Utah high school football opened Thursday, and a few BYU recruits wasted no time getting their senior seasons underway. One already made a statement: BYU commit Tytan DeJong and Mountain Ridge knocked off powerhouse Skyridge with a second-half surge.
Friday brings another batch of names to track as several BYU targets and commits launch their final prep seasons.
At the top of the list is four-star BYU commit Uhila Wolfgramm, who leads Maple Mountain on the road against Lehi. Wolfgramm is the highest-rated commitment in BYU’s 2027 class, and his stock climbed fast after a dominant offseason.
Now the task is simple: turn that offseason momentum into even bigger production in 2026. There’s even a chance he finishes as the state’s sack leader.
Another BYU commit who made a big leap over the summer is defensive tackle Moa Havili. His rise went from under-the-radar to national attention in a span of just two weeks, capped by what the source calls a dream offer from BYU before he committed a few days later.
Salem Hills also has a BYU connection to watch, with Peton Higginson set to lead the team on the road at Granger. That matchup is the only one on the slate featuring two BYU commits, and Higginson contributes on both sides of the ball for Salem Hills.
Jag Ioane is another major name in the state. The explosive edge rusher chose BYU over Utah, Washington and Michigan, and he’s part of a loaded Orem defense. Orem heads to Hawaii on Saturday evening to face Kamehameha Kapalama.
Lakepa Satuala, the younger brother of BYU star safety Faletau Satuala, also opens his season on the road. Bountiful travels to Herriman for a 7 PM kickoff.
The lone player on this list who still hasn’t made a college choice is Owen Leishman. He picked up offers from Utah, Utah State and BYU within a matter of weeks, and after taking an official visit to BYU in June, he remains the only official visitor who has yet to announce his plans. Leishman and Ridgelin will be on the road Friday night against Morgan.
In Other News...
BYUs Offense Looks Real Again As One Defensive Concern Lingers
BYU wrapped the first two weeks of fall camp with a scrimmage that tilted toward the offense, a welcome sign for a program trying to build real momentum on that side of the ball again. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier has reportedly taken a notable step forward from last season, and he is working with a deep, talented collection of weapons that gives the Cougars more options than they had a year ago.
The defense still has plenty going for it, especially speed, but one lingering issue remains hard to ignore. BYU has not yet identified a clear star pass rusher, and that leaves a little uncertainty about where the consistent pressure is going to come from when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Fans Just Got A Revealing Look At Utahs Football Divide
A new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll offers a useful snapshot of where Utah college football loyalties stand, and it is a reminder that the rivalry landscape in the state is broader than one game. Among Utah fans surveyed, 36% said they most closely follow the University of Utah, while 29% said BYU and 13% said Utah State, giving a clearer picture of how the fan base is divided across the state.
The more revealing part for BYU followers is how those allegiances shift by age, religion and politics. Younger and older fans leaned more toward BYU, while middle-aged fans were more likely to side with Utah, and the survey also found differences tied to religious background and political affiliation. For BYU, that kind of split matters because its fan base has always been about more than win-loss records, and this poll suggests the schools reach still cuts in different directions depending on who is looking. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Frontcourt Plan Hinges On One Crucial Eligibility Fight
BYU still has two open roster spots to sort through, and the frontcourt remains the biggest piece of the puzzle. The Cougars are in the mix for a Michigan State big man who would fit a clear need, and they are watching a California court injunction that could determine whether he is even allowed to enter the transfer portal. If the ruling goes the players way, BYU is viewed as one of the leading candidates to land him.
There is also another name in the frame, but the financial side of the equation is already shaping the rest of the search. With limited room to maneuver, the Cougars appear to be working through a choice rather than building out a full wish list, which leaves the frontcourt plan tied to a legal decision as much as a basketball one. For now, the roster picture is still waiting on that next turn. [Read more 🡒]