Brigham Young University football star indicted on felony rape charges

ST. GEORGE, Utah — Prosecutors in Utah have charged Brigham Young University football player Parker Kingston with first-degree felony rape, officials announced Wednesday.

The 21-year-old wide receiver is being held without bail in St. George. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance this Friday.

The investigation began last February after a 20-year-old woman reported to a St. George hospital that Kingston had assaulted her on Feb. 23, 2025. Authorities said they have collected digital and forensic evidence and conducted interviews with the involved parties and other witnesses.

It was not immediately clear if Kingston has retained an attorney. Neither he nor his family has issued a statement regarding the charges.

BYU officials said in a statement that the university takes all allegations seriously and is cooperating with law enforcement. The school declined further comment, citing federal and university privacy laws.

The criminal case involving BYU football standout Parker Kingston serves as a stark illustration of the severe legal and professional risks facing high-profile collegiate athletes. The felony charge of first-degree rape carries significant mandatory sentencing implications that could effectively terminate Kingston’s prospects for a professional career in the NFL before they begin.

Brigham Young University’s institutional response has followed a well-established legal and public relations playbook common among major U.S. educational institutions. By pledging cooperation with local law enforcement while concurrently invoking federal privacy protections under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to restrict public comment, the university is attempting to mitigate institutional liability while controlling the narrative.

However, the case presents a unique crisis for BYU. As a private institution governed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, BYU operates under a rigorous Honor Code that is central to its brand and mission. A criminal allegation of this magnitude does more than create a personnel vacuum on the field; it forces a public reckoning with the university’s moral framework and its ability to enforce institutional values within its high-revenue athletic programs.

From a competitive standpoint, the loss of Kingston—a primary driver of BYU’s offensive production last season—represents a substantial setback for the program. Beyond the immediate roster implications, the incident underscores the intense scrutiny and systemic pressures inherent in the high-stakes culture of American collegiate sports, where personal conduct and institutional reputation are increasingly inextricably linked.