What does UCLA transfer linebacker Choe Bryant-Strother add to the BYU defense?
When BYU secured UCLA transfer Choe Bryant-Strother in early June, the linebacker from Georgia and half-brother of former BYU basketball star Elijah Bryant was initially viewed as a depth addition.
Now, with star linebacker Ben Bywater announcing his medical retirement from college football last week, Bryant-Strother’s transfer is seen as a crucial acquisition for the Cougars’ defense.
Bryant-Strother, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound senior with two years of eligibility left, has transitioned from an insurance policy to a potential key player in second-year coordinator Jay Hill’s defense. Hill confirmed that Bryant-Strother is “absolutely” capable of earning a starting spot, stating, “We wouldn’t have brought him in if he wasn’t. We don’t bring those kind of guys in unless we think that they can beat people out.”
Bryant-Strother, whose first name is pronounced “CHAY,” earned a sociology degree during his four years at UCLA and is now considered a graduate transfer. Due to the 2020 pandemic year not counting towards eligibility and redshirting in 2021 after appearing in only one game, he could play for BYU for two years and potentially earn a master’s degree.
Bryant-Strother entered the transfer portal to play linebacker consistently, having shifted between outside linebacker, inside linebacker, and edge rusher at UCLA. “I felt the best was for me to be inside (as a linebacker),” he said. “I just thought BYU would be the best place to do that.”
He committed to BYU on June 6, choosing the Cougars over Cal-Berkeley and Arizona State, unaware at the time of Bywater’s uncertain future. “But I’ve learned now that it is a big loss,” he said. “I love the guy. He is a ball player, and it sucks that we don’t have him.”
In fall camp, Bryant-Strother is learning all three linebacker positions—Rover, Mack, and Sam—and feels “comfortable” playing any of them, whether rotating in games or throughout the season. “I love everything that is going on in camp, and am just trying to soak in as much as possible every day,” he said.
Bryant-Strother played in 32 games at UCLA, with his best season in 2022, recording 22 tackles in 13 games. His playing time decreased in 2023, with 10 tackles and a sack in 11 games. BYU had recruited him out of high school when he was a three-star recruit but chose UCLA instead. When he entered the transfer portal again, there was mutual interest between him and BYU.
“There was a connection with his brother playing basketball here at BYU. He was a phenomenal athlete out of high school that we knew about,” Hill said. “He had a good career at UCLA, and when he was available I just think he added a lot of depth to our linebacker room. And he’s just elevated the competition in that room.”
Hill emphasized that it wasn’t a given Bryant-Strother would choose BYU again, despite his brother’s positive experience. “I think there was some interest, but we had to recruit him to get him here, because there were other schools interested as well,” Hill said.
Bryant-Strother, who played with four- and five-star talent at UCLA, believes BYU has similar talent. “We got talent here, for sure. I would have never came here if I didn’t feel like this was a good program and there was talent everywhere,” he said. “I think the whole linebacker room is talented, and it definitely brings out the best in everybody every day.”
His full brother, Elijah Bryant, who played for BYU and was part of the Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA championship team in 2021, influenced his decision. Although they are technically half-brothers, Choe considers them “full brothers” because they grew up together. “My family is very tight with the BYU athletic community. We are great friends with Tom (Holmoe) and everybody here. My brother and my family, everybody is strong in (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), so it is just a great connection,” Bryant-Strother said.
“When I told him I was interested in BYU, and that me and BYU were in contact when I entered the portal, he was excited,” he continued. “I wouldn’t say he was pushing me to come here, but he definitely made me consider it, and I am so happy that I did.”
