BYU’s linebacker group took a hit on the roster sheet, but not necessarily on the depth chart.
Sophomore linebacker Ephraim Asiata has been removed from the Cougars’ Fall Camp roster after being arrested in early July and charged with DUI and a handful of other charges. Asiata was entering his third year in the program after signing in the 2024 class.
His absence comes with some background on a career that has already taken a few turns. Asiata played 23 snaps in three games as a reserve linebacker in 2025 before an injury sidelined him after the East Carolina game in September.
As a freshman in 2024, he logged 45 snaps across eight games as a reserve defensive end. He was signed as a defensive end, but his weight led to a move back to linebacker.
Before he ever got to BYU, Asiata had already overcome serious adversity. In high school, he survived a gunshot wound in a shooting that killed a few of his classmates. He later returned to football and signed with the Cougars over offers from Utah and USC.
Even with Asiata out of the picture, BYU still looks solid at linebacker in 2026. Coming out of Spring Camp, he was projected as a backup linebacker, and his departure does not affect the starting lineup. It likely won’t change the rotation much either, though he would have been useful depth at outside linebacker.
The Cougars are expected to open with three veterans starting at linebacker: Cade Uluave, Isaiah Glasker, and Siale Esera. Jake Clifton, a former Kansas State starting linebacker who transferred to BYU after serving a mission, is the wild card in the group.
Before his mission, Clifton was a starter for Kansas State, and if he shakes off the mission rust, he has the talent to challenge Esera for that third starting job. At the very least, he gives BYU quality depth if one of the starters gets banged up.
Ace Kaufusi and Miles Hall have also been working their way into bigger roles over the last few years. Both got a lot of first-team reps in the spring while some of the starters recovered from injuries, and both are expected to be in the rotation in 2026.
In Other News...
BYU Fall Camp Opens With Key Starting Jobs Still Up For Grabs
BYUs fall camp opens with more certainty at quarterback than at several other spots, with Bear Bachmeier projected to take the first snap if the Cougars were lining up for a game today. Beyond that, plenty of the depth chart still feels unsettled, and the early days of camp will be about sorting through a few of the rosters most important competitions. Wide receiver, left guard, defensive end and special teams roles are among the jobs still waiting to be claimed, which gives the first weeks of practice real weight.
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 🡒]
BYU Is Battling Bluebloods For A Recruit Fans Will Want Up Front
Samiu Taukiuvea has become one of the more closely watched recruiting battles on BYUs board, with the West High School standout drawing attention from a long list of major programs while staying firmly in play for the Cougars. The high-profile recruit already holds scholarship offers from schools such as Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State, a sign that BYU is chasing a player plenty of bluebloods also believe can fit at the next level.
For BYU, the appeal is obvious: Taukiuvea has built a strong relationship with the staff, giving the Cougars a legitimate chance to stay in the mix as he weighs his future. He has not committed anywhere yet and is planning to take visits before making a decision, which means this recruitment should remain one to watch for a while as schools keep making their case. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]