BYU’s first depth chart for the 2026 season gives a pretty clear picture of where Kelly Poppinga plans to put his stamp on the defense.
Poppinga, who took over as defensive coordinator nearly eight months ago after Jay Hill left for Michigan, said from the start he wasn’t looking to tear everything down. Monday’s release backed that up. The Cougars listed 13 defensive positions, a sign they expect to stay multiple up front and mix in five defensive backs at times, including a nickel back.
On offense, the layout looks far more familiar. Aaron Roderick enters his sixth season calling plays, and the depth chart doesn’t show much upheaval there.
Head coach Kalani Sitake said Monday that the two- and sometimes three-deep charts reflect the deepest roster he’s had at BYU, the product of steady growth since the Cougars joined the Big 12.
“I am confident in a lot of things, but I am about being humble and being hungry,” Sitake said Monday when he was asked about the team’s strengths and weaknesses. “I guess we will find out.
… I’m excited to see special teams because we’ve had to replace Will Ferrin, who was a great kicker. … So that is maybe for me the answer to both those (questions).”
One of the clearest signs of BYU’s depth shows up at receiver. Eight players are listed there, and the group is led by true freshman Legend Glasker out of Lehi High, Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper and returning starter Jojo Phillips. Glasker, who is 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, is also listed as a starting kick returner alongside All-America cornerback Evan Johnson.
“I’m not sure what people are predicting (about the depth in the receivers room),” said quarterback Bear Bachmeier. “I think everybody in the room internally knows (it is deep), all the staff members and all the (support staff). The receivers know what they’re going to do, and yeah, they’re going to be dangerous.”
At running back, the top of the chart is exactly where most expected it to be. Big 12 preseason offensive player of the year LJ Martin is RB1, with sophomore Sione Moa behind him.
The only real wrinkle is at RB3, where redshirt junior Preston Rex held off a late push from true freshman Devaughn Eka. Eka drew strong reviews in camp, but Rex made enough plays to keep the job.
The offensive line also comes in as expected. Washington transfer Paki Finau joins returning veterans Sonny Makasini, Bruce Mitchell, Kyle Sfarcioc and Andrew Gentry to form the starting five, a group BYU believes can stack up with the better lines in the Big 12 and maybe beyond.
On defense, the linebacker spots remain labeled Sam, Mack and Rover, just as they were a year ago. That fits with Poppinga still working with the inside linebackers in addition to his coordinator responsibilities.
There is also a notable change at nickel. With Jonathan Kabeya out with an injury and absent from the depth chart, sophomore Cannon DeVries is listed as the starter there. Even so, BYU may not lean heavily on five defensive backs, given how much linebacker depth the Cougars have.
The most interesting battle on that side might be at Rover, where returning starter Siale Esera and Kansas State transfer Jake Clifton are both listed with an “or.” Third-stringer Ace Kaufusi is next in line there, making that spot one to watch as the season gets closer.
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Puka Nacuas NFL situation has kept plenty of attention on a former BYU star whose rise once made him one of the programs most visible recent success stories. The league is still reviewing his legal matter and the possibility of discipline, but for now he has not been placed on the commissioners exempt list, leaving his status in a holding pattern as the process plays out.
Nacua also spent part of the offseason in a care facility after a run of controversies that included a civil lawsuit alleging assault and antisemitic remarks, adding another layer of uncertainty around what comes next. He has missed some training camp time with soreness, though he has since returned to practice, and BYU fans are left watching for the one decision that will finally clarify how much of his season, and his future, remains in doubt. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Freshmen Are Already Pushing For Roles That Could Matter Fast
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The most interesting part for BYU is not just that those freshmen made the chart, but how many different ways they could matter as the season unfolds. Some are already positioned to factor in sooner than later, while others appear to be developing toward heavier work as fall camp observations and coaching staff comments continue to shape the picture. For a team trying to build depth and keep pace over a long season, having that many first-year players in the conversation this early is a sign the roster may be younger, and more open-ended, than usual. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Landed On A Big 12 List Fans Wont Like
BYU enters the new Big 12 season with a level of expectation that is hard to ignore, and that alone says plenty about where the program sits now. Among the league teams being sized up before kickoff, the Cougars are in a conversation with programs like Texas Tech, Houston, TCU and Utah as clubs that could end up under the microscope if the season does not unfold the way outsiders think it should. The concerns are the usual ones this time of year: a demanding schedule, coaching changes around the league, and the kind of roster turnover that can make preseason optimism feel fragile in a hurry.
For BYU, the challenge is not just living up to the buzz, but avoiding the kind of slide that makes a promising year look disappointing by the end. The Cougars have enough pieces to justify belief, and the fact they are being discussed alongside other Big 12 teams with real aspirations only sharpens the pressure. Still, the list they landed on is a reminder that in a conference with so much change and so many unknowns, reputation can turn quickly if the early results do not match the expectations. [Read more 🡒]