BYU got the update it needed on Raider Damuni, and it was better than the worst-case scenario.
The veteran safety, injured in the first half of the season-opener against Utah Tech, had to be carried off the field and could not put weight on his leg as he made his way to the locker room. After the game, Kalani Sitake said the team was waiting on MRI results to learn how serious it was. On Sunday, Damuni addressed it himself on social media and confirmed the injury is not season-ending.
“I appreciate all the love and prayers,” Damuni said. “Although I'll miss a lot of my senior season, I won't miss all of it. I know God has a plan for me and I trust Him.”
That’s still a tough blow for BYU. Damuni was heading into his fourth season with the program and ranked among the most experienced players on the roster. For Kelly Poppinga’s defense, losing him before conference matchups like Arizona and TCU matters.
Now the attention turns to who fills the void. Redshirt sophomore Tommy Prassas is listed as the backup on the depth chart and appears to be the next man up. Damuni was the starting strong safety, though he said in an interview after Spring Camp that BYU safeties cross-train at both free safety and strong safety.
Prassas has already logged meaningful work for BYU. He played important snaps at safety in 2024 as a true freshman, then shifted to nickel when the Cougars needed help there and started the first four games of the 2025 season. An injury against Colorado knocked him out of the lineup for good, but he moved back to safety this offseason and played 13 snaps there against Utah Tech.
Another name to keep in mind is true freshman Kennan Pula. He was one of the standouts of Fall Camp and arrived as a coveted four-star recruit. The talent is obvious, but throwing a freshman into the mix against a senior quarterback like Noah Fifita would be a tall order.
BYU could announce Prassas as the starter as soon as Monday, when the depth chart is released.
In Other News...
BYU Heads Into Arizona With A New Defensive Problem
BYUs defensive picture looked a little different when the depth chart for the Arizona game came out, and not in a way the Cougars wanted heading into a tricky road test. Raider Damuni, who started at strong safety in Week 1, is off the chart after suffering an injury and is expected to miss multiple games, forcing BYU to reshuffle a secondary that already had to absorb early-season attrition.
Tommy Prassas moves into the starting strong safety spot, with true freshman Kennan Pula and Jarinn Kalama in the mix for snaps as the Cougars sort out the back end. There was at least one encouraging note on the defensive side, as edge rusher Nusi Taumoepeau was bumped into the starting field backer role after working his way back from injury, but BYU now heads to Arizona with one more lineup question to manage. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Faces An Early Depth Test Ahead Of Arizona
BYU is heading into its matchup with Arizona already having to sort through a little early-season roster stress, and the concern is most noticeable at running back. Backup Sione Moa left the previous game early, and while the injury is not considered season-ending, his return timeline remains unclear, leaving the Cougars with a live question as they turn their attention to the Wildcats.
Preston Rex, Journee Tonga and Devaughn Eka have each shown enough in brief opportunities to make the situation manageable for now, but depth tests have a way of revealing themselves quickly once conference play feeling pressure starts to build. There is better news on the defensive side, where Isaiah Glasker is expected back in week two, and Nusi Taumoepeau is set to start after a fall camp limited by injury, giving BYU at least a few important pieces back as it tries to get through the opening stretch intact. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Already Has Two Early Reasons For Fans To Believe
The season opener gave BYU more than just a win over Utah Tech. It also delivered two early conference honors, with returner Cannon DeVries earning Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week and wide receiver Legend Glasker taking Big 12 Freshman of the Week after standout debuts that immediately put both players on the radar.
DeVries flipped field position in the most dramatic way possible with a kickoff return for a touchdown, while Glasker announced himself with three scores in his first college game. For a program trying to build momentum heading into Big 12 play, those are the kind of early signs that can matter, and BYU will get its first real chance to see how they carry over when Arizona visits on Sept. 12. [Read more 🡒]