A lot of longtime BYU football players have been waiting for Saturday’s showdown at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo with TCU for years, having been pummeled by the Horned Frogs 44-11 two years ago in Fort Worth, Texas.
Defensive back Jonathan Kabeya wasn’t on the BYU team then, but the sophomore from Euless, Texas, has had the 8:15 p.m. MST Big 12 matchup circled on his calendar as well, for different reasons. Kabeya grew up 20 minutes away from Amon G. Carter Stadium, but didn’t hear a peep from the Horned Frogs when he was starring at nearby Byron Nelson and Colleyville Heritage high schools.
“This game Saturday is a little personal to me, right?” Kabeya said Wednesday. “I am going to be passionate, but I gotta stay in control and just do my job.”
Kabeya, 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, was a three-star prospect with an 86 composite score on 247Sports.com his senior year, and was also recruited by Texas Tech, Arizona State, Arkansas, Indiana and others before choosing BYU. His first offer came from Texas Tech; but no offer came from TCU, despite the fact that he went to every home game when the Frogs made their run to the national championship game in 2022.
“I was just a big fan of TCU, and everything about them,” Kabeya said. “It is where I wanted to play, and all that. But God had other plans for me, and that’s why I am here now, at BYU.”
After appearing in nine games last year, mostly on special teams, Kabeya entered the 2025 season with high hopes of earning a spot as the Cougars’ starting nickel. However, he sustained an injury in fall camp that required surgery, and wasn’t cleared to play until the Utah game. He had a tackle in the 24-21 win over the Utes, didn’t play in the 41-27 win at Iowa State, and then rotated in with San Diego State transfer Tayvion Beasley against Texas Tech, making two tackles.
“It was cool playing Tech. They were my first Power Five offer. I know their whole coaching staff, some of the players, too,” Kabeya said. “Obviously not the result we wanted, but it was still fun going back to Texas and playing out there.”
Kabeya is now in an odd situation, because he can play in only two more regular-season games and preserve this as his redshirt season. After Saturday’s game, the Cougars are at Cincinnati and then finish up against UCF at home.
“I will go my hardest in the two games they have me play in and then just see what happens from there,” he said. “The good news is I can play in a playoff game or a bowl game (and still redshirt).”
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill said Wednesday that other defenders who are in a similar situation as Kabeya will be shelved for the remainder of the regular season to preserve their redshirts, most notably defensive lineman Justin Kirkland (knee) and outside linebacker Ephraim Asiata (hand).
How Jonathan Kabeya got to BYU
Kabeya’s parents, Edward and Pauline, emigrated to Texas from Congo, and he speaks French, according to his profile on BYU’s football website. His brothers Yannick (Nebraska), Eric (Fresno State) and Lukusa (Houston) also played college football, and his cousin David Kabongo plays safety at Oklahoma State.
His best friend, Jaeden Bland, plays linebacker for Utah.
“I was just a big fan of TCU, and everything about them. It is where I wanted to play, and all that. But God had other plans for me, and that’s why I am here now, at BYU.”
— BYU defensive back Jonathan Kabeya
BYU defensive passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford first contacted him when he was playing for Colleyville Heritage, then visited him again when he was at Byron Nelson. Later, Hill went out to Texas to watch him a few times and a scholarship offer was made.
“We built a relationship from there and after I came out here for an event and got to know all the coaches and stuff like that, I really noticed that it was a family-oriented program that fit me,” Kabeya said. “I feel like this is a good spot for me to grow as a man and a football player. That’s why I chose to come here and play.”
Kabeya became the 10th commitment of BYU’s 2024 signing class, inking his national letter of intent in December 2023. His family and close friends were supportive, but he did receive a few questions from outsiders about why he would leave the Lone Star State for a private, faith-based school in Utah.
“I heard some noise, but they are not the ones walking the journey that I am walking,” he said. “There are not regrets at all. I love it here, and I love what’s going on.”
