BYU’s receiver room is one of the biggest puzzles on the roster heading into fall camp, and Jojo Phillips sits right in the middle of it.
With Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston gone, the Cougars are staring at a major void at the top of the depth chart. Replacing both production and reliability is no small task, and the real question isn’t just who can catch passes - it’s whether anyone in the group can emerge as a true No. 1 option. Phillips is the name that stands out most.
At 6-5 and 205 pounds, the redshirt junior has the kind of frame that jumps off the page. He also added more muscle this offseason, a development that should help him hold up better over the course of a season and deal with more physical coverage.
The talent has never really been the issue. The challenge has been turning that talent into steady, dependable production.
Phillips arrived at BYU with plenty of upside, but not a ton of experience as a featured receiver. Before coming to Provo just prior to the 2023 season, he was known more as a standout basketball player in high school than as a polished football weapon. Since then, he’s spent most of his BYU career in a backup role, though last season looked like it might be the year he took a bigger leap before a collarbone injury cut that plan short.
That injury clearly lingered beyond the physical side of things, too. BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said Phillips made noticeable progress this spring.
“Jojo Phillips has taken a big step forward,” Roderick said. “You know, that injury he had last year was pretty serious. We don’t talk a lot about details and stuff, but that was a tough injury and it hurt his confidence and it took him some time to get back.”
Phillips said in spring practices that he feels more prepared now than he has at any point in his BYU career.
“I do feel like I’m ready now that I’m going into year four, which is crazy,” Phillips said during spring practices. “It went by really fast, but I feel like I’m ready now.
I learned a lot from Chase through the years, learned a lot from Darrius (Lassiter), Keelan (Marion), and just all the older guys that came through here that was here before me. So I feel like I’m ready for sure.”
If Phillips can turn that confidence into consistency, he could become the receiver BYU needs most this season. And if he can come close to matching what Roberts gave the offense, that would go a long way toward shaping how successful the Cougars are in 2026.
In Other News...
Kalani Sitake And Raider Damuni Earn Powerful BYU Honor
Kalani Sitakes impact at BYU has long gone beyond the sideline, and this week it earned him another notable nod. The Cougars head coach and senior safety Raider Damuni were named nominees for the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, a national honor that recognizes college football student-athletes and coaches for community service, academic dedication and what they bring on the field.
For Sitake, the recognition fits a track record that has included both BYUs recent competitive success and a steady commitment to service in the community. His charitable work has drawn attention before, from founding organizations to volunteering locally and supporting other causes, and the Good Works Team nod puts that side of his profile back in the spotlight. The final team will be announced in September 2026, leaving BYU with a pair of nominees in the mix for one of college footballs most respected off-field honors. [Read more 🡒]
Bruce Mitchell Has Become Everything BYU Wants Its Program To Be
Bruce Mitchell has spent his BYU career becoming the kind of player the program wants to build around, and the senior offensive lineman now has his sights on something even bigger than individual honors. After earning first-team All-Big 12 recognition last season and landing on preseason All-Big 12 lists again, Mitchell is part of a veteran core that has the Cougars thinking about a run at the College Football Playoff in 2026.
Mitchell is also one of several BYU players drawing early NFL attention, with his name showing up in 2027 draft projections. For him, the next step is still about the same things that got him here: steady development, leadership and the support system around him, including his wife, former BYU track athlete Sadie Sargent Mitchell, who understands the demands of chasing a pro career. [Read more 🡒]