BYU heads into Fall Camp with a defensive ends room that looks nothing like the thin groups the program has rolled out in years past. The Cougars report Monday, hit the field Wednesday, and for Kelly Poppinga, this will be his first Fall Camp as defensive coordinator. It’s also the first real chance to sort out a position group that now comes with legitimate expectations.
The top of the room is built around players who already logged meaningful snaps in 2025. Nusi Taumoepeau, Hunter Clegg, and Tausili Akana all got a real taste of college football last season, and all three are expected to take a noticeable jump in their second year in the program.
That kind of internal growth matters here, because BYU is no longer asking for survival at defensive end. It’s asking for production.
Bodie Schoonover gives the group a veteran anchor. He moved into a much bigger role in 2025 after spending the early part of his career as a reserve, and he enters this season as the most reliable run defender at the position.
The bigger question for Schoonover is whether he can do enough as a pass rusher to lock down the job outright. Last season, he was solid against the run but less effective getting after the quarterback, generating pressure on 8% of pass rush snaps.
That number trailed Hunter Clegg, Nusi Taumoepeau, and Tausili Akana.
Taumoepeau is the name that jumps off the page when the conversation turns to pass rush. He led the Cougars in pressure rate as a true freshman, and his upside is as high as any defensive end BYU has had in the Kalani Sitake era. That’s why the expectation is that he starts.
Clegg is another player who could be ready to level up in a big way. He played more snaps than every freshman except Bear Bachmeier, and he did it only nine months after returning from his mission when the season began. With a full year of experience and more time to shake off that mission rust, he’s positioned to make a serious move forward.
Akana should be part of the rotation in a major way as well. Among BYU’s defensive ends, he finished second in pressure rate behind Taumoepeau, which gives the Cougars another legitimate edge threat in the room.
Then there’s the second wave: Adney Reid, Kini Fonohema, Devoux Tuataga, and Braxston Lindsey. That group brings very little game experience, but the upside is real.
If even one or two of them are ready to contribute, BYU’s depth at defensive end gets a whole lot stronger. Lindsey, a true freshman, stood out in Spring Camp and looks ready to carve out a role right away.
That’s the bigger story here. For a long stretch, BYU simply didn’t have enough talent at defensive end.
That’s changed. The Cougars have recruited the position well over the last two or three years, and now the room has the kind of depth and upside that can help push the defense toward being one of the better lines in the Big 12.
If BYU is going to make a real leap and get to the College Football Playoff, this room could be central to it. The formula is clear: the Cougars have to pressure the quarterback without blitzing. That’s the line between good and great defenses in college football, and in the Kalani Sitake era, BYU has not done it consistently enough.
The talent is there now. The next step is turning that talent into pressure, stops, and disruption when it matters most.
In Other News...
Big 12 Coaches Are Suddenly Chasing BYU Instead Of Texas Tech
BYU has spent plenty of time this offseason being discussed in the same breath as the Big 12s usual heavyweights, but a new anonymous coaches survey from Athlon Sports pushed the Cougars into an even brighter spotlight. Several league coaches praised BYUs physical style, the quality of the coaching and the financial backing behind the program, a combination that has clearly earned respect inside the conference walls.
The bigger takeaway is how quickly the conversation has shifted away from the team that had been drawing so much offseason attention, Texas Tech. Some coaches in the survey went as far as to suggest BYU could be the team to beat in the Big 12 in 2026, which is a sign of how much confidence the Cougars have built, even if it still says nothing about how the race will actually play out once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Enters A New Era With One Big Defensive Challenge
Kelly Poppinga is stepping into the defensive coordinator role at BYU at a moment when the program is trying to keep its edge after Jay Hills departure to Michigan. The hire gives the Cougars a familiar voice charged with preserving the high-energy culture that helped define the defense, while also blending in returning players and newcomers as the staff resets around a new play caller.
Poppinga has made it clear that pressure will be part of the identity, with sacks an obvious measuring stick for how fast the unit adapts. Even so, he has also pointed out that finishing plays depends on more than just effort, with matchups and coaching adjustments shaping what the defense can actually produce when the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Fall Camp Opens With Pressure On Bear Bachmeier And His Targets
BYUs 2026 fall camp is getting underway with the usual first-step routine, as players report for meetings and equipment fitting before practices begin Wednesday. Even with media access limited, there will still be enough of a window to take in meaningful portions of practice, and the first few days should offer an early read on the pieces that matter most as the Cougars start sorting out their depth chart.
The biggest eyes will naturally be on Bear Bachmeier, whose development sits near the center of everything BYU wants to accomplish on offense. Up front and across the defensive line, experienced players could help set a more physical tone, while the receiver room brings its own layer of intrigue as the Cougars look to replace departing starters and establish who can separate from the pack once camp really starts to settle in. [Read more 🡒]