BYU Lands Another Impact In-Conference Transfer

Kirkland, a former standout at Roy High School, started his college career at Utah Tech before transferring to Oklahoma State, where he played in all 26 games over the past two seasons.

In 2024, he tallied 18 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a sack, earning a 70.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking him as the third-highest graded defender on the Cowboys’ roster.

He’ll join a BYU defensive front needing size, experience, and production. Kirkland is expected to line up next to Keanu Tanuvasa, another in-state product who transferred from Utah earlier this offseason. Together, they should anchor a retooled interior starting to take shape.

There’s also a homecoming element here. Kirkland reunites with former high school teammate Parker Kingston, now a receiver and all-conference level return man for the Cougars. That connection, plus a chance to play in front of family and friends in Provo, likely helped seal the deal.

For Oklahoma State, it’s a notable loss from a defense already facing turnover.

But for BYU, this is exactly the kind of addition the staff needed—an experienced Big 12 body who can plug gaps, eat space, and bring stability to a defense looking to repeat its success from a season ago.