# @kslsports on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbovu88D08G
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68668249-kslsports-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/945903840d.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-08-04T23:29:04.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** KSL Sports (@kslsports) — https://gondola.cc/kslsports

## Caption

He left. He learned. He returned. 

In 2023, McCae Hillstead walked onto the field at Maverik Stadium as a true freshman and rewrote the Utah State record book — 1,062 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and a program freshman single-game record of 399 yards and 4 TDs against James Madison.

Then he was gone.

Two seasons at BYU. A redshirt year in 2024. Five appearances in 2025 — just 5 pass attempts and 33 yards as the Cougars went a different direction.

No bitterness. No excuses. Just a quiet drive to find the right fit again.

This January, Hillstead entered the portal and came home to Logan. He won a QB battle this spring, beating out a Virginia transfer and a four-star freshman.
Bronco Mendenhall made it official: McCae Hillstead is QB1.

1,062 yards and 11 TDs as a freshman. 33 yards in two years away. One more chance to prove it all.

The Pac-12. Maverik Stadium. His team. His time. 🔵⚪

#AggiesAllTheWay #UtahState #McCaeHillstead

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 435
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 7

## Tags

aggiesalltheway, mccaehillstead, utahstate

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