Jaxon Kohler’s dad shoots down rumor about potential BYU transfer

Spartan Avenue · Jul 22, 2026 11:00 · 3 min read

Jaxon Kohler’s dad shoots down rumor about potential BYU transfer — Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler (0) is hugged by his parents before walking out of the tunnel on senior day celebration after the game between Michigan State and Rutgers at Breslin Center in East Lansing on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Michigan State fans can breath a little easier knowing that the Jaxon Kohler to BYU rumor has been shot down by his dad.

Folks, we’ve officially reached the “we desperately need college sports back” part of the offseason when headlines start to get a little crazier and it feels like rumors start to swirl almost recklessly.

Michigan State alum Jaxon Kohler was the subject of a recent rumor about his potential interest in BYU given the fact that he just played his Summer League ball in Utah, was raised in the state, and a recent report said that he had been in contact with the Cougars.

The report stated that BYU was the favorite to land Kohler if he were to get a fifth year.

Well, it ended up being false. How do we know this? It came straight from the personal Twitter account of Jeff Kohler who happens to be Jaxon’s dad and a popular figure among the Spartan fanbase.

You can’t believe all the reports you see on Twitter these days because half the time it’s accounts who are either getting shaky, at best, information from “sources” or just rising accounts who are looking to get some extra eyes and hope that a manufactured rumor comes to fruition.

I said it before, but it would make sense if Kohler wanted to entertain BYU, but that would also be a huge change for him after four years in East Lansing. His heart might just be at Michigan State. It also might be ready to move on.

Maybe he doesn’t even really want to return but was just advised to put his name on the injunction with other players who are keeping their options over with a potential fifth year.

Right now, it’s just a hypothetical return because the track record of players going through the courts to get extra years of NCAA eligibility isn’t the best.

Imagining a fifth year of Jaxon Kohler

When Carson Cooper teased the idea of returning for a fifth year, Spartan fans obsessed over that dream scenario where he returns as the proven center that the team needs.

I thought that Kohler had a better case, though. He missed part of his sophomore year with an injury and could have potentially applied for a medical redshirt. Instead, it was Cooper who was rumored to be an option even though that didn’t last long.

Now, it’s Kohler who could come back to college for a fifth year.

And I would have loved to have either one back. Izzo would have found a spot for either one and still could if they decided they wanted to return for fifth seasons.

Kohler as the starting power forward with Cam Ward, Julius Avent, and Kaleb Glenn splitting time there while he also plays a small-ball center role would almost undoubtedly make Michigan State a top-three favorite to win the national title.