Two of BYU football’s veteran interior linemen got a preseason nod Tuesday, with center Bruce Mitchell and defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa landing on the 2026 Outland Trophy watch list.
The award, handed out each year to the nation’s top interior lineman, includes 68 players on this year’s watch list. It has been presented since 1946 by the Football Writers Association of America and is named for John H. Outland, the College Football Hall of Famer and former Penn lineman who earned All-America honors on both offense and defense.
Mitchell, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound center from Kamas, arrives with plenty of momentum. He was named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-America second team, the Athlon Sports preseason third team and also earned All-Big 12 preseason recognition from league coaches and select media.
The co-captain, who starred at 2A South Summit, started all 14 games for BYU as a junior in 2025. He helped anchor an offensive line that powered an offense averaging 31.4 points per game and ranked in the top 15 nationally in time of possession, rushing first downs, fewest sacks allowed and rushing touchdowns, all while opening lanes for star tailback LJ Martin.
Tanuvasa, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound senior from Mission Viejo, California, also started all 14 games last season and picked up All-Big 12 honorable mention honors.
A former Utah transfer, he finished the year with 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups and a blocked kick while serving as a defensive co-captain. His season included a four-tackle game in wins over Stanford and Cincinnati, pass breakups against Utah, Iowa State and Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game, and a blocked kick against Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
The Outland Trophy has a notable Utah connection as well. Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano won it last season, while former BYU standouts Mo Elewonibi in 1989 and Jason Buck in 1986 also earned the honor.
Utah State center Jimmy Liston is another player on the 68-man watch list. He started all 13 games for the Aggies a year ago and ranked sixth nationally among centers by Pro Football Focus with an 87.1 average grade.
In Other News...
BYU Fall Camp Opens With Key Starting Jobs Still Up For Grabs
BYUs fall camp opens with more certainty at quarterback than at several other spots, with Bear Bachmeier projected to take the first snap if the Cougars were lining up for a game today. Beyond that, plenty of the depth chart still feels unsettled, and the early days of camp will be about sorting through a few of the rosters most important competitions. Wide receiver, left guard, defensive end and special teams roles are among the jobs still waiting to be claimed, which gives the first weeks of practice real weight.
The interesting part for BYU is that the projected lineup is built largely on experience and what players showed most recently, but it is still only a projection. Camp has a way of changing those assumptions quickly, especially when a veteran holds off a younger challenger or a new name pushes into the conversation. For now, the Cougars enter August with a clear sense of where the core starts, and just as clear a list of spots where the race is still wide open. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Is Battling Bluebloods For A Recruit Fans Will Want Up Front
Samiu Taukiuvea has become one of the more closely watched recruiting battles on BYUs board, with the West High School standout drawing attention from a long list of major programs while staying firmly in play for the Cougars. The high-profile recruit already holds scholarship offers from schools such as Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State, a sign that BYU is chasing a player plenty of bluebloods also believe can fit at the next level.
For BYU, the appeal is obvious: Taukiuvea has built a strong relationship with the staff, giving the Cougars a legitimate chance to stay in the mix as he weighs his future. He has not committed anywhere yet and is planning to take visits before making a decision, which means this recruitment should remain one to watch for a while as schools keep making their case. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Freshmen Are Already Pushing For Roles That Could Matter Fast
BYUs fall camp opened with a familiar August theme for a program trying to build depth fast: freshmen who are not waiting around for a future window. Several newcomers are already in the mix for immediate roles or at least meaningful competition, with the staff taking a close look at who can help early and who can simply make the two-deep sturdier before the season gets rolling.
Among the names worth watching are safety Kennan Pula, who is starting his college career in the secondary, along with cornerback Jordyn Criss, offensive tackle Bott Mulitalo and defensive tackle Ulavai Fetuli, all of whom could become useful pieces if the need arises. The kicking situation also adds an extra layer to the camp intrigue, while the running back room has enough interest that a freshman could force his way into the conversation behind the established options. [Read more 🡒]