BYU’s tight end room is shaping up to be one of the most important groups on the roster heading into 2026, and the reason is pretty simple: the Cougars lost their top piece, then went shopping in the transfer portal to replace him.
Carsen Ryan is gone after graduation, and BYU is now trying to move forward without the player who was the program’s best tight end of the Big 12 era. That’s a tough void to fill, but the Cougars attacked it by bringing in USC transfer Walker Lyons and Oregon transfer Roger Saleapaga. Both players already had previous connections to BYU, both had earned roles at their old schools, and both were singled out as two of BYU’s best players during Spring Camp.
That kind of buzz matters because the Cougars are expected to lean on tight ends heavily this fall. With uncertainty at wide receiver, BYU should feature plenty of 12 personnel, with Lyons and Saleapaga on the field together often. The expectation is that both will play a lot, and both will start.
Behind them, BYU has two familiar names in Noah Moeaki and Keayen Nead. Those two filled role-player spots in 2025 and should stay in similar lanes this season.
Nead, in particular, is expected to be used mainly as a run-blocking tight end. Moeaki brings a different dimension, with the ability to catch passes out of the backfield, and he would be next in line if Lyons or Saleapaga were to miss time.
The depth beyond that is still a work in progress. Jacob Nye is entering his second year with the program after redshirting last season, while Matthew Fredrick has returned from his mission and joined the team. If either one is ready to contribute, BYU could end up with a very deep tight end group.
The early spring reports only raised the ceiling. Saleapaga looked like a player who could lead BYU in receiving, and he was described as a matchup problem because of his size and route running ability.
One clip showed him creating separation against defensive back Jonathan Kabeya. Another tight end target came on Monday, when Bear Bachmeier connected with Saleapaga for a chunk gain.
Walker Lyons arrived with similar expectations after being signed to replace Ryan. He may not move like Saleapaga, but he can still separate from linebackers and use his frame to shield defenders from the ball. One rep against Evan Johnson ended with Bachmeier finding Lyons in the end zone for a touchdown on a perfectly placed throw.
That’s why the pressure on this room is so real. If BYU wants to win the Big 12 and make the College Football Playoff, it needs two or three dependable pass-catchers to emerge.
With turnover at wide receiver, the tight ends may be asked to carry more of that load than usual. Even without much production at BYU yet, the expectations for this group are sky-high.
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