Will Zundel, a redshirt sophomore tight end for the BYU Cougars, has quietly carved out a niche on the team’s special‑teams unit despite arriving on campus as a preferred walk‑on.
A product of American Fork High School, he graduated in 2021 after a high‑school career that yielded 20 receptions for 433 yards and three touchdowns, numbers that belied the attention he would later receive from BYU and Southern Virginia University.
From missionary service to the scout squad
After completing a two‑year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints in Angola, Zundel returned to Provo and joined the Cougars’ scout team, where his analytical work earned him both "Look Squad Player of the Week" and "Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week" honors during the 2024 freshman season.
Though he never saw game action that year, his contributions on the practice field did not go unnoticed; coaches praised his dedication, and he was slated to contribute on special teams in the upcoming campaign.
In 2025, Zundel earned a promotion to the special‑teams roster, appearing in all 14 games of a 12‑2 season that saw the Cougars finish with a strong record. He recorded two tackles on special teams and was recognized with a spot on the 2025 Fall Academic All‑Big 12 Team.
Family connections to BYU further deepen his comfort in Provo, where he sees the program as a natural extension of his personal and spiritual background, and he is expected to remain a key special‑teams piece as the 2026 season approaches.