BYU Football’s 2025 campaign led them to a thrilling 12-2 season and a trip to Arlington, Texas for the Big 12 Championship game last season, leaving the Cougars with high expectations this fall despite losing key players from their roster.
CBS Sports put together the Big 12 preseason power rankings after spring football camp ended, putting BYU at the No. 1 spot on the list.
While some of that has to do with quarterback confusion with the reigning Big 12 champs Texas Tech, BYU’s work in the transfer portal and their top 25 recruiting class in 2026 speaks volumes to the future success of the BYU Cougars.
Each position gained significant players, but BYU, spearheaded by head coach Kalani Sitake, also suffered some losses to the roster. With the help of KSL Sports, we’ve compiled a list of each addition/subtraction to the BYU Football roster, along with my analysis of each position.
Quarterback
Returning: Bear Bachmeier, Treyson Bourguet
New pickups: Enoch Watson (Returned Missionary), Max Barker (Snow College transfer)
Departures: Emerson Geilman (Missionary Service), Cole Hagen, McCae Hillstead (Utah State)
BYU was led into the 2025 season by true-freshman quarterback Bear Bachmier, who will return for year-two with the program. Bachmeier transferred from Stanford last summer and missed spring training but claimed the starting quarterback position when fall camp rolled around.
Bachmeier competed with McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet for the starting position. Hillstead was named backup and Bourguet was made third string. With Hillstead’s departure to Utah State, the competition for back-up quarterback is underway. Enoch Watson returned home from his mission last fall and participated in several practices before the team played in the Pop-Tarts Bowl last December.
Will BYU focus their attention on veteran Treyson Bourguet or take their chances on Enoch Watson?
Running back
Returning: LJ Martin, Sione Moa, Preston Rex, Jovesa Damuni, Lucky Finai, Charlie Miska, Logan Payne
New pickups: Micah Beckstead (Returned Missionary), Devaughn Eka (Freshman)
Departures: Enoch Nawahine
BYU’s running back room was one of the only positions that escaped the offseason relatively unscathed. The reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, LJ Martin, will use his final year of eligibility in the fall. He’s been BYU’s leading rusher for the past three seasons.
Sione Moa missed a solid part of the season with compartment syndrome but was a solid running back for the Cougars. With Moa out, Preston Rex found himself taking snaps for the Cougar offense, showing sparks of potential which could prove vital for a deep running back room this fall.
Micah Beckstead will make his Cougar debut this season. He committed to Utah State before serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but switched to BYU when he returned home.
Wide receiver
Returning: Jojo Phillips, Tiger Bachmeier, Trey Roberts, Reggie Frischknecht, Kila Keone, Tei Nacua, Rowan Reay
New pickups: Kyler Kasper (former 4-star recruit, Oregon transfer), Jett Nelson (Returned Missionary), Legend Glasker (Freshman), Jaron Pula (Freshman), Terrance Saryon (Freshman)
Departures: Chase Roberts, Parker Kingston, Cody Hagan, Dominique McKenzie, LaMason Waller III
The biggest questions arise when talking about the wide receiver unit. The biggest story revolves around the loss of Parker Kingston, who was cut from the program unexpectedly after he was arrested in February.
When asked to comment on the BYU locker room since Kingston’s departure, Sitake kept it simple.
“Yeah, the team’s fine,” Sitake said. “The guys are great. I mean, we have a strong culture on the team, so yeah, we’re fine.”
Chase Roberts exhausted his final year of eligibility and is on to the NFL and Cody Hagan unexpectedly medically retired from football. Luckily, the Cougars still have plenty of guys to fill the wide receiver position.
Jojo Phillips is returning, along with Tiger Bachmeier, Tei Nacua and Trey Roberts. Kyle Kasper, a former 4-star recruit who transferred from Oregon, will also join the squad.
Tight end
Returning: Cole Clement, Moah Moeaki, Keayen Nead, Jacob Nye, Ethan Wood, Will Zundel
New pickups: Walker Lyons (USC transfer), Roger Saliapaga (Oregon transfer), Matthew Fredrick (Returned Missionary), Josh Davis (Freshman)
Departures: Carsen Ryan, Ethan Erickson, Tucker Kelleher, Anthony Olsen
For casual fans of the game, losing Carsen Ryan seems devastating. The Utah transfer played some spectacular football in his career with the Cougars, and the coaching staff understood Ryan left some big shoes to fill in the tight end position.
“They’re athletic, they’re big, they’re strong and they can run routes, so they can catch and they can block,” Sitake said.
BYU gained two of the top tight end transfers in the country, landing Walker Lyons from USC and Roger Saliapage from Oregon.
Offensive Line
Returning: Brigham Alexander, Joe Brown, Kaden Chidester, Andrew Gentry, Siosiua Latu-Finau, Jeff Lewis, Sonny Makasini, Strantz Mangisi, Caden McKee, Bruce Mitchell, Trevin Ostler, Trevor Pay, Kyle Sfarcioc, Ethan Thomason, Andrew Williams
New pickups: Paki Finau (Washington transfer), Jr Sia (Utah State transfer), Zak Yamauchi (Stanford), Talitu’i Pututau (Returned Missionary), Bott Mulitalo (Freshman)
Departures: Isaiah Jatta, Weylin Lapuaho, Austin Leausa, Jake Griffin, Sione Hingano, Ikinasio Tupou
Again, a lot of casual fans of the game may be thinking, “we lost three starters, our offensive line is going to be bad and Bear Bachmeier is going to get crumpled every snap.” But that is FAR from the truth. This 2026 squad could be one of the best offensive lines in the Big 12.
Bruce Mitchell, a First Team All-Big 12 selection, is returning to the front line along with last year’s starting offensive tackle Andrew Gentry. BYU has two other guys who have starting experience in Kyle Sfarcioc and Sonny Makasini.
But again, BYU did a lot of work in the transfer portal, targeting three guys who all could potentially start for the Cougar squad, namely Paki Finau from Washington, Jr Sia from Utah State and Zak Yamauchi from Stanford.
Defensive end
Returning: Tausili Akana, Siosefa Brown, Hunter Clegg, Kinilau Fonohema, Orion Maile-Kaufusi, Bodie Schoonover, Nusi Taumoepeau, Vincent Tautua, Kendal Wall
New Pickups: Adney Reid (Returned Missionary), Braxton Lindsey (Freshman)
Departures: Logan Lutui
The defensive end position remained nearly untouched. Every player with eligibility stayed with the program and the Cougars picked up a couple of young guys to start training.
Defensive tackle
Returning: Keanu Tanuvasa, Ulavai Fetuli, Justin Kirkland, Kelepi Latu-Finau, Maverick McManus, Viliami Po’uha (switched from defensive end), Anisi Purcell
New Pickups: David Tangilanu (Returned Missionary), Nehemiah Kolone (Incoming Freshman)
Departures: Kaufusi Pafoke, Alvin Puefau, John Taumoepeau
One of the most notable returning players is Keanu Tanuvasa, who wanted one more year to improve his potential draft stock for the 2027 NFL Draft.
But unfortunately, the Cougars will lose John Taumoepeau, who played a fantastic season with BYU last year. In 2024, he recorded 12 total tackles, 5 of which were solo tackles. Last year, he recorded 41 total tackles, 19 of which were solo tackles.
Linebacker
Returning: Isaiah Glasker, Siale Esera, Maika Kaufusi, Pierson Watson, Ace Kaufusi, Ephraim Asiata, Berkley Alfrey
New pickups: Jake Clifton (Kansas State), Daniel Taumoepeau (Eastern Washington), Cade Uluave (Cal), Owen Borg (Returned Missionary), Blake Lowe (Returned Missionary), Gage Tanner (Returned Missionary)
Departures: Jack Kelly, Tyler Payne, Max Alford, Choe Bryant-Strother, Naki Tuakoi
Jack Kelly played a phenomenal year for the Cougars last season, posting 10 sacks in his senior season. Kelly was drafted 193rd overall in the 2026 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
The good news is that the Cougars made waves in the transfer portal, bringing in the No. 1 linebacker transfer, Cade Uluave, from the University of California.
Isaiah Glasker could have declared for the 2026 NFL Draft but decided to stay with the program. Siale Esera is also staying for his senior season with BYU, creating a strong linebacker room entering the 2026 season.
Cornerback
Returning: Therrian Alexander III, Evan Johnson, Jordyn Criss, Cannon DeVries, Kevin Doe, Jonathan Kabeya
New pickups: Seth Shigg (Army West Point), Jayven Williams (Mississippi State)
Departures: Mory Bamba, Jayden Dunlap, Tayvion Beasley, Macus McKenzie
Evan Johnson will sport the Cougar blue for yet another season. Johnson recorded 5 interceptions last year with the BYU secondary unit. Joining him is Therrian Alexander III, who recorded 34 sacks and 1 interception, which he returned for 49 yards.
The competition then comes down to who will fill the second-string position, with several eligible candidates vying for the spot.
Safety
Returning: Raider Damuni, Faletau Satuala, Crew Clark, Joseph Douglas, Matthias Leach, Tommy Prassas, Payton VanSteenkiste
New pickups: Matthew Mason (Freshman), Kennan Pula (Freshman)
Departures: Tanner Wall, Talan Alfrey
Tanner Wall will be a tough guy to replace. Wall was a First Team All-Big 12 safety last year and was a key piece to the Cougars secondary unity.
However, the program retained both Raider Damuni and Faletau Satuala, both of whom played significant minutes for BYU last year. Satuala was the Cougars’ leading tackler last season with 84 tackles.
Kicker
Returning: Matthias Dunn
New Pickups: Ian Sanches
Departures: Will Ferrin
Will Ferrin is a familiar name for BYU fans and is widely remembered for his game-winning field goal versus Utah in Salt Lake City in 2024. During his time with the Cougars, Ferrin recorded 120 consecutive PATs, setting a BYU record.
Matthias Dunn isn’t a household name for Cougar Nation, but many people forget that he competed with Ferrin in 2023 for the starting job that season. Last year during the teams’ fall camp, head coach Kalani Sitake noted Dunn’s spectacular fall camp performance.
Punter
Returning: Fuller Shurtz
New pickups: N/A
Departures: Sam Vander Haar
BYU had talked about looking into a waiver for another year of eligibility for Sam Vander Haar, but he is not listed on the roster. This would give the starting position to Fuller Shurtz.
Shurtz started against TCU last year. He recorded a 41-yard-punt but also fumbled on another punt attempt.