Cade Fennegan is the newest BYU commitment, announcing his transfer from Boise State to BYU via Twitter on July 22, 2021.
After much consideration I have decided to enter the transfer portal. I’m excited to announce that I’ve been offered a scholarship to play at BYU and will be transferring there this fall. Thank you to @kalanifsitake and @CoachRoderick for this opportunity! Go Cougs! pic.twitter.com/aGV6Bsu3wo
— Cade Fennegan (@CadeFennegan) July 22, 2021
Fennegan is a 6-foot-2 190 pound quarterback who played in three games last year for Boise State. His first collegiate game was against BYU, as he came in for the injured Jack Sears early in the game. Fennegan was 15-of-26 for 182 yards against the Cougs, with two touchdowns and an interception.
Fennegan is following in the footsteps of his father Garth, who also started at another program (Clemson) and then transferred to BYU. Garth played for the Cougs from 1990-93 starting as a quarterback and then switching to defensive back.
Cade Fennegan prepped at Woodrow Wilson high school (Dallas, Texas) As a senior he completed 143-of-227 passing attempts (.630) for 1947 yards, 29 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He also rushed 78 times for 522 yards and 11 more scores (MaxPreps). In his prep career Fennegan accounted for 7250 total yards and 112 touchdowns. He ended his three years as a starter as the winningest QB in the school’s 90 year history, and was named the Texas 5A District 12 MVP for both his junior and senior seasons. During those seasons he led his team to consecutive district titles (2016-17).
As a junior he went 216-for-334 (.647) for 45 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, with 49 carries for 317 yards and five more scores. And as a sophomore he threw 110-for-193 for 1542 yards and 20 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. He rushed 18 times for -43 yards and one touchdown and was named District 11 offensive MVP.
In high school he also competed in the 110m and 300m hurdles (Athletic.net). His HUDL profile shows that he runs a 4.5 forty, and he was clocked at 4.55 at a Boise State camp.
Following his prep career, Fennegan served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Argentina. Fennegan has four years of eligibility remaining and will be a true freshman this season. However, he plans to sit out and redshirt this year since he did not meet the July 1 cutoff to enter the transfer portal for immediate eligibility.
Fennegan was rated 2-stars (0.7853) by 247Sports and Rivals out of high school. He had scholarship offers from Abilene Christian, Boise State (where he played in 2020), McNeese State, New Mexico State, North Texas (where he originally committed), Sam Houston State, Southern Miss, Stephen F. Austin, and USC. He also received a lot of national recruiting interest, hearing from Arizona, Arizona State, Boston College, BYU, Cal, Colorado, Columbia, Duke, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oregon, Oregon State, San Diego, San Diego State, Stanford, Utah, Washington, and Washington State (247sports).
I caught up with Fennegan to ask him about his recruiting.
BYU Insider: Why did you choose to transfer, and why did you pick BYU?
Fennegan: I needed a fresh start. Within just a few minutes of entering my name in the transfer portal I was contacted by several teams. But when BYU reached out, I knew that’s where I wanted to be. I grew up watching BYU and love what they’re doing there.
BYU Insider: There is a lot of competition at the quarterback position at BYU, especially right now. Are you concerned about that and/or considering switching to another position like your dad did when he was at the Y?
Fennegan: I knew no matter where I decided to go that I’d have to compete and win the job. That’s how it is. If I’m going to compete, I want to compete at BYU. The best guy is going to play. What I love about BYU is that there is so much talent in the quarterback room. I look forward to working with and learning from the coaches and other quarterbacks at BYU. I am a quarterback and I want to play quarterback. But I’m willing to do whatever the coaches need me to do, at the end of the day I want to do what is best for the team. That said, quarterback is my position.
BYU Insider: What are some of your favorites?
Fennegan: I like board games and my favorite is definitely Monopoly. In high school I did drama and show choir. I love musical theater, singing, acting, all of that.
BYU Insider: What is one of your greatest accomplishment in sports? In life?
Fennegan: It was cool playing in the Blue Grey All-American Bowl in high school. It was also really cool becoming the winningest quarterback in my high school’s history (with 26 total wins). In life I have to say that serving a mission was the greatest decision I’ve ever made (up to this point). It shaped me as a man and as a person. I loved my time in Argentina.
BYU Insider: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Fennegan: It’s really simple. Since I was a kid my dad has always told me “if you’re going to do something, do it 100% and don’t quit.” That has guided me in life, on my mission, and in football.
BYU Insider: Who is a current player that you seek to emulate on the field?
Fennegan: I love watching Tom Brady play. He makes plays happen and he’s so consistent.
If you have any additional information or insight about this recruit, please include it in the comment section below.
