Sonny Makasini has become one of those rare offensive linemen every program needs but doesn’t always have: the steady hand who can slide wherever he’s asked and keep the whole operation moving.
That’s why BYU head into 2026 with the Provo native carrying the label of the group’s “glue guy.” At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Makasini has spent nearly his entire life in the city where BYU sits, aside from his two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Tonga and Oakland. After that, he chose to walk on at BYU instead of playing at Utah State, and since then he’s worked his way from the margins into a key role.
“He’s a glue guy. He’s a program guy,” said BYU offensive line coach TJ Woods. “He’s been here a long time, and as far as our system … he knows more than anybody in that room … He’s like having another coach on the field.”
Makasini has earned that reputation the hard way. He redshirted in 2022, made the travel squad in 2023, then got thrown into the lineup at center for one game in 2024. Along the way, he’s logged time at both guard spots and at center, giving BYU a reliable interior option no matter how the depth chart shakes out.
“I just came in, put my head down and learned,” Makasini said of his opportunity to warrant playing time in 2023. “Connor Pay was was here, so I just tried to put my head down and work, and by the end of that season, I made the travel squad. It was a really cool experience for me to get to learn from those guys and just get my hands dirty, get in and try to just absorb as much as I could.”
Woods sees the progression clearly and even compares parts of Makasini’s game to Connor Pay, who was the unquestioned leader of the offensive line when Woods arrived in 2024.
“It’s kind of similar to how Connor Pay was a couple years ago. So, I’m really excited about his growth,” Woods said. He’s worked his tail off in the weight room, and he put a lot of good stuff on film last year … He had a good season last year, and we look for that to just kind of really take off this year.”
The expectation now is that Makasini will be locked in at likely left guard, even though he can handle all three interior spots. Woods pointed back to a 2024 game against Baylor, when Makasini stepped in at center after Connor broke his foot, as proof of how much he can cover.
“He can play all three of the inside spots,” Woods said. “If you remember in 2024 against Baylor, he came in and played center when Connor broke his foot.
So he’s equipped that way. He’s sharp enough, (and) he can snap it.
He’s a football guy, you know? There’s lots of things he can do out on this field.”
Makasini says that flexibility comes from a simple mindset: be ready for anything, and help wherever he can.
“It’s something I pride myself on is just being available to help in any way possible,” Makasini added. “But it’s been cool for me just to be able to help the young guys a lot.
Being experienced in all the different positions, I feel like I can give them insight sometimes and help them improve their game to be more balanced players. I’m not perfect or anything, but just I have a lot of experience compared to some of those guys.
So it’s it’s been a cool experience to share that with them and kind of feel like Coach Woods sometimes, helping them come along and seeing them grow.”
For Makasini, the fit feels natural in every sense. BYU is home, his family is close, and the program has given him a path he clearly values.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. It’s hard to think of being anywhere else, to be honest,” Makasini concluded.
“I love BYU and it’s meant so much to me to have the opportunities I’ve had to meet my wife, stay close to my family and then be part of this great football program. I’ve been really blessed.”
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