BYU’s fall camp opens Wednesday, and the Cougars are heading into it with a lot of the lineup already taking shape. There are still some real battles to sort through, but before the first practice snaps, the clearest path to a Week 1 depth chart is starting to emerge.
At quarterback, there’s no mystery this time around. Bear Bachmeier is set to lead the offense in 2026, giving BYU its first known starter under center heading into camp since 2023.
If that holds, he’ll also become the first Cougar quarterback to start consecutive seasons since Jaren Hall did it in 2021 and 2022. Bachmeier will have veteran running back LJ Martin alongside him.
The biggest questions on offense are at receiver, where Kyler Kasper and Jojo Phillips are projected to land the starting jobs. That pairing would give BYU one of the tallest starting receiver duos anywhere, with Kasper listed at 6'6 and Phillips at 6'5.
Rather than lean on a third receiver, the projection has BYU using two tight ends, and that’s where Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga come in. Both drew strong reviews after spring camp, and the expectation is that they’ll be too good to leave on the sideline by the time fall camp wraps.
Up front, the offensive line looks mostly settled. The one job still open is left guard, where Sonny Makasini, Joe Brown, and Trevin Ostler are in the mix.
The projection goes with Makasini’s experience. That would complete an offensive front of Paki Finau at left tackle, Bruce Mitchell at center, Kyle Sfarcioc at right guard, and Andrew Gentry at right tackle.
Defensively, the only unsettled spots heading into camp are the two end positions. The projected starters there are Nusi Taumoepeau and Bodie Schoonover, with Schoonover getting the nod over Hunter Clegg after a strong 2025. Inside, BYU is expected to roll with Keanu Tanuvasa and Justin Kirland.
The linebacker group could end up being the team’s strength, and the projection reflects that confidence in the veterans. Siale Esera, Isaiah Glasker, and Cade Uluave are penciled in as the starters, though Kansas State transfer Jake Clifton is a name to watch if he can push for that final spot.
In the secondary, BYU brings back plenty of experience and is projected to start Evan Johnson and Therrian Alexander III at cornerback, with Faletau Satuala and Raider Damuni at safety.
Special teams may be the least settled area on the roster, with every job still up for grabs. Still, the projection gives the kicking jobs to returning specialists Matthias Dunn at placekicker and Fuller Shurtz at punter. For the return game, Cannon DeVries is projected at punt return and Terrance Saryon at kick return, with both viewed as difficult to bring down in space.
Projected Week 1 starters:
Quarterback: Bear Bachmeier
Running Back: LJ Martin
Tight End: Walker Lyons
Tight End: Roger Saleapaga
Wide Receiver: Jojo Phillips
Wide Receiver: Kyler Kasper
Left Tackle: Paki Finau
Left Guard: Sonny Makasini
Center: Bruce Mitchell
Right Guard: Kyle Sfarcioc
Right Tackle: Andrew Gentry
Defensive End: Bodie Schoonover
Defensive Tackle: Keanu Tanuvasa
Nose Tackle: Justin Kirkland
Defensive End: Nusi Taumoepeau
Linebacker: Cade Uluave
Linebacker: Isaiah Glasker
Linebacker: Siale Esera
Cornerback: Evan Johnson
Safety: Faletau Satuala
Safety: Raider Damuni
Cornerback: Therrian Alexander III
K: Matthias Dunn
P: Fuller Shurtz
KR: Terrance Saryon
PR: Cannon DeVries
In Other News...
BYU Freshmen Are Already Pushing For Roles That Could Matter Fast
Fall camp opened with a familiar kind of buzz around the youngest players in the BYU program, and this years freshman class does not look like one that will spend long simply learning by watching. There is immediate interest in a few positions where the Cougars could use competition and depth, with returner Brody Laga back from his mission and entering the mix at kicker, while other freshmen are being tracked as possible options on both sides of the ball.
Devaughn Eka is among the names worth watching as BYU sorts out the backfield behind veteran LJ Martin, and safety Kennan Pula has already begun his career where the Cougars need every practice rep to count. Cornerback Jordyn Criss, offensive tackle Bott Mulitalo and defensive tackle Ulavai Fetuli round out a group that could matter sooner than expected, especially if injuries or depth-chart shifts create openings in camp. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Is Battling Bluebloods For A Recruit Fans Will Want Up Front
Samiu Taukiuvea has emerged as one of the more closely watched recruits in BYUs orbit, the kind of prospect who can draw attention well beyond Provo because of the schools involved. The West High School standout already has scholarship offers from programs such as Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State, which tells you plenty about the level of competition the Cougars are facing as they try to stay in the mix for a high-profile local target.
For BYU, the appeal is obvious: landing a recruit of Taukiuveas caliber would be a meaningful win, especially with blueblood programs circling. He has not made a commitment yet and is still planning visits to sort through his options, which keeps the situation open for now and gives BYU more time to lean on the relationship it has built in the recruiting process. [Read more 🡒]