As BYU wrapped up preseason training camp last Tuesday and turned its attention to its opener against Utah Tech on Saturday, head coach Kalani Sitake said the process of turning his program into a bonafide contender in a power conference is mostly complete.
“The goal (when BYU joined the Big 12 in 2023) was to get to where we are at right now, so we don’t have a lot of excuses,” Sitake said.
“We have great depth. We have a lot of talent, and we have to do our job as coaches to get it done.”
One of those jobs is to identify the very best players on the team and put them on the field in positions where they can succeed, even dominate.
That task starts with putting together a depth chart and settling any position battles — there weren’t really that many this month — that were still up in the air.
If tradition holds, BYU will release its Week 1 depth chart around noon on Monday, just before Sitake conducts the first of many weekly press briefings with reporters via Zoom.
The 11th-year coach said Tuesday that the most difficult aspect of defining the two-deep this year is that “we have way more guys who can start” than in previous seasons.
“We are a deep team, and we have a lot of talent in a lot of different places,” he said. “This (camp) basically confirmed that we do have a lot of talent, and now us coaches can’t mess it up. We just need to get the right guys out there and find different ways to get certain players on the field.
“That’s going to be a challenge,” Sitake continued, “but I would rather do it that way with a bunch of guys who can play than hope that someone can get it done at a position.”
Sitake said he even feels good about the kicking game, which is significant considering that’s where the Cougars are the most inexperienced.
The goal was to get to where we are at right now, so we don’t have a lot of excuses. We have great depth. We have a lot of talent, and we have to do our job as coaches to get it done.”
— BYU football coach Kalani Sitake
BYU was supposed to be thin at receiver after losing Chase Roberts and Carsen Ryan to graduation and Parker Kingston and Cody Hagen later in the offseason, but Sitake downplayed that for the umpteenth time when he was bluntly asked which receivers will start against Utah Tech.
“You’ll find out when we do our depth chart, but we’re gonna use anywhere from six to eight receivers and a bunch of different tight end groups,” he said.
“Even our running backs can catch the ball. We will have plenty of guys who can catch the ball. We need them to block. That’s what we need them to do. Receivers need to block first, earn the right to catch the ball.”
Here’s our stab at BYU’s Week 1 depth chart
While Sitake wasn’t willing to divulge the depth chart a moment too soon, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a quick look (see below) at how we see it based on conversations with coaches and players and some limited viewing of fall camp.
First, a few notes on selected positions:
• Fifth-year senior Treyson Bourguet seized the open backup QB spot fairly early in camp and is capable of winning games for the Cougars if, heaven forbid, Bear Bachmeier goes down. Coaches didn’t have that luxury last year.
• Running back is clearly defined with LJ Martin and Sione Moa the top dogs. The battle for RB3 is between freshman Devaughn Eka and veteran Preston Rex, but Eka could see a lot of time as a kick returner.
• Freshman receiver Legend Glasker was probably the biggest surprise of camp and has moved into the starting rotation, along with Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper and WR1 Jojo Phillips. Reggie Frischknecht and Tiger Bachmeier will also play, receivers coach Fesi Sitake has said. Freshman Terrance Saryon and Tei Nacua will probably see action only if one of those top five guys gets hurt.
• The starting offensive line is fairly clear. Backups are harder to predict, but we think the first guy in (the No. 6 OL, as it were) would be redshirt freshman Siosiua Latu-Finau. He had a strong camp.
• Sitake and defensive line coach Sione Po’uha have said they will rotate six guys in the three defensive line spots (defensive end, defensive tackle and nose tackle), but the primary guys will be seniors Keanu Tanuvasa, Bodie Schoonover and Justin Kirkland.
• BYU will use multiple defensive fronts, which makes it tricky to project a two-deep. Key players include the rush ends, Tausili Akana and Nusi Taumoepeau. BYU’s defense needs them on the field as much as possible. Another fast-rising talent to watch is Kendal Wall, a redshirt freshman from Herriman.
• BYU should be fine in the secondary as long as projected starters Evan Johnson, Tre Alexander, Faletau Satuala and Raider Damuni stay healthy. Depth could be a concern, although we like Mississippi State transfer Jayven Williams to be more than capable of moving into a starting role.
BYU Football Projected Depth Chart, 2026
Offense
Starter — Backup
QB 47 Bear Bachmeier (So.), 10 Treyson Bourguet (Sr.)
RB 4 LJ Martin (Sr.), 30 Sione Moa (So.)
WR 13 JoJo Phillips (Jr.), 0 Tei Nacua (So.)
WR 3 Kyler Kasper (Jr.), 18 Reggie Frischknecht (So.)
WR 5 Legend Glasker (Fr.), 19 Tiger Bachmeier (Sr.)
TE 7 Walker Lyons (Jr.), 2 Roger Saleapaga (Jr.)
LT 58 Paki Finau (So.), 59 Siosiua Latu-Finau (Fr.)
LG 51 Sonny Makasini (Sr.), 56 Zak Yamauchi (So.)
C 63 Bruce Mitchell (Sr.), 67 Trevor Pay (So.)
RG 64 Kyle Sfarcioc (Sr.), 74 Trevin Ostler (Sr.)
RT 75 Andrew Gentry (Sr.), 52 Bott Mulitalo (Fr.)
Other offensive linemen to watch: 72 Joe Brown (So.), 78 Ethan Thomason (Fr.), 62 Junior Sia (Jr.).
Defense
Starter — Backup
DE 48 Bodie Schoonover (Sr.), 45 Viliami Po’uha (Jr.)
DT 57 Keanu Tanuvasa (Sr.), 94 Anisi Purcell (Sr.)
NT 96 Justin Kirkland (Sr.), 99 Ulavai Fetuli (Fr.)
OE 59 Nusi Taumoepeau (So.), 13 Tausili Akana (Jr.)
OLB 4 Cade Uluave (Sr.), 33 Maika Kaufusi (Jr.)
MLB 54 Siale Esera (Jr.), 18 Ace Kaufusi (Jr.)
OLB 16 Isaiah Glasker (Sr.), 31 Jake Clifton (Jr.)
CB 0 Evan Johnson (Sr.), 26 Jordyn Criss (Fr.)
CB 1 Therrian Alexander (Jr.), 15 Jayven Williams (Sr.)
SS 10 Faletau Satuala (Jr.), 7 Kennan Pula (Fr.)
FS 3 Raider Damuni (Sr.), 22 Tommy Prassas (So.)
Other defensive linemen to watch: Hunter Clegg, Orion Maile-Kaufusi, Kinilau Fonohema, Kendal Wall.
Other linebackers to watch: Miles Hall, Pierson Watson.
Other defensive backs to watch: 32 Cannon DeVries, 27 Matthias Leach, 2 Jonathan Kabeya (currently injured).
Specialists
Starter — Backup
K 97 Matthias Dunn (Sr.), 99 Brody Laga (Fr.)
P 19 Fuller Shurtz (Fr.), 36 Cole Shulman (Fr.)
LS 88 Ty Smith (So.), 49 Rayden Heinz (So.)
KR 25 Devaughn Eka (Fr.), 88 Legend Glasker (Fr.)
PR 32 Cannon DeVries (So.), 19 Tiger Bachmeier (Sr.)