BYU didn’t have to wait long for Lewis Walker to make his presence felt.
Hired in February as the Cougars’ cornerbacks coach, Walker arrived with the kind of energy that practically jumps off the page. He’s the self-described “JUICE Guy,” and he says that label has followed him around for a while.
“I’ve been like this since I was a little kid,” Walker said. “Obviously I’m ADD and I’m a hyperactive individual.”
“I’ve been called the ‘JUICE Guy’ everywhere I’ve been,” related Walker. JUICE is an acronym in football circles as the player that has ‘jacked up insanely contagious energy’.”
That intensity is part of what BYU wanted when it reshuffled its defensive staff. Jay Hill and Jernaro Gilford both left for Michigan, Kelly Poppinga stepped in as defensive coordinator, and Walker joined Demario Warren as the new faces coaching the secondary - Walker with the corners, Warren with the safeties.
At 36, Walker still carries himself like a guy who could be in the huddle, not just standing on the sideline. He’s in shape, he’s lively, and he brings the kind of juice that tends to spread fast in a meeting room.
His path to Provo has plenty of stops. Most recently, he was the defensive coordinator at Monmouth, an FCS program in New Jersey. He had been set to coach at North Dakota State before Kalani Sitake pulled him to BYU.
“It’s how this profession goes,” Walker said about coming to BYU.
Walker also comes in with Utah ties. He starred at Judge Memorial High School in Salt Lake City, played at Hawaii from 2008-2010, then returned to the Beehive State to play at Utah.
He was a defensive back and kick returner at both schools, and he has also worked as a special teams coordinator, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Sitake leans on that background too. Sitake, after all, was the defensive coordinator during Walker’s time at Utah.
Walker had plenty of praise for the BYU head coach, especially after the program’s Media Day golf tournament last Thursday at Timpanogos Golf Club, an event that has become part of the routine around the program.
“I think (the tournament) builds a bridge (with the media) on a basis where we’re not on the football field,” said Walker. “It just shows who Kalani is.
He’s so welcoming, so loving. In the program that he’s building, you’re going to be welcomed forever.”
Walker said he enjoyed the golf event and “talking some trash.”
On the field, he’s clear about what he wants from his cornerbacks. Confidence sits at the top of the list.
“Number one is confidence. That alludes to just how you carry yourself, how you believe in yourself,” related Walker, who said it takes a special breed of player to man the cornerback position.
“In the cornerback position, you’re going to be on an island at times. You have to have a ‘dog mentality’.
When I say that I mean you just have to be competitive.”
He also wants consistency, work ethic and coachability. The goal is simple: play with edge, own your space and still understand that teammates can push each other and remain close.
One player who seems to fit that mold is junior Tre Alexander, who Walker said already matches the kind of mentality he wants.
“He is a passionate guy and that’s something that we fed off each other very, very early (in spring practice),” said Walker. “There are moments where I tell him ‘be yourself out there. Go make a play and I’m going to be the first one there to celebrate with you and if things aren’t going well I’m going to be the first one to throw my arm around you to let you know, you’re still that guy.'”
BYU’s secondary has been a major reason the program has stacked success over the past two seasons, and that unit already had depth and quality before Walker and Warren arrived. Now Sitake has added two coaches with head-coaching and coordinator experience, while returning players like Alexander, Evan Johnson, Faletau Satuala and Raider Damuni give the Cougars plenty of proven pieces. With that mix, the secondary looks like it should remain a strength for BYU in the 2026 gridiron wars.
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 🡒]