“Former American Fork star Hunter Clegg signs with BYU football.”

PROVO, Utah – Former American Fork High standout Hunter Clegg will continue his football career at BYU.

Clegg, a four-star EDGE rusher recruit in the class of 2023, originally signed with the University of Utah at American Fork High.

Hunter Clegg signs with BYU Football

But after two years of serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Armenia, Georgia, Clegg changed his mind.

Clegg returned home from his mission last week and ultimately signed with BYU.

Welcome to the family @HunterClegg 🤙 pic.twitter.com/tcFSLiJPo1

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) December 23, 2024

“When you go on a mission you don’t know how it’s going to change you, but for me my goals for football became even more of a reality,” Clegg told KSL Sports.

“I learned to be disciplined and pursue my mission and proved to myself that my college and NFL dreams can truly become a reality. Being in an environment where I can work on a process to become great and surround myself with people and things that lift me up. This became my top priority, both on and off the field. BYU has become an extremely good place for that.”

Serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Individuals who choose to serve a mission for the Church will pause their sports activities for two years.

Despite the pause in his athletic pursuits, Clegg felt that his missionary service benefited him in unexpected ways.

“My mission was great. I consider it the best decision I ever made and the best thing I could ever do,” Clegg said. “Elder (D. Todd) Christofferson visited our mission and told us that the best way to improve yourself is to focus on and serve others. I spent my days serving others, and even though I wasn’t focused on myself, it actually helped me become better than if I focused on my own goals.”

Talented EDGE rusher

During his senior year at American Fork High School in 2022, Clegg had 61 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and eight sacks. As a junior, Clegg scored another six sacks.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound prospect was selected for the 2023 Polynesian Bowl, where he stood out with a sack and a game-loss tackle.

Coming out of American Fork, Clegg had offers from Utah, Stanford, UCLA, Arizona, Baylor, Michigan, LSU, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon and others.

“BYU is not the same as it was when I left my mission; “The coaches are as good and dedicated as anyone else,” Clegg said. The scheme has changed. The strength program is now elite. The diet has changed. BYU football is willing to put in as much work as necessary to become the best team possible and be competitive.”

Clegg will enroll at BYU for the winter semester on Jan. 8 and will participate in spring football practices.

He joins a defensive end unit that will replace First Team All-Big 12 player Tyler Batty and graduates Isaiah Bagnah and Logan Lutui.

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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