BYU’s rise into the Big 12 spotlight showed up again Monday, when the conference’s preseason all-league team was unveiled and the Cougars landed six selections. Utah added one more name to the list, giving the state seven total honorees.
The headliner was easy to spot. BYU running back LJ Martin was voted the Big 12’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year after also taking the same award for the 2025 campaign, when he piled up 1,305 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
Martin was one of several BYU players recognized across the board. Offensive lineman Bruce Mitchell made the preseason team, along with defensive lineman Keanu Tanuvasa, cornerback Evan Johnson, safety Faletau Satuala and linebacker Cade Uluave.
Mitchell was a First Team honoree in 2025. Satuala earned Third Team recognition, while Tanuvasa and Johnson were both listed in Honorable Mention.
Uluave arrives in Provo with a strong résumé of his own. As a junior at Cal this past season, he was named to the All-ACC First Team and also picked up Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors in 2023.
Utah’s lone preseason selection was return specialist Mana Carvalho. As a freshman in 2025, he turned 17 punt returns into 212 yards, averaged 12.5 yards per return and brought one back for a touchdown, which landed him on the Honorable Mention team.
Texas Tech led all Big 12 programs with seven preseason selections. BYU followed with six, and Houston had three.
The Cougars open their season Sept. 5 in Provo against Utah Tech. Utah begins its 2026 schedule on Sept. 3 at Rice-Eccles Stadium against Idaho.
Here is the full 2026 preseason All-Big 12 team:
Quarterback: Noah Fifita, Arizona
Running Back: Cam Cook, West Virginia
Running Back: LJ Martin, BYU
Fullback: Kayden Luke, West Virginia
Wide Receiver: Omarion Miller, Arizona State
Wide Receiver: Amare Thomas, Houston
Wide Receiver: Wyatt Young, Oklahoma State
Tight End: Terrance Carter Jr., Texas Tech
Offensive Line: Joe Cotton, Cincinnati
Offensive Line: Shadre Hurst, Houston
Offensive Line: Bruce Mitchell, BYU
Offensive Line: John Pastore, Kansas State
Offensive Line: Evan Tengesdahl, Cincinnati
Kicker: Stone Harrington, Texas Tech
Punt/Kick Returner: Mana Carvalho, Utah
Defensive Line: C.J. Fite, Arizona State
Defensive Line: Wendell Gregory, Kansas State
Defensive Line: A.J. Holmes Jr., Texas Tech
Defensive Line: Keanu Tanuvasa, BYU
Defensive Line: Adam Trick, Texas Tech
Linebacker: Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
Linebacker: Austin Romaine, Texas Tech
Linebacker: Cade Uluave, BYU
Defensive Back: Will James, Houston
Defensive Back: Evan Johnson, BYU
Defensive Back: Jamel Johnson, TCU
Defensive Back: Brice Pollock, Texas Tech
Defensive Back: Faletau Satuala, BYU
Punter: Palmer Williams, Baylor
Offensive Player of the Year: LJ Martin, RB, BYU
Defensive Player of the Year: A.J. Holmes Jr., DL, Texas Tech
Newcomer of the Year: Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
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