Darius Lassiter, a standout wide receiver for BYU, is making waves both on and off the field—and now, he’s got an unexpected decision looming. A week ago, the idea of Lassiter suiting up in 2025 seemed like a pipe dream. After all, he approached this season as if it were his grand finale. A junior college redshirt dispute from the start of his career had him battling for a waiver just to play in 2024. But oh, how the tables have turned.

Last week, the NCAA threw a Hail Mary for JUCO players, granting all FBS athletes who began their careers in junior college an extra year of eligibility. Translation? Lassiter now has a golden ticket to run it back with BYU in 2025. While the opportunity caught him by surprise, he’s holding off on a decision until after the Alamo Bowl. Meanwhile, he’s counting his blessings—and his family is right there in his corner, as always. The Lassiters are a football dynasty in their own right, with roots that run deep. His parents, ever supportive, have been his rock, providing shade like the most reliable of trees. It’s no wonder Darius thrives; the family tree is practically dripping with football greatness. Don’t believe it? Take a closer look—you’ll see where he gets it.

Who are Darius Lassiter’s parents?

Ericka and Kwamie Lassiter are the proud parents of BYU wide receiver Darius Lassiter. And let’s just say football practically runs in their veins. So it’s no wonder Darius was destined for the gridiron. His dad, Kwamie, was a standout safety. He played college ball at Kansas before catching the eye of the Arizona Cardinals, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 1995. Nine seasons and a whole lot of highlight reels later, Kwamie carved out a memorable NFL career, mostly with the Cardinals. Imagine having a pro football player for a dad. One could say Darius had a coach right in his living room! Still, the path wasn’t always easy. Despite the built-in mentorship, Darius had to work hard to step out of his father’s shadow and make his own mark.

Tragically, his dad passed away in 2019 at just 49 years old after suffering a heart attack while working out in Chandler. It was a heartbreaking loss for the family, but his legacy clearly lives on. Darius has carried the lessons from his father onto the field, where he’s making sure the Lassiter name remains synonymous with football greatness.

Though we know this loss cannot be made up, his mother, Ericka, gave her all to her kids to prevent her family from breaking down. Hats off to this great lady! As a philanthropist, she enjoys collaborating with charities and helping people. From dawn to dusk, she finds a way to balance her roles as a loving mother, friend, community volunteer, and businesswoman. She currently belongs to the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Tempe Alumnae Chapter. In addition, she is a director of the Kwamie Lassiter Foundation and a co-founder of Lassiter’s TACKLE foundation. It shouts one queen with several jewels in her crown! And she never let that crown slip.

When it comes to her kids, Ericka greatly influences them to think that healthy competition is a good thing. Perhaps this explains why Darius enjoys playing against his own sibling.

Who are Darius’ siblings?

Darius has two elder brothers who, like his father, play football for Kansas in the NCAA. We have already mentioned that healthy competition exists in the Lassiter household, so if you believe Darius is an exception who plays for BYU, you are mistaken. Even the wide receiver once stated, “We always dreamed about either playing with each other or playing against each other, whether it be at this level or the next level after that.” It appears that a spirit of competition was engrained in the Lassiter household.

As children, Kwamie II, Kwinton, and Darius would go out to the surrounding area with a tennis ball and metal bats slung over their shoulders. They would compete to see who could propel the ball the furthest in a miniature home run derby. In addition, they would disparage one another over who was the fastest. They would keep racing until the outcome was clear-cut. The same is true for football, basketball, or any other situation that may arise. For those unaware, Kwamie Lassiter II, an NFL player currently with the Cincinnati Bengals, and Kwinton Lassiter, a DB of Kansas.

Darius’ desire to play against his brother came true on September 24, 2023. The most fascinating feature, however, was that their family was unable to decide on a side. They supported Kansas as well as BYU. Their mother and older brother set a great example, demonstrating their unwavering support for Darius and Kwinton. They let both boys know they were rooting for them by showing up for the Big 12 game wearing split jerseys. How cute is that? There’s no doubt the BYU WR is really fortunate to have a family like this. May they have a joyful and contented life together.