BYU got a painful hit in its season-opener, but not the kind that ends a season.
Veteran safety Raider Damuni was carted off after suffering a leg injury in the first half against Utah Tech, unable to put weight on the leg as he made his way to the locker room. After the game, Kalani Sitake said the team was still waiting on MRI results to learn how serious it was. Damuni later cleared up the biggest fear himself on Sunday, posting an update on social media and saying the injury would not be season-ending.
“I appreciate all the love and prayers,” Damuni said. “Although I'll miss a lot of my senior season, I won't miss all of it. I know God has a plan for me and I trust Him.”
That’s a major relief for BYU, even if the Cougars are still staring at a stretch without one of their most seasoned defenders. Damuni was entering his fourth season with the program and had become one of the more experienced pieces on the roster. His absence matters most now, with conference games against Arizona and TCU coming up for Kelly Poppinga’s defense.
The next move appears to be Tommy Prassas. The redshirt sophomore is listed behind Damuni on the depth chart, and BYU could put him into the starting lineup for the Arizona game.
Prassas has already logged meaningful snaps for the Cougars, including work at safety in 2024 as a true freshman. He also stepped over to nickel last season when BYU needed help there and started the first four games of the 2025 season before an injury against Colorado kept him from fully reclaiming that role.
This offseason, Prassas moved back to safety, his natural spot. Against Utah Tech, he was on the field for 13 snaps at safety.
Another name to keep in the mix is true freshman Kennan Pula. He impressed in Fall Camp and arrived as a coveted four-star recruit, but asking a freshman to jump in against a senior quarterback like Noah Fifita is a lot to ask.
BYU could make the move official as soon as Monday when the depth chart comes out.
In Other News...
BYU Heads Into Arizona With A New Defensive Problem
BYUs first road trip brings a fresh defensive wrinkle, and it arrives in the secondary. The Cougars released their depth chart for Arizona with starting strong safety Raider Damuni off the two-deep after the Week 1 injury that is expected to keep him out for multiple games, shifting the attention to how theyll sort out the back end while the season gets into its early stretch.
Tommy Prassas has moved into the starting strong safety spot, while true freshman Kennan Pula and Jarinn Kalama are also in the mix to help stabilize the position. There is some good news elsewhere on the defense, though, with edge rusher Nusi Taumoepeau promoted to starting field backer after recovering from injury, giving BYU at least one more experienced piece as it tries to answer one problem while managing another. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Already Has Two Early Reasons For Fans To Believe
BYUs season opener offered two different kinds of jolt, and both came from players who gave the Cougars something to feel good about beyond the final score. Returner Cannon DeVries earned Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors after taking a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, while wide receiver Legend Glasker was named Big 12 Freshman of the Week after a breakout debut that immediately put him on the league radar.
For a team trying to build momentum before Big 12 play starts against Arizona on Sept. 12, those are the kind of early developments that matter. DeVries showed how quickly special teams can flip a game, and Glaskers first college outing hinted at another playmaker the Cougars can lean on as the schedule stiffens and the stakes rise. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Faces An Early Depth Test Ahead Of Arizona
BYUs first real depth stress test of the season is already taking shape at running back, where the Cougars are trying to sort out the aftermath of Sione Moa leaving the previous game early with an injury. The setback is not believed to be season-ending, but with Arizona next on the schedule, the timing adds a little extra urgency to a room that suddenly needs answers behind the top option.
Preston Rex, Journee Tonga and Devaughn Eka have each shown enough to keep the conversation moving, giving BYU some hope that the next man up can hold the line without a major drop-off. There is better news on the other side of the ball, where Isaiah Glasker is expected back in week two, and Nusi Taumoepeau is set to start after being limited in fall camp, leaving the Cougars with at least a few reinforcements as they head into the matchup. [Read more 🡒]