Connor Pay always expected football to shape his life. What he did not expect was that his influence at BYU would stretch far beyond the offensive line.
Over five seasons, Pay became one of the Cougars’ most respected leaders, a captain whose voice carried through the locker room, across the program, and eventually into homes and youth conferences around the country through a gospel-themed podcast.
Pay appeared in 51 games with 41 starts, anchoring the line through coaching transitions and BYU’s move into the Big 12. His role grew each year, but the foundation of his leadership started long before he stepped onto campus.
Pay did not begin tackle football until sixth grade. His father, a former college and NFL player, wanted him to avoid injuries and burnout and planned to wait until high school before letting him take hits. Pay eventually convinced him to start earlier.
“It was later than I wanted to, but my dad played in college and the NFL and he did not want me playing tackle until high school,” Pay said. “I was able to talk him down to sixth grade because all my friends were playing and I really wanted to play.”
Growing up, Pay’s work ethic and devotion made a deep impression on his younger brothers. His older brother role shaped more than just his own future.
“Connor was a great older brother,” said his brother, Trevor Pay. “His work ethic and devotion to the gospel were the things that stuck out to me the most when I was young. His desire to serve a mission and his experience motivated me to want to do the same. I also saw how much time he dedicated to sports and how much he cared. It was always fun watching his games as a kid.”
Trevor said one of the most meaningful parts of their family’s football story came late in Connor’s career.
“I never got to play with Connor in high school which is why it was so special that we got to play one year at BYU together,” Trevor said. “He could have left but stayed so we could be teammates for the first time.”
Trevor also pointed out that Connor excelled in more than just football.
“He is really good at basketball and baseball,” he said. “He was all state in baseball and won a state championship in basketball. I would say he is better at basketball. He shocks everybody by how well he can shoot.”
By his junior year of high school, Pay had become one of the top linemen in the state. USC, UCLA, Utah, Utah State, Texas State, and BYU all offered scholarships. The Cougars already felt like home.
“The religious aspect was a big part of it, but also my history there,” Pay said. “My dad played there and I grew up going to BYU games. That was always my dream school.”
He committed early, then stayed committed through a late coaching staff change. When BYU hired Jeff Grimes and Ryan Pugh to lead the offensive system, Pay felt confident in his decision and closed his recruitment permanently.
What followed was a career built on consistency, leadership and connection. One of those connections came with wide receiver Chase Roberts, a teammate whose relationship with Pay grew from distant familiarity to a genuine brotherhood.
“Me and Connor knew of each other in high school but never got super close because we went to rival schools,” Roberts said. “Our dads played together at BYU so the connection goes way back. It was fun to become teammates at BYU and become captains together. We got closer during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.”
Roberts saw firsthand how quickly Pay became a central figure in the program.
“He has become a great positive leader and a more humble dude,” Roberts said. “He is a natural leader and public speaker. He can get people to listen to him and his words come out very precise and powerful.”
That ability to communicate led to one of the most unique projects in recent BYU football history. Pay had long thought about creating a youth focused gospel podcast. He saw how popular adult scripture podcasts had become, and he wished he had something similar when he was younger.
“I always thought it would be really cool if some athletes did that,” Pay said. “I did not take scripture study seriously in middle school or early high school. I probably would have paid a lot more attention if some BYU football players had done a scripture podcast.”
At first, the idea seemed unrealistic. Producing, filming, and editing during a season felt overwhelming. But when BYU Radio offered to partner with Pay and Roberts, everything changed.
“I never thought it would actually happen but it all worked out and we have been doing it for a year-and-a-half now,” Roberts said.
The podcast, “Two Point Conversion,” quickly became one of BYU Broadcasting’s fastest growing shows. The pair traveled the country speaking at youth conferences, including a devotional in Texas that both players called a highlight of their time together.
As Pay’s off-field influence grew, his on field career approached its next chapter. He trained in Atlanta at a pre draft facility specializing in offensive line development. Scouts projected him as a priority free agent with a chance to be selected late in the draft. Early negotiations were promising as multiple teams expressed interest, but a late shift in draft trends changed everything.
“Not a single other center was drafted for the rest of the draft,” Pay said. “The center free agent market got super saturated. All those teams went dark on me.”
He earned mini camp opportunities with Seattle and Las Vegas. He felt he performed well with both, especially the Raiders, where coaches praised him and elevated his practice reps. But roster decisions came from the front office rather than the staff.
The setbacks led him back to BYU, where coach Kalani Sitake invited him to assist with both football and off field projects the staff was developing. What began as temporary work turned into something more.
“I have really enjoyed the coaching part a lot more than I thought I would,” Pay said. “The mental and schematic part of the game is what I always loved as a player. Now I get to do that every day.”
Sitake encouraged him to remain involved and Pay has embraced a growing role as an analyst. With Sitake’s long term future secured in Provo, Pay expects to remain part of the program for years to come.
For a player who shaped BYU’s offensive line for five seasons, the impact he leaves behind is larger than snaps and starts. His leadership reached his teammates, his brothers, and thousands of youth who listen to his message.
And for Roberts, the reason is simple.
“He is a natural leader,” Roberts said. “People listen to him. That is who he is.”