5 freshmen who could make immediate impacts for the Cougars in 2026 season

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College football recruiting experts are calling the class that BYU added last December the best in school history.

It was led, of course, by four-star quarterback Ryder Lyons of Folsom, California, and four-star tight end Brock Harris, from St. George’s Pine View High in southern Utah.

Those highly regarded players are currently on missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Orlando, Florida (Lyons), and Spokane, Washington (Harris), and both have said that they will return in time to join the BYU football program before the 2027 season.

“I loved the way the team worked, and we had some new faces come in … who are going to be great contributors to our team. … Even some true freshmen will play. They are good enough to play.”

BYU coach Kalani Sitake

Other signees from that 2026 class that 247Sports ranked as the 18th best in the country, and second best in the Big 12, are also on church missions or will be serving shortly, most notably Olympus High three-star linebacker Adam Bywater, brother of former BYU standout linebacker Ben Bywater.

However, a large number of those signees have already enrolled at BYU and participated in the recently completed 15 spring football practices. The only player in that group who has yet to join the team is Antonio Johnson, a 6-foot-4, 170-pound cornerback from Fort Worth, Texas.

One of the signs that this truly is an extraordinary signing class for head coach Kalani Sitake is that several of the prospects who signed last December could end up playing right away, Sitake and coordinators Kelly Poppinga and Aaron Roderick said when camp wrapped up on April 2.

“I loved the way the team worked, and we had some new faces come in … who are going to be great contributors to our team,” Sitake said. “… Even some true freshmen will play. They are good enough to play.”

A lot of the newcomers the head coach was talking about come from the transfer portal. Guys such as Oregon receiver Kyler Kasper, USC tight end Walker Lyons, Oregon tight end Roger Saleapaga and Cal linebacker Cade Uluave have been profiled by the Deseret News in recent weeks and surely will make their marks this fall, along with returning stars LJ Martin, Bear Bachmeier, Sione Moa, Faletau Satuala and Keanu Tanuvasa.

Returned missionaries such as linebacker/defensive end Adney Reid, quarterback Enoch Watson and receiver Jett Nelson could also see the field, although generally it takes players a bit of time before they are back to full strength and fitness after missionary service.

Then there are the true freshmen. Up to a half-dozen, maybe more, could log playing time this fall, and not because the roster of returning players is thin. As Sitake said, these new, young guys are good.

Going off what coaches said about them in spring camp, and what was observed by media members, the list of true freshmen who could play right away includes offensive lineman Bott Mulitalo, linebacker Braxton Lindsey, receiver Legend Glasker, running back Devaughn Eka and athletes Kennan Pula and Jaron Pula, twin brothers.

“What’s been different this year is having all the high school kids that are already with us now,” Sitake said. “Every one of them has been enrolled with us early, and got here in January, except for Antonio Johnson. He’s joining us in June. So we got a jump start on it, and that’s huge for them and their development.

“There is a huge upside to them. There is no ceiling, so we got to push it, and see how far we can get these guys to improve physically, mentally, spiritually and in all aspects of their life,” Sitake concluded.

Here’s a closer look at five of the freshmen BYU fans could get to know better this fall:

Receiver Legend Glasker

Hardly a day went by when media members were allowed to watch portions of spring practices when the Lehi High product didn’t make a remarkable play, or wasn’t mentioned by coaches as one of the standouts of camp. The three-star recruit, who is the cousin of BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker, is pushing to make the six-receiver rotation that receivers coach Fesi Sitake likes to use.

“I know they are freshmen, but there are some ready-made guys who I think, if they stay on their trajectory, can fill in any type of void we have,” Fesi Sitake said, referring to Glasker and returned missionary Jett Nelson, among others.

Said Roderick: “I will probably forget about somebody, but Legend Glasker is somebody who has really stood out this spring. I expect him to contribute this fall.”

Glasker could also get on the field as a kick or punt returner. He caught 37 passes for 676 yards and nine touchdowns at Lehi as a senior and 37 passes for 781 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior.

Linebacker/defensive end Braxton Lindsey

Freshmen who play defense seem to get on the field faster at BYU if they are in the secondary, but look for the 6-3, 230-pound Lindsey to push Tausili Akana and Nusi Taumoepeau for playing time at the rush defensive spot. A three-star recruit out of Arkansas, Lindsey had nine sacks his senior year of high school and also scored 14 touchdowns as a two-way player at Rogers High.

“Braxton has had a really solid spring, especially for a freshman coming in,” Poppinga said. “In this day and age of college football, it is really hard for a freshman to play. … But I think for what we’ve done, Braxton’s done a good job of (learning the defense), and I think he has a bright, bright future here. He’s made a ton of plays.”

Running back Devaughn Eka

Roderick has said that BYU will give superstar running back LJ Martin at least 20 carries a game, and probably five or so more touches beyond that. Next up is Sione Moa, who has been outstanding when he hasn’t been injured. Preston Rex is probably RB3 right now, especially after Jovesa Damuni was injured in spring camp.

After that, look for the 5-11, 190-pound Eka to move onto the depth chart and ahead of some guys who have been in the program for two or three years.

“Devaughn Eka has had a good spring, and I think he’s going to play for us this year,” Roderick said. “… With the skill position, it just comes back to proving to us that you deserve to play. Prove to us that you can do something that can help us win, and then it is up to us to find a way to use those guys in whatever personnel groupings we can come up with.”

A three-star recruit out of Lehi, Eka rushed for 3,276 yards and recorded 861 receiving yards in his prep career.

Safety Kennan Pula

BYU has a plethora of experience at the safety positions, led by junior Faletau Satuala and senior Raider Damuni. Sophomores Jarinn Kalama and Tommy Prassas are also in the mix. But don’t be surprised if the 6-2, 195-pound Pula doesn’t make his way onto the depth chart by the time the Cougars host Utah Tech on Sept. 5.

The athlete out of Lone Peak High, who can also play offense, like his twin brother Jaron, might be too good to keep off the field, Poppinga said two weeks ago. Kennan Pula was a four-star recruit who had offers from dozens of Power Four programs before flipping from Utah to BYU.

Kennan Pula made a one-handed interception in the 6A state football playoffs for Lone Peak that was so incredible that it went viral and was featured on ESPN’s Top Plays of the Day that day.

“Kennan Pula is another guy who has come along (quickly) that we’ve been really pleased with,” Poppinga said. In an interview with the Deseret News on April 3, Satuala said Pula was the most impressive newcomer in spring camp.

Offensive lineman Bott Mulitalo

BYU is pretty set at the tackle positions, with senior Andrew Gentry manning the right side and Washington transfer Paki Finau earning the starting spot on the left side. Look for the 6-5, 300-pound Mulitalo to get on the depth chart on one of those two sides before September rolls around.

The former four-star recruit from Lone Peak moved from defense to offense his senior season, so he is still a bit raw as an offensive lineman. But he’s massive, strong and athletic — much like former BYU tackle Kingsley Suamataia of the Kansas City Chiefs.

“Some of these new offensive linemen we got are really, really good,” said defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa. “Bott, man, he’s so strong, has great feet. He’s tough. He’s got some things to learn, but he’s already on the right track.”

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