Kapisi readies for final season of long run at BYU

Maui High graduate in mix to start at free safety, to contribute more on special teams for Cougars

Jared Kapisi knows his college football career has been anything but conventional.

Kapisi is a 2014 Maui High School graduate who is ready to challenge for a starting spot at free safety for Brigham Young University this fall.

With a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an extra year of eligibility granted due to COVUD-19, Kapisi is in his eighth season since his last as a Saber.

"It doesn't feel that long, but, yeah, yes," Kapisi said Thursday via phone from Provo, Utah, after practice. "You know, it's surreal still, but honestly it's a blessing. I feel like a lot of dudes who leave here they wish they could be playing still, I could speak for a lot of people that are done with college football.

"I could have been done last year, but I just love it so much that I felt like I needed to leave on a better note. So, I really wanted to come back and contribute what I could."

After redshirting as a true freshman in 2014, Kapisi served his mission in Scottsdale, Ariz., before playing on the scout team in 2017. He has nine career tackles since then, including five last season.

He played in 12 games in 2018, two in 2019 and eight last season. He was awarded a scholarship shortly after the 2020 season concluded.

"I definitely feel like I'm in a better spot right now to contribute," he said. "I'm definitely on a lot more special teams positions and I'm just competing right now for the starting spot at free safety. That's what I'm looking at right now and definitely looking forward to competing throughout the whole year. It's a long season, so I'm excited."

The Cougars open the season with three straight Pac-12 Conference opponents, starting with Arizona on Sept. 4 at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Kapisi will never forget the 11-1 season BYU put together in 2020 behind quarterback Zach Wilson, the second pick in the NFL draft by the New York Jets.

"It was great, it was awesome, honestly," Kapisi said. "I really loved getting to compete with a guy like Zach, who will make you better. He's just a phenomenal athlete, so it was great to be able to see that and play against that (in practice). That definitely made me better and now I feel like I'm at a high level because of that.

"Also, just having that run, being able to contribute and play big games for us was really fun for me. Last year was the most playing (time) that I've had since being here at BYU, so I felt really good about it."

When Kapisi, 24, was quietly called into head coach Kalani Sitake's office last winter he wasn't sure what for, but it turned out to be the notification that he was being put on scholarship.

"That was a huge blessing," he said. "Also, I was going to stay regardless, but that was a huge motivating factor. I mean, shout out to Kalani Sitake for just blessing me and my wife. It was a big blessing to be put on scholarship and just focus on football. That was a big thing for me wanting to continue to stay. ... I can focus on football, I can focus on being the best me I can be."

Kapisi met his wife Makayla at BYU and they got married last year. Kapisi recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in experience design and management.

"We can for sure say this is my last season with BYU," he said. "They gave us the COVID year, so I was, like, 'Let's go.' "

The quiet moment in Sitake's office is something he will never forget.

"I wanted to contribute to my brothers, but it was more of just a milestone," Kapisi said. "I can say I came to college and I earned a scholarship. It means a lot coming from a small place like Maui, where you don't get recruited very well."

As a former walk-on, Kapisi was touched by what BYU did for walk-ons through the new name, image and likeness rules adopted by the NCAA that allows student-athletes to profit while still in school.

BYU told 35 football walk-ons that they would be paid the equivalent of a one-year tuition scholarship if they would sign an NIL deal with Built Brands, LLC, a Utah-based company that produces energy products.

"I know the sacrifice that it takes and it was great to see just how much emotion that everybody had, walk-ons or scholarship guys" Kapisi said. "Just how happy they were for the people getting the money. I think it's an indescribable feeling to know that your school's taken care of and that you're going to be able to provide for your family or for yourself, something better than what you were. I think that's huge."

Kapisi says he thinks about the NFL, but for now he is just trying to enjoy his last go-round with the Cougars. Representing where he grew up is important to him.

"I reflect a lot on that, like, just how much coaches, people in the community -- I mean I could name a lot of names -- but just the amount of people that have contributed to me getting to this moment in my life, I think about it often," Kapisi said.

The earliest days of his football career are still vivid in his mind.

"I think about my very first year of high school, I had just started playing football," Kapisi said. "As long ago as that was, (then-Maui High) coach David Bui was my very first head coach and that relationship, when I still see him, it's great to see him and I just feel so grateful for coaches, teachers, just people from that community on Maui that helped me get to this moment, my parents (Miki and Joe).

"I do think about that all the time and to represent them and just to make them proud, whether they see it or they don't, it means a lot to me."

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.