BYU opened Fall Camp on Wednesday and, with the first practice came the usual roster refresh. The Cougars released a new roster on day one, and it brought a steady stream of changes worth tracking.
The biggest roster absence was backup linebacker Ephraim Asiata, who was removed after an arrest in July. At this point, it’s unclear whether he’ll have a path back to the program later on.
There was also a notable departure along the offensive line. Andrew Williams, who had been projected as part of the two-deep, submitted his papers and will serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is expected to return to BYU after his mission.
Several other players also came off the roster, including kickers Ian Sanches and Braden Gilbert, wide receivers Cody Hagen and Rowan Reay, tight end Cole Clement and quarterback Max Barker.
Hagen’s exit had already been set in motion. He retired from football after Spring Camp, despite playing the third most offensive snaps among BYU wide receivers last season.
A few of the more interesting roster updates came in the form of position changes. Viliami Po'uha moved from defensive end to defensive tackle during Spring Camp after contributing at defensive end the past two seasons. Kendal Wall, listed at 240 pounds, fits better at defensive end with his current size.
Trevin Ostler also made a move back to the offensive line after spending last season in the beef package at tight end. He’s now in the mix for one of the starting guard jobs.
The weight changes on the roster tell their own story. Defensive tackle Justin Kirkland is down 25 pounds since Spring Camp, though at 6'3 and 310 pounds he remains a huge presence. He is expected to start next to Keanu Tanuvasa.
Projected starting offensive linemen Andrew Gentry and Kyle Sfarcioc each dropped five pounds since Spring Camp. On the other side of the ledger, younger players Matthew Mason, Owen Borg, Jordyn Criss, Braxton Lindsey and Tei Nacua all added five pounds.
There were also a few jersey-number changes to note. Three true freshmen - Legend Glasker, Jaron Pula and Kennan Pula - changed numbers between Spring Camp and Fall Camp. Among the other switches since 2025, Reggie Frischknecht’s move from No. 7 to No. 18 stands out the most.
In Other News...
BYUs First Fall Practice Brought A Different Feeling This Time
The first day of fall practice carried a different tone around BYU football this time, with Kalani Sitake sounding encouraged by where his team stood as camp opened. The head coach pointed to better speed across the roster and more continuity on the coaching staff, two ingredients that should help the Cougars settle in faster than they did a year ago.
LJ Martin also saw a group that seems to know exactly what it is chasing, even as the offense adjusts to life without some key receivers. The running back said there is motivation inside the room and room for the attack to take another step, giving BYU a positive base to build on as it moves deeper into camp and starts sorting out how all the pieces fit. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Left Tackle Battle Just Got More Interesting This Spring
Paki Finau arrived at BYU with a clear sense of why he wanted to be there. After two seasons at Washington, the transfer offensive lineman made the Cougars his top destination because of his connection with offensive line coach TJ Woods, and once he visited campus and spent time around the team, he was sold on the fit. Since then, Finau has jumped into spring practice and has been working his way into the conversation at left tackle.
The spring competition has only gotten more intriguing as Finau settles in and starts drawing positive feedback from coaches and teammates. BYU knew it was adding a player with experience, but the bigger question now is how quickly he can translate that trust into a real edge in a crowded battle for the spot. The Cougars have options there, and Finau's presence has made the fight for the job one worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]