BYU has taken sophomore linebacker Ephraim Asiata off its Fall Camp roster, a notable roster move even if it does not appear to shake up the Cougars’ plans at linebacker.
Asiata was arrested in early July and charge with DUI and a handful of other charges. He was entering his third year with the program after signing in the 2024 class.
His BYU career has already included a position change and an injury setback. Asiata played 23 snaps in 3 games as a reserve linebacker for BYU in 2025, then suffered an injury that kept him out after the East Carolina game in September.
Before that, as a freshman in 2024, he logged 45 snaps in 8 games as a reserve defensive end. He arrived as a defensive end, but his weight led to a move back to linebacker.
Asiata’s path to BYU was anything but ordinary even before college. In high school, he miraculously survived a gunshot wound in a shooting that took the lives of a few of his classmates.
He not only survived, but also got back on the football field. He signed with the Cougars over competing offers from Utah and USC.
For BYU, though, the linebacker room looks deep enough to absorb the loss. Coming out of Spring Camp, Asiata was projected as a backup linebacker, and his absence does not impacting the starting lineup, and it probably doesn't impact the rotation either. He would have offered quality depth at outside linebacker.
The Cougars are expected to open with three veterans at linebacker in Cade Uluave, Isaiah Glasker, and Siale Esera. Jake Clifton is the interesting name in the mix. The former Kansas State starting linebacker transferred to BYU after serving a mission, and before that mission he was a starter for Kansas State.
If Clifton can shaek the mission rust, he has the talent to push Siale Esera for that third starting spot. Even if he doesn’t, he still gives BYU another dependable option if one of the starters gets banged up.
Ace Kaufusi and Miles Hall have also carved out bigger roles over time. Both got plenty of first-team reps in the spring while some starters were recovering from injuries, and both are expected to be in the rotation in 2026.
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The early outside view, though, has been cool. CBS Sports placed Klein at the bottom of its Big 12 coaching rankings for the upcoming season, a reminder that the leap from coordinator to head coach is being treated as a major unknown around the league. For Kansas State, the challenge is not just restoring offensive rhythm around Johnson, but showing that Kleins familiarity with the program can overcome the doubt that comes with any coach taking his first swing at running the whole operation. [Read more 🡒]