BYU is about to put the first 2026 depth chart on paper, but after fall camp wrapped Tuesday, the picture is already coming into focus.
At quarterback, there doesn’t appear to be any drama. Bear Bachmeier remains the starter, just as he was after spring camp, and the staff saw enough progress from him in fall to keep him locked in.
Behind him, Treyson Bourguet looks like the clear No. 2 after a productive camp. Bourguet passed on chances to start elsewhere to stay at BYU and back up Bachmeier.
The backfield is just as straightforward at the top. LJ Martin and Sione Moa sit first on the running back chart and figure to handle most of the workload if they stay healthy. The next spot is less settled, with DeVaughn Eka and Preston Rex projected as situational pieces.
Wide receiver is where BYU’s depth starts to get interesting. After the final day of camp, Fesi Sitake told BYU On SI that five receivers are in line to play in every game: Jojo Phillips, Kyler Kasper, Legend Glasker, Reggie Frischknecht, and Tiger Bachmeier. If you’re stacking them up, Tei Nacua and Terrance Saryon are next in line.
Tight end could become one of the most important spots on the roster. Roger Saleapaga and Walker Lyons are expected to play plenty, and they’ll often be on the field together. The projection even puts them in the conversation for the best tight end duo at BYU since Dennis Pitta and Andrew George in 2009.
Up front, Paki Finau took most of the first-team work at left tackle and looks like the favorite to open the season there. Siosiua Latu-Finau also got first-team snaps and would be the next man up if Finau were injured.
Sonny Makasini handled most of the first-team reps at another spot on the line, though BYU mixed in Trevin Ostler and Zak Yamauchi. At center, Bruce Mitchell’s role is not up for debate after his all-conference season in 2025.
He is the projected starter again in 2026. Kyle Sfarcioc took most of the first-team reps at right guard, and Andrew Gentry is set to start at right tackle, with true freshman Bott Mulitalo emerging as the backup there after a strong camp.
Defensively, the edge spots are tougher to pin down because some of those players function more like outside linebackers. For projection purposes, the layout is being kept to a traditional four-man front, even though BYU will be multiple.
All four of Bodie Schoonover, Hunter Clegg, Tausili Akana, Kendall Wall, and Braxton Lindsey are expected to play against Utah Tech. Nusi Taumoepeau has been hard to evaluate because he hasn’t been seen much in camp, but when healthy, he’s viewed as a starting-caliber player.
Wall was one of the camp standouts and is set to play for BYU in 2026.
Inside, Keanu Tanuvasa, Viliami Po'uha, Justin Kirkland, and Anisi Purcell are all expected to see heavy action no matter how the starting jobs sort out. There may only be two true inside linebacker spots if BYU uses two defensive ends as outside linebackers, but the unit is deep enough to rotate without losing much.
The secondary has its own clear shape. Raider Damuni and Faletau Satuala are projected to start at safety.
Tommy Prassas should move back to his natural position after spending 2025 at nickel, and true freshman Kennan Pula made a strong impression in fall camp. Pula is described as physically gifted and physical, and he looks like a future star in the BYU defense.
At cornerback, Evan Johnson and Tre Alexander return as starters, while Mississippi State transfer Jayven Williams is expected to play a major role. Jordyn Criss and Kevin Doe are next on the list.
Special teams should feature Matthias Dunn at kicker and Fuller Shurtz at punter. Cannon DeVries is projected as the punt returner and as one of the kick returners, along with DeVaughn Eka.
In Other News...
BYU Just Made A Sudden Football Change Fans Need To Watch
Nine days before the season opener, BYU made a notable off-field adjustment by splitting its football program from the rest of the athletic department. Head coach Kalani Sitake will now report directly to university vice president Keith Vorkink, while athletic director Brian Santiago remains in charge of the other 20 sports.
The timing makes the move hard to ignore, especially after Sitake publicly pushed for more investment in football. For a program trying to position itself for the fall, the new structure adds another layer of attention to how BYU wants its biggest sport run and who will be handling the key decisions around it. [Read more 🡒]
BYU May Have A Difference Maker Back At The Perfect Time
Sione Moas return gives BYU a useful boost as the Cougars move closer to the start of the season. After dealing with acute compartment syndrome in his right leg, he got through fall camp without any setbacks, which is a meaningful step for a player expected to play a real role in the offense. BYU has plenty of reasons to like what he can bring, especially in a unit that values versatility.
Moa is positioned to help in several ways, whether it is as a runner, a blocker or a receiver, and that kind of flexibility can matter when an offense is trying to settle in and build confidence. He has also talked about believing this group can be better, with a focus on helping protect the quarterback and doing his part for the team. The only question now is how quickly that recovery translates into production once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Freshman Legend Glasker Is Creating Real Early Season Buzz
A true freshman has already worked his way into the conversation at BYU, and Legend Glasker is doing it with the kind of practice buzz that tends to follow a player long after camp ends. The wide receiver has stood out in both spring and fall workouts, earned first-team reps and drawn attention beyond Provo, with ESPNs Pete Thamel pointing to him as a prospect who could quickly become one of the best freshmen in the Big 12.
For a program always looking to identify the next difference-maker before the rest of the league catches on, that kind of early traction matters. Coach Fesi Sitake has sounded confident that Glaskers skill set will carry over when the games start, and now the question around BYU is less about whether the talent is real and more about how soon it shows up on Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]