Oregon linebacker transfer Harrison Taggart signs with BYU

PROVO, Utah — BYU football has signed Oregon linebacker transfer Harrison Taggart. 

A 6-foot-2, 230-pound native of Draper, Utah, Taggart comes to BYU with four years of eligibility after appearing in three games as a true freshman while utilizing a redshirt season at Oregon in 2022.  

Taggart was a consensus top-40 linebacker as a four-star prep recruit out of Corner Canyon High School. He was rated the No. 25 outside linebacker by ESPN, No. 33 at the position by Rivals, No. 35 linebacker in the country according to 247Sports and No. 39 at the position by the 247 composite. Taggart ranked among the top 300 overall players in the country at 285th by ESPN, while being listed 345th by the 247 composite. Known for his speed, Taggart also ran track in high school where he recorded a 10.7-second time in the 100-meter dash. 

ESPN rated Taggart as the top-ranked outside linebacker from Utah while 247Sports ranked Taggart as the No. 2 overall linebacker from the state.

A consensus overall top-10 player from Utah by ESPN (No. 5), 247Sports (No. 5), the 247 composite (No. 5) and Rivals (No. 7), Taggart helped the Chargers to a 40-2 overall record and two state championships and a state runner-up finish as a three-year letterman. He finished his prep career with 237 tackles (151 solo) with 22 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles while averaging 7.2 tackles per game. He totaled nine double-figure tackle games, including five games with 15-plus tackles. In eight career playoff games, he totaled 64 tackles (40 solo) with seven tackles for loss, two sacks, three quarterback hurries, one interception and two pass breakups.

Named a 2021 MaxPreps Preseason second-team All-American, Taggart was named Deseret News 6A first-team all-state as a senior after leading team to a 12-2 record, a conference championship and a runner-up finish in the 2021 UHSAA 6A State Playoffs. He finished his senior season with 97 tackles (71 solo) with three tackles for loss, one sack, one QB hurry and two pass breakups.

As a junior, Taggart helped lead Corner Canyon to a 14-0 record, a conference championship and a state championship in the 2020 UHSAA 6A State Playoffs. He earned 2020 MaxPreps first-team All-America, MaxPreps Utah first-team all-state and Deseret News 6A first-team all-state recognition for his outstanding play, finishing the season with 140 tackles (80 solo) in 14 games with 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, three interceptions, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

As a sophomore, Taggart helped the Chargers to a 14-0 record (5-0 6A Region 4), a conference championship and a 2019 UHSAA 6A state championship while playing on offense. He recorded eight receptions for 179 yards and one touchdown, while averaging 22.4 yards per catch and 35.8 yards per game.

Taggart earned recruiting attention out of high school by many Power 5 programs, including Arizona, Boston College, California, Colorado, Duke, Indiana, Louisville, Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon State, UCLA, USC, Utah, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Washington State.