BYU’s fall camp picture for 2026 already has one of its biggest questions sitting at the edge of the offensive line.
Left tackle is the kind of spot that can shape everything around it. If the blindside holds, the quarterback can breathe a little easier and the passing game gets room to work.
If it doesn’t, the whole operation can start to feel shaky fast. That’s why BYU’s move from Isaiah Jatta after last season matters so much, and why the Cougars’ search for a replacement is one of the most important storylines heading into August.
Right now, that job belongs to Paki Finau.
The 6-5, 310-pound redshirt sophomore transferred from Washington in the offseason after getting meaningful experience with the Huskies, and he has already pushed himself to the front of the line. What looked like it could become an open battle in spring and maybe even into fall camp has, for now, tilted heavily in Finau’s favor.
“Paki is playing with the first team right now,” said BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick last spring. “We tried to recruit him in high school.
We loved him. We feel really great about having him now.”
That’s a strong place to start for BYU, but it doesn’t make the position any less important. Finau may enter camp as the starter, with others still getting a chance to challenge him, but his play over the course of the season could end up being a major factor in how far the Cougars go in 2026.
BYU’s fall practice session is set to begin during the first week of August, and Finau is one of the players whose progress will be watched closely throughout the month.
In Other News...
Kalani Sitake And Raider Damuni Earn Powerful BYU Honor
Kalani Sitakes impact at BYU has long gone beyond the sideline, and this week it earned him another notable nod. The Cougars head coach and senior safety Raider Damuni were named nominees for the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, a national honor that recognizes college football student-athletes and coaches for community service, academic dedication and what they bring on the field.
For Sitake, the recognition fits a track record that has included both BYUs recent competitive success and a steady commitment to service in the community. His charitable work has drawn attention before, from founding organizations to volunteering locally and supporting other causes, and the Good Works Team nod puts that side of his profile back in the spotlight. The final team will be announced in September 2026, leaving BYU with a pair of nominees in the mix for one of college footballs most respected off-field honors. [Read more 🡒]
Bruce Mitchell Has Become Everything BYU Wants Its Program To Be
Bruce Mitchell has spent his BYU career becoming the kind of player the program wants to build around, and the senior offensive lineman now has his sights on something even bigger than individual honors. After earning first-team All-Big 12 recognition last season and landing on preseason All-Big 12 lists again, Mitchell is part of a veteran core that has the Cougars thinking about a run at the College Football Playoff in 2026.
Mitchell is also one of several BYU players drawing early NFL attention, with his name showing up in 2027 draft projections. For him, the next step is still about the same things that got him here: steady development, leadership and the support system around him, including his wife, former BYU track athlete Sadie Sargent Mitchell, who understands the demands of chasing a pro career. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Passing Game May Hinge On One Receiver Finally Breaking Through
With BYUs fall camp set to open in early August, the passing game is heading into a stretch where roles can change quickly, and Jojo Phillips is one of the names worth watching. The Cougars lost two of their top receivers from last season, which leaves room for someone to seize a bigger share of the offense, and Phillips has the kind of profile that can make that happen if his offseason momentum carries into camp.
Spring practice offered the first real hint that he may be ready for it. Coaches saw enough progress from Phillips to believe he can handle more responsibility, and his development now becomes one of the more important subplots as BYU starts building toward 2026. The question is whether he can turn that promise into the kind of consistent production the Cougars need from a receiver ready to emerge. [Read more 🡒]