Highlighting the Three Top Newcomers to BYU Football in 2026

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BYU football is fully in spring-ball-mode as we enter the final week of March. Fresh off of a fantastic 12-2 season, the Cougars look to build off that campaign with a set of new faces at key positions.

Kalani Sitake, with a minted new extension, still is the head man along with offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick. However, Kelly Poppinga takes over on defense as Jay Hill departed for Michigan

Along with some coaching turnover, BYU will break in new starters and impact players on both sides of the ball.

Let’s highlight the three biggest newcomers that will impact the 2026 team. Newcomers could mean transfers or incoming freshmen.

Cade Uluave, LB (Transfer from Cal)

If you’re asking yourself “how can BYU replace Jack Kelly on the defense?” look no further than Uluave. He is the clear consensus top newcomer and ESPN’s top 2026 addition for BYU. The 6-1, 235-pound Uluave led Cal with 100 tackles, 12 TFL, and earned first-team All-ACC honors. He brings a similar sideline-to-sideline speed as Kelly, with pass rushing ability to match. He has earned early praise in camp for his leadership, despite being a new face in Provo. Being paired with veteran leader Isaiah Glasker could mean this is the best linebacker duo in the Big 12 next season.

Don’t be surprised if he is named a captain this fall, despite barely coming over from Berkley this offseason.

Walker Lyons, TE (Transfer from USC)

The athletic tight end is already living up to the hype with speed, blocking, and route-running that creates lanes for QB Bear Bachmeier. OC Aaron Roderick has called him one of the offense’s best players; he’s running with the first team. Last season, the Cougars unlocked Carsen Ryan after he struggled to break through at UCLA and Utah. Lyons comes in with a much higher ceiling. Lyons is a former four-star recruit that had SEC offers before choosing USC initially. He likely begins fall camp as the top pass-catching option at tight end.

Lyons projects as a more athletic tight end than Ryan was last season. He could become BYU’s best tight end since Isaac Rex.

Kyler Kasper, WR (Transfer from Oregon)

It’s obvious the Cougars wanted to upgrade the passing game via the transfer portal. With Lyons and Kasper, they did just that without having to even cross the Rocky Mountains to do so. At 6-6, 210 pounds, Kasper is BYU’s tallest receiver in years. His specialty is contested-catch situations, red zone packages, and providing a big target for QB Bear Bachmeier down the field. BYU needed to fill two big holes in the receiving corps after Chase Roberts ran out of eligibility and Parker Kingston was removed from the program and school due to being arrested and charged with first-degree felony rape.

Kasper could rise to becoming the top receiver if he can quickly develop in-game chemistry with Bachmeier. Kasper is consistently running with the first-team offense alongside Jojo Phillips and Cody Hagen, showing the coaches’ trust in him already.

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