BYU is getting plenty of early respect as fall camp opens, with four Cougars landing on the 2026 Sports Info Solutions Preseason All-Big 12 First Team.
LJ Martin is front and center in that group. The reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year is coming off a season in which he led the conference in rushing yards with more than 1,300, and he once again sits at the heart of BYU’s offense heading into 2026. Martin was also a postseason First Team All-Big 12 selection last year, and there’s a real chance he can match - or even top - what he did in 2025 if he stays healthy for a full season.
Bruce Mitchell gives BYU another first-team presence on offense. The veteran center also earned First Team All-Big 12 honors last year, and his role only gets bigger now with the Cougars having to replace their left tackle and left guard from a year ago. Mitchell is the anchor in the middle, and that matters for an offensive line going through change.
The Cougars’ defense made its case last season, and the preseason recognition suggests more of the same is expected even after the departure of defensive coordinator Jay Hill. Cornerback Evan Johnson earned a First Team spot after grading out as the fifth-best cornerback in the Big 12 last season. He also tied for the conference lead in interceptions.
Safety Faletau Satuala joined him on the preseason first team. There’s growing belief that he could be an NFL prospect after this season, and his 2025 numbers back up the buzz.
Pro Football Focus ranked him as the fourth-highest graded safety in the Big 12 last year. He was often around the ball when BYU needed a play, and while he made Third Team All-Big 12 last season, that seemed light for the kind of year he put together.
Not every Cougar got the preseason nod, though. Bear Bachmeier was left out at quarterback in a Big 12 field loaded with talent, and Arizona’s Noah Fifita got the top preseason quarterback spot instead.
Linebacker Cade Uluave, who transferred in from Cal to replace Jack Kelly, also missed the list despite coming in with a strong reputation. The feeling around him is high, but a lack of familiarity may have worked against him in the preseason voting.
In Other News...
BYU Just Sent A Clear Message With This Fall Camp Removal
Fall camp is only getting underway, but BYU has already made a notable roster decision by moving sophomore linebacker Ephraim Asiata off the camp roster. Asiata had been part of the programs defensive mix in recent seasons, working as a reserve linebacker and defensive end, and he had been viewed as a useful depth option heading into the future.
The move leaves little doubt about how the Cougars are approaching the linebacker room this month. Even with Asiata out of the picture, BYU still has veterans and transfers expected to carry the rotation, which gives the staff plenty of options as it sorts out roles. For a defense trying to establish order early in camp, the decision sends a clear message about standards and about how quickly the depth chart can change. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Fall Camp Roster Brings Unexpected Competition At Key Positions
BYU footballs 2026 roster release before fall camp did more than just update the depth chart. It offered the first clear look at a group of newcomers who could make the next few weeks more competitive than expected, especially at positions where the Cougars are trying to sort out reliable answers. Running back Journee Tonga, a preferred walk-on with a strong high school rsum, is one of the more intriguing additions, while wide receiver Fisher Ingersoll is back in Provo after previously spending time in college baseball.
The rest of the incoming group adds even more to watch once camp opens. Scholarship additions Devoux Tuatagia, Brody Laga and Antonion Johnson give the roster extra bodies and options, and former preferred walk-on Lance Reynolds is also back in the mix. Its the kind of offseason roster movement that can quietly shape a fall, because the real story now is which of these names turns a crowded list into actual playing time. [Read more 🡒]