this fall."

Kash Dillon the Prospect

It doesn't take long to see why Kash Dillon has become one of the most coveted in-state prospects in the class of 2024. He has ideal length at 6'5 and his athletic frame has the room to add good weight. He has a quick first step off the line of scrimmage and he uses his hands efficiently to create space and get to the quarterback. He also lines up at tight end where he is a weapon in the passing game. You can check out his junior highlights below.

BYU has done really well to make up ground in Dillon's recruitment. BYU was out of the picture until the new defensive staff was hired. Six months later, the Cougars are in the top two. As BYU implements a new defensive scheme and prepares for the Big 12, it will need to recruit more defensive ends that can disrupt the quarterback. Dillon fits that mold. He is one of the most important recruits on BYU's board in the 2024 class.

The upcoming weekend is one of the most important recruiting weekends of the cycle for BYU. BYU would do really well to get Dillon on board - his addition would accelerate the vision that Jay Hill and his staff have for BYU's defense.