Crew Wakley Discussed Reasons For Transfer From BYU Football
Jan 10, 2025, 11:26 AM
SALT LAKE CITY – Former BYU football safety Crew Wakley was on the 97.5 KSL Sports Zone’s DJ & PK to discuss why he entered the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Wakley entered the Transfer Portal last month and signed with the Purdue Boilermakers out of the Big Ten earlier this week.
The former starting safety for a BYU defense that finished as the No. 1 defensive unit in the Big 12 in 2024 shared what led to the decision to enter the portal.
Crew Wakley on transfer portal entry: “Kind of made for me”
“The decision, honestly, was kind of made for me, to be completely honest. I had no plans of entering the portal up until about three days before I went in,” Crew Wakley said to the KSL Sports Zone’s DJ & PK (Weekdays, 6-10 a.m.).
“Just based on the conversations I had with coaches. I was told I wouldn’t be splitting time next year, and if my goal is to get to the next level, it just didn’t seem conducive to my goals and aspirations. So yeah, the decision was kind of made for me there. I just had to get somewhere where I’m appreciated for my qualities and, hopefully, play to the best of my abilities.”
Wakley has one year of eligibility remaining in his college career. Behind him on BYU’s depth chart were underclassmen Raider Damuni, Faletau Satuala, and Tommy Prassas.
Wakley split time with Damuni during the season. Pro Football Focus notes that Wakley appeared in 360 snaps for BYU in 2024, while Damuni played in 276. Damuni started in the Alamo Bowl and recorded a sack in the 36-14 victory over Colorado last month while Wakley navigated the portal.
— Crew (@Crewwakley) December 10, 2024
A former quarterback at Jordan High School, Wakley began his college football career at Utah State University before transferring to BYU in 2023.
During his two seasons at BYU, Wakley totaled 103 tackles, seven pass deflections, one sack, and three interceptions. He also started in 16 games in those two seasons in Provo.
Wakley was a walk-on during his two years at BYU
Despite having a lot of game action, Wakley confirmed he was not on scholarship during the 2024 season.
“There’s no doubt in my mind, or anybody on the team’s mind, that I deserved a scholarship,” Wakley said. “I wish I had an answer as to why I couldn’t get one. I can tell the reasons why they were telling me, but, you know, it wasn’t adding up in my head.
“If you look at reps that I had this year and my production … I actually played less than half of the reps on the season. So, when you factor in how many reps I was playing and my production, I think it definitely merited a scholarship. And I wish I had an answer as to why I couldn’t get one, but I guess that’s part of the reason why I was in the portal.”
Crew Wakley turns his attention to playing at Purdue
Wakley is now focusing on his final college football season, playing at Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Unlike his first time in the portal after leaving the Cache Valley, Wakley had his share of suitors.
His final three programs were Purdue, Iowa State, and Ole Miss.
Veteran Safety ☑️
✍️ Welcome to West Lafayette, Crew Wakley!#BoilerUp25 pic.twitter.com/pFlafWbRdW
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) January 9, 2025
Wakley joins a Purdue football program led by former UNLV head coach Barry Odom.
No ill feelings towards BYU football
As Wakley moves forward as a Boilermaker, he has no negative feelings toward BYU head coach Kalani Sitake. He said that Sitake helped him find a new landing spot in the portal.
“I think that’s the interesting thing because I think a lot of times when you leave a school or a program, there’s usually some sort of malice or ill feelings towards one party or another. But for me, it was nothing but love for Kalani (Sitake),” said Wakley. “He was super awesome, and he was actually helpful in me getting to a new spot. The conversation with him was actually completely different. He really wanted me to stay, but he was also respectful enough that he wanted me to get somewhere where I had the proper resources around me and the respect and appreciation for my capabilities on the field.”
Wakley later added, “Nothing but good feelings towards all of the dudes on the team, some of my best friends and the relationships I’ve built there will last forever with a lot of those guys. The coaches, as well.
“When I’m going on these visits, a lot of these coaches talk to the school you just came from. I’m very appreciative of the coaches, they all had good things to say to them about me. Coach Kalani, Coach (Kelly) Poppinga, and Fesi (Sitake) as well, he helped with that process. So there’s no ill feelings. They all text me, ‘Congratulations, happy for you. Excited to see what you do,’ all of that stuff. So, it was a pretty smooth transition. I don’t think there’s ill feelings on any party and from any of the boys, they’ve all been very appreciative and showing love. They’re happy for me. I’m happy for them. I wish the best for BYU this year.”
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
