BYU landed three defenders on the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List on Wednesday, with linebackers Isaiah Glasker and Cade Uluave and safety Faletau Satuala all included among the 68 players in the running for the national defensive player of the year award.
The Football Writers Association of America unveiled the list, which spans 47 schools and every Division I FBS conference plus Independents. This year’s group features 21 linebackers, 16 safeties, 13 defensive ends, 10 defensive tackles and eight cornerbacks.
Satuala is the headliner after a standout 2025 season for No. 12 BYU.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior from Bountiful, Utah, played in all 13 games and finished with team highs of 78 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. He also added 3 interceptions and 7.5 tackles for loss, earning second-team All-America honors from the FWAA.
Satuala also picked up All-Big 12 recognition and was named both the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week and Lott Trophy Player of the Week after his performance in BYU’s win over Iowa State in Ames that moved the Cougars to 8-0.
He has already stacked up more preseason recognition this summer, too. Satuala was named a 2026 preseason All-America and All-Big 12 selection by Athlon Sports and landed on Phil Steele’s Preseason All-Big 12 Team first team.
Glasker brings a strong resume of his own. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound senior from South Jordan, Utah, was also named to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-Big 12 First Team and was listed by The Athletic as one of the top senior prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft.
In 2025, he put together a productive junior season with 67 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, a forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions. The Cougar co-captain was voted third-team All-Big 12 and appeared on the watch list for both the Butkus Award and the Bednarik Award.
Uluave arrives at BYU after a strong run at Cal and has already drawn attention for what he can bring to the Cougars’ defense. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior from South Jordan, Utah, was recently named a candidate for the 2026 Lott IMPACT Trophy, which honors the nation’s top defensive player and the one who has had the biggest impact on his team both on and off the field.
In his first season at BYU, Uluave is a transfer from Cal, where he was a 2025 All-ACC First-Team linebacker. Last season he led the Bears with 100 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 5 quarterback hurries.
Over three seasons in Berkeley, he appeared in 34 games and made 26 starts. His career totals stand at 237 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 3 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles.
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The interesting part for BYU is that the projected lineup is built largely on experience and what players showed most recently, but it is still only a projection. Camp has a way of changing those assumptions quickly, especially when a veteran holds off a younger challenger or a new name pushes into the conversation. For now, the Cougars enter August with a clear sense of where the core starts, and just as clear a list of spots where the race is still wide open. [Read more 🡒]
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BYU Freshmen Are Already Pushing For Roles That Could Matter Fast
BYUs fall camp opened with a familiar August theme for a program trying to build depth fast: freshmen who are not waiting around for a future window. Several newcomers are already in the mix for immediate roles or at least meaningful competition, with the staff taking a close look at who can help early and who can simply make the two-deep sturdier before the season gets rolling.
Among the names worth watching are safety Kennan Pula, who is starting his college career in the secondary, along with cornerback Jordyn Criss, offensive tackle Bott Mulitalo and defensive tackle Ulavai Fetuli, all of whom could become useful pieces if the need arises. The kicking situation also adds an extra layer to the camp intrigue, while the running back room has enough interest that a freshman could force his way into the conversation behind the established options. [Read more 🡒]