The BYU Cougars football program has already made progress in building its 2026 recruiting class, securing commitments from a couple of promising prospects. However, on Sunday, they made significant additions to their 2025 recruiting class, landing two late commitments—both of whom play in the defensive secondary. These additions come at a crucial time as the team looks to solidify its roster for the upcoming seasons and strengthen its depth on defense.
The first commitment came from Jordyn Criss, a cornerback from Seguin High School in Arlington, Texas. Criss made his announcement via social media on Sunday afternoon, publicly pledging to the Cougars and expressing his excitement about the opportunity to continue his football career at BYU. His decision to join BYU came after receiving a scholarship offer from the program last week.
Shortly after Criss’ announcement, another defensive back prospect, Landan Goff, also committed to BYU. Goff, a safety from Lone Peak High School, which is located near BYU’s campus in Utah, shared the news of his decision a little over an hour after Criss. His commitment further strengthens the defensive backfield for the Cougars and adds another promising player to their 2025 recruiting class
Recruiting rankings and scouting reports suggest that both Criss and Goff are talented athletes with room for growth and development at the college level. According to 247 Sports, Criss is listed at 6-foot-2 and 165 pounds. Despite his size and skill set, he has not been widely recruited by major programs. In fact, BYU stands as the only Power Four program that has extended him a scholarship offer. That offer was made just last week, indicating that the Cougars’ coaching staff sees potential in him and believes he can be a valuable addition to their defensive unit.
Criss’ recruitment journey has been somewhat under the radar compared to other prospects. His first scholarship offer came from Texas State in June of last year, marking the start of his recruitment process. Following that initial offer, he received interest from several non-Division I programs. However, in a relatively short span of time last week, he picked up offers from three additional schools—UTEP, BYU, and Bowling Green. Ultimately, he decided to take advantage of the opportunity to play for BYU and join a program that competes at a high level in college football.
Goff, on the other hand, brings a slightly different background to the table. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, he possesses great size for a safety, which could make him an asset in BYU’s defensive schemes. Unlike Criss, Goff has received slightly more attention from FBS programs, but his recruitment has also been somewhat limited. Aside from BYU, his only other FBS scholarship offer came from Navy, a program known for its disciplined and competitive football culture. Additionally, he has been pursued by multiple FCS programs, though he ultimately chose to commit to BYU, likely due to its proximity to home and the potential to develop within a strong football program.
The timing of these commitments is particularly interesting because most of BYU’s 2025 high school recruiting class had already signed with the program during the early signing period in December. However, the recruitment process is ongoing, and prospects who did not sign at that time have another opportunity to do so in the coming weeks. The next signing window opens in early February, at which point both Criss and Goff will be able to make their commitments official by signing their National Letters of Intent (NLI).
For BYU, the addition of these two defensive backs could prove beneficial as they prepare for the future. The team has been working to bolster its defense, and adding depth at the cornerback and safety positions is a key part of that strategy. Both Criss and Goff will likely have opportunities to contribute to the team’s secondary, whether immediately or after a period of development within the program.
As the Cougars continue to shape their roster, fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how these new recruits fit into the team’s plans. While neither Criss nor Goff has received overwhelming national attention in terms of recruiting rankings, BYU’s coaching staff clearly sees potential in both players. Their commitments add to the excitement surrounding the program’s future, as the Cougars aim to remain competitive at a high level in college football.
With National Signing Day approaching, BYU’s recruiting efforts may not be finished just yet. The program could still look to add more talent to its incoming class before finalizing its roster for the 2025 season. For now, however, the commitments of Jordyn Criss and Landan Goff represent important steps in strengthening the team’s defensive backfield and building for future success.
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