BYU’s 2026 recruiting class arrived with real weight behind it, and the Cougars are wasting no time finding out which freshmen can help right away.
The group ranked in the top 25 nationally, giving BYU its highest-rated class of the 21st century. Even more important for the 2026 season, 11 of the 21 high school signees are expected to be on the 105-man roster this fall. That opens the door for true freshmen to push for snaps as soon as camp begins next week.
Here are five freshmen worth watching in alphabetical order.
Devaughn Eka brings size and intrigue to a backfield that already features LJ Martin, the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and expected No. 2 back Sione Moa. The former Lehi High MVP is listed at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, and he looks the part physically. The question is whether he can absorb the offense quickly enough to earn carries behind a veteran group.
Legend Glasker already made noise in spring ball. The Lehi High product, and cousin of BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker, earned first-team offense reps at times after arriving on campus. At Big 12 Media Days, BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier said Glasker knows the playbook and stood out as a freshman during spring work.
Braxton Lindsey was one of BYU’s biggest wins in the 2026 cycle, with the Cougars beating out Oklahoma for the Arkansas native. He backed up the recruiting hype in spring, especially when injuries opened up more snaps for younger players.
Coaches repeatedly pointed to him as a defensive playmaker, and his athleticism showed up right away. BYU has plenty of bodies at outside edge and outside linebacker, but Lindsey looks like a player who could make that group even deeper.
Jaron Pula gives BYU another name to track at receiver, where there’s a clear opening for someone to seize a role. The former four-star recruit was a big-play threat at Lone Peak High School, and that kind of juice is exactly what the Cougars can use in the passing game.
Kennan Pula enters a safety room that already includes Faletau Satuala, Raider Damuni, and Tommy Prassas, but there’s still a spot to be won. The 6-foot-3 freshman made one of the most remarkable interceptions you’ll ever see from a high school player in last year’s Utah High School Playoffs, and his instincts on the back end stand out. He could end up strengthening what already looks like one of BYU’s best position groups.
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