College football got hit with another shocking piece of news for the second time in a row from the city of Provo. Parker Kingston, a 21-year-old star wide receiver for the BYU Cougars, was arrested this week on a very serious charge: first-degree felony r—.

This was a bit of a shocker for Cougars fans. Kingston had just announced he was staying at BYU for his senior year instead of heading to the NFL. Right now, Kingston is being held at the Washington County Jail without bail while the legal process moves forward.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred about a year ago, on February 23, 2025. A woman reported that she was s——- a——– in St. George, Utah, and went to the hospital for help, per the Washington County Attorney’s Office. It took the St. George Police Department about a year to investigate the claims, gather evidence, and talk to witnesses before they finally arrested the suspect on February 10.

“Detectives with the St. George Police Department then gathered digital and forensic evidence,” the attorney’s office said in a statement. “They also conducted interviews with the parties involved and other witnesses. The information was then turned over to the Washington County Attorney’s Office for review.”

As is common in such legal cases, BYU Athletics released a brief statement acknowledging the arrest and their cooperation with police, noting they could not comment further due to privacy laws. Since this is similar to Jake Retzlaff’s case, everyone is waiting to see how the university and the team handle his status. Retzlaff’s case was eventually dismissed, but he still had to transfer to Tulane as he broke the honor code at BYU.

Kingston’s first court appearance in Utah’s 5th Judicial District Court is set for Friday, February 13. This hearing will be the first step in the judicial process, during which more details may come to light. For now, his football career is completely on hold as the focus shifts entirely to the courtroom and the serious allegations made against him.

Parker Kingston’s career highlights and achievements

Before all the legal trouble hit in 2026, Kingston was one of BYU’s best players and an absolute fan favorite. He’s known for being a “do-it-all” athlete. The Layton native is the only player in the school’s history to score a touchdown by catching, running, passing, and even returning a punt.

The junior WR was the team’s go-to guy, leading his Cougars with 66 catches and racking up over 900 receiving yards, earning him Second-Team All-Big 12 honors. He finished the 2025 season with nearly 1,300 all-purpose yards and 5 touchdowns, a testament to his versatile running ability.

One of his most impressive plays was returning a punt 90 yards for a touchdown against Kansas State in 2024. Turning a botched catch into a highlight reel, Kingston showcased his worth. His performance in the Alamo Bowl also earned him a spot on the All-Bowl Season First Team.

Before college, he was a QB1 and track star in Utah. He racked up 5000 yards and 64 touchdowns at Roy High. He also won the 6A state title in the 100 meters in 2022, clocking 10.533 seconds.

Is Parker Kingston LDS?

Parker Kingston is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). In a January 2026 interview, he said his faith is an essential part of his life. He even went as far as saying that the best moment of his 2025 season was going through the temple for the first time.