BYU’s linebacker group took a hit on the roster sheet, but not necessarily on the depth chart.
Sophomore linebacker Ephraim Asiata has been removed from the Cougars’ Fall Camp roster after being arrested in early July and charged with DUI and a handful of other charges. Asiata was entering his third year in the program after signing in the 2024 class.
His absence comes with some background on a career that has already taken a few turns. Asiata played 23 snaps in three games as a reserve linebacker in 2025 before an injury sidelined him after the East Carolina game in September.
As a freshman in 2024, he logged 45 snaps across eight games as a reserve defensive end. He was signed as a defensive end, but his weight led to a move back to linebacker.
Before he ever got to BYU, Asiata had already overcome serious adversity. In high school, he survived a gunshot wound in a shooting that killed a few of his classmates. He later returned to football and signed with the Cougars over offers from Utah and USC.
Even with Asiata out of the picture, BYU still looks solid at linebacker in 2026. Coming out of Spring Camp, he was projected as a backup linebacker, and his departure does not affect the starting lineup. It likely won’t change the rotation much either, though he would have been useful depth at outside linebacker.
The Cougars are expected to open with three veterans starting at linebacker: Cade Uluave, Isaiah Glasker, and Siale Esera. Jake Clifton, a former Kansas State starting linebacker who transferred to BYU after serving a mission, is the wild card in the group.
Before his mission, Clifton was a starter for Kansas State, and if he shakes off the mission rust, he has the talent to challenge Esera for that third starting job. At the very least, he gives BYU quality depth if one of the starters gets banged up.
Ace Kaufusi and Miles Hall have also been working their way into bigger roles over the last few years. Both got a lot of first-team reps in the spring while some of the starters recovered from injuries, and both are expected to be in the rotation in 2026.
In Other News...
BYUs Offense Looks Real Again As One Defensive Concern Lingers
BYU wrapped the first two weeks of fall camp with a scrimmage that tilted toward the offense, a welcome sign for a program trying to build real momentum on that side of the ball again. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier has reportedly taken a notable step forward from last season, and he is working with a deep, talented collection of weapons that gives the Cougars more options than they had a year ago.
The defense still has plenty going for it, especially speed, but one lingering issue remains hard to ignore. BYU has not yet identified a clear star pass rusher, and that leaves a little uncertainty about where the consistent pressure is going to come from when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Fans Just Got A Revealing Look At Utahs Football Divide
A new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll offers a useful snapshot of where Utah college football loyalties stand, and it is a reminder that the rivalry landscape in the state is broader than one game. Among Utah fans surveyed, 36% said they most closely follow the University of Utah, while 29% said BYU and 13% said Utah State, giving a clearer picture of how the fan base is divided across the state.
The more revealing part for BYU followers is how those allegiances shift by age, religion and politics. Younger and older fans leaned more toward BYU, while middle-aged fans were more likely to side with Utah, and the survey also found differences tied to religious background and political affiliation. For BYU, that kind of split matters because its fan base has always been about more than win-loss records, and this poll suggests the schools reach still cuts in different directions depending on who is looking. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Frontcourt Plan Hinges On One Crucial Eligibility Fight
BYU still has two open roster spots to sort through, and the frontcourt remains the biggest piece of the puzzle. The Cougars are in the mix for a Michigan State big man who would fit a clear need, and they are watching a California court injunction that could determine whether he is even allowed to enter the transfer portal. If the ruling goes the players way, BYU is viewed as one of the leading candidates to land him.
There is also another name in the frame, but the financial side of the equation is already shaping the rest of the search. With limited room to maneuver, the Cougars appear to be working through a choice rather than building out a full wish list, which leaves the frontcourt plan tied to a legal decision as much as a basketball one. For now, the roster picture is still waiting on that next turn. [Read more 🡒]