By the start of 2025, WR Darius Lassiter will have played his last game as a BYU Cougar.
Like every senior in his last year of eligibility, Lassiter has had to make the most of his limited time on the field. Not long from now, his priorities of leading his team to wins as co-captain will shift to conditioning for the NFL Combine as he seeks to become one of the 257 picks drafted in the NFL.
Lassiter now is in a position where sitting out of the bowl game may be something he wants to do to ensure that he’s as healthy and fit as he can be for the NFL.
However, with No. 17 BYU having an upcoming trip to the Alamo Bowl against fellow Big 12 school No. 23 Colorado, a chance to play a program that’s been in the spotlight, against Heisman finalist Travis Hunter, will surely be an opportunity Lassiter can’t say no to.
“He understands this is his last year. You know, guys who don't have confidence or who are not mature mentally, think too far ahead. Darius knows he has goals and aspirations, but that's never at the expense of focusing in the moment and where his feet are,” said BYU receivers coach Fesi Sitake. “He knows that to get there, you have to produce where your feet are currently.”

So instead of transitioning to an NFL lifestyle, Lassiter will have one last game to “Be The Best” at the collegiate level before gearing up for his unknown future with the NFL.
What does “BTB” mean exactly? It's a mantra he learned from his late father, Kwamie Lassiter.
“Something that he always told me and my brothers was 'BTB' and that just means 'Be The Best.' Whatever you may be doing whether it's school or football or just outside life, just always try to be the best and be the best version of yourself,” Darius Lassiter said. “Don't let anybody ever try to just get you down and get you out of what you actually are as a person.”
To most, Kwamie Lassiter was seen as being the best when he was an NFL defensive back, especially with iconic games like his four-interception outing against the Chargers. However, establishing the Kwamie Lassiter Foundation with his wife Ericka and raising his family with her showed he strived to be the best off the field, too.
Darius Lassiter understands how unique it is to be an example off the field as he saw his parents' example firsthand. Being the best for Lassiter means participating in True Blue Heroes, a weekly event after practice allowing families going through hardships to visit BYU football, or being involved in the foundation now.
In order to follow this saying on the field though, Lassiter felt as though his focus was to “make a name” for himself. That meant that being the best for him would be finding his own way as he navigated life and football.
It wouldn’t be doing it how his dad did it or how his two brothers, Kwinton and Kwamie II, did it with them all choosing to attend the University of Kansas. It would mean breaking tradition and choosing to go to a place like BYU because he felt it could help him continue to better himself.

Before he made it to BYU as a three-star transfer, Lassiter had to be his best at Butler Community College, the junior college where he started his football career. It also happened to be the same place his dad attended before going to KU.
Success didn’t come immediately as he only recorded one reception for 10 yards in the one game he played in, but opportunities would come later for him. In six games played during his second season, Lassiter’s production increased to 13 receptions for 206 yards.
By the time he ended the 2021-22 season, he was selected first-team all conference and was a NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention due to a big season where he recorded 37 catches, 707 yards and 10 touchdowns which was fourth best in the nation at the juco level.
Seen this before!! @darius_lassiter #Buconation #RoarGrizz🐻 https://t.co/RgQissqN3O pic.twitter.com/yOlPJPpQN2
— Butler Grizzlies (@ButlerGrizzlies) October 22, 2023
After that, it was time to move forward. Being the best meant transferring away from Butler Community College, this time going to Eastern Michigan. With Eastern Michigan being a part of the MAC, Lassiter was now competing at a much higher level than his junior college days.
His best game for EMU was also his last, as he got six receptions for 108 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 41-27 win over San Jose State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. That could bode well for BYU as its own bowl game approaches.
That @taylorwpowell ➡️ @darius_lassiter connection 😳#EMUEagles | #ETOUGH⛓️ | #StackEm https://t.co/8sBuOHxkQQ
— Eastern Michigan Football (@EMUFB) December 20, 2022
Soon after, he entered the transfer portal again and chose to take on an even bigger challenge at BYU.
Before BYU was able to have the success of this season, it first had to undergo the struggles of being a new Big 12 school last year. Being the best on a losing team can be hard if you don’t have the proper perspective.
“Things like this take time, you can't just walk into a situation and think you guys are gonna be able to just band together,” said Lassiter. “It takes time. It takes you going through things together and hardships like that. We went through that last year and I feel like everybody's like, we don't want to go through that again.”

Growing pains were expected, but a 5-7 record with only two conference wins was a drop-off for a team coming off a 8-5 record that included a bowl game win over SMU.
It certainly was hard for players and fans alike as it was only the second time that BYU had a losing record under head coach Kalani Sitake. But instead of giving up, the team was determined despite low expectations nationally.
“You can only gain that type of brotherhood through going through the grind and the process and the hard things together,” said Fesi Sitake.
As the brotherhood of the team has been established, not only have the wins gone up, but Lassiter’s own production has gone up, too, as he’s adjusted to life at BYU.
This year, he was able to get 300 yards more than he did last season and has become the second-leading receiver on the team. If he gets more than 28 yards against Colorado, it will be the most he’s ever gotten in a single season.
Lassiter also had one of the clutchest and most memorable catches of the season for BYU as he caught the game-winning touchdown against Oklahoma State. His performance was so notable that he landed on PFF’s national team of the week.
𝑰𝑵 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑩𝑶𝑶𝑻𝑯 𝒘/ @gregwrubell & @975Hans
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) October 21, 2024
— BYU vs Oklahoma State —@darius_lassiter game winning touchdown pic.twitter.com/XI2FTOF8pp
“Last year, he was very focused on himself, not in a selfish way, but because he had to learn and pick things up being a new transfer,” said Sitake. “Now that he's got the playbook down and is oriented here at BYU and on the team, he's just looked outwardly the whole time.”
Learning to be the best wasn’t just focusing on development anymore, but becoming something even greater as he learned how he could be the best for his teammates and coaches.
It has transcended just getting results on the field. It has also transitioned into leaning into his role as a senior and co-captain as he makes sure to spend time helping teammates along the way.

“Darius definitely has helped me with a lot of things and it's been good to see an older, experienced receiver be willing to come down and just help the freshman because it means he actually cares,” freshman receiver Weston Covey said. “He could just be playing for himself and working on his own craft, but he sees little mess ups and stuff and he's like hey, let me help you out. It's really nice.”
Of course, every player wants to make it to the NFL and perform at the highest level. The life of fame and fortune can set up the rest of their lives, but this goal doesn't always guarantee wins.
But there is more to life than just looking forward to the next big thing. Taking the time to appreciate your life now with teammates as connected as BYU’s is something to work hard for.
Being the best for yourself and for your team is what is going to result in success. Following the motto Lassiter learned from his father has helped him achieve success in the future, but it will help him appreciate success now.
So yes, Lassiter’s collegiate career will end after the Alamo Bowl, but count on him to “Be The Best” he can be until the very last snap.
