A closer look at BYU depth chart for start of 2026 season

When BYU edge rushers coach and special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga replaced Jay Hill as the Cougars’ new defensive coordinator almost eight months ago, he promised a few tweaks to the relatively successful schemes and lineups that the Michigan-bound Hill employed.

More evidence of some of those minor changes came Monday, as BYU released its first official depth chart for the 2026 season.

There are 13 defensive positions listed — yes, that’s two more guys than are allowed on the field at any one time — which goes to show that the Cougars will be multiple up front and will occasionally use five defensive backs, including a nickel back.

On offense, not much has changed on BYU’s depth chart in offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick’s sixth year calling plays on that side of the ball.

Head coach Kalani Sitake said Monday that the two- and sometimes three-deep charts reflect the deepest team he’s had in his time at BYU, the result of a slow build the past few years since BYU entered the Big 12.

“I am confident in a lot of things, but I am about being humble and being hungry,” Sitake said Monday when he was asked about the team’s strengths and weaknesses. “I guess we will find out. … I’m excited to see special teams because we’ve had to replace Will Ferrin, who was a great kicker. … So that is maybe for me the answer to both those (questions).”

The three linebacker spots are still called Sam, Mack and Rover, just as they were last year. That’s not a surprise, considering Poppinga is still working with the inside linebackers in addition to his coordinator duties.

Here are a few more notes and observations now that the depth chart is set:

• No fewer than eight receivers made the depth chart, most notably true freshman Legend Glasker out of Lehi High. He’s one of three starters, along with Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper and returning starter Jojo Phillips. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Glasker is also listed as the starting kick returner, along with All-America cornerback Evan Johnson.

“I’m not sure what people are predicting (about the depth in the receivers room),” said quarterback Bear Bachmeier. “I think everybody in the room internally knows (it is deep), all the staff members and all the (support staff). The receivers know what they’re going to do, and yeah, they’re going to be dangerous.”

• Everybody knew that Big 12 preseason offensive player of the year LJ Martin was going to be RB1 and sophomore Sione Moa was going to be RB2. The mild surprise is that redshirt junior Preston Rex held off a late challenge from true freshman Devaughn Eka to hold onto the RB3 spot. Eka got some rave reviews in camp, but Rex made a lot of plays, too.

• BYU’s starting offensive line is exactly as we predicted a few days ago; barring injury, Washington transfer Paki Finau and returning veterans Sonny Makasini, Bruce Mitchell, Kyle Sfarcioc and Andrew Gentry form one of the better offensive lines in the Big 12, maybe the country.

• With Jonathan Kabeya out with an injury and not on the depth chart, sophomore Cannon DeVries is the listed starter at nickel, although BYU most likely won’t use five DBs on the field at any one time a lot, considering the depth at linebacker.

• Speaking of which, the Cougars enter the season with a battle for the starting Rover position brewing between returning starter Siale Esera and Kansas State transfer Jake Clifton. Those two get the “or” designation at Rover, backed up by third-stringer Ace Kaufusi.