‘Strengths everywhere’: Despite starting safety’s injury, Kelly Poppinga still high on BYU defense

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Until a few weeks ago, the 2026 BYU football team’s defense appeared to have only one minor weakness. Depth at the cornerback position was a bit of a concern.

Then projected starting safety Faletau Satuala injured his right foot, and more scrutiny ensued because new defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga might have to move a few pieces around in the secondary in conjunction with cornerbacks coach Lewis Walker and safeties coach Demario Warren.

Satuala has been seen around campus with a hard cast on his right foot and on crutches; a BYU football spokesperson has said that because it is not a “long-term type of injury” the program will not be commenting on it.

More will be known when the Cougars hold their traditional golf tournament in late July for media members, coaches and some select players, and on Aug. 5 when preseason training camp begins.

There are no indications that Satuala’s injury and subsequent surgery will keep him out more than the eight weeks originally diagnosed, according to sources familiar with the setback. But if the junior from Bountiful isn’t ready the first few weeks of camp, look for redshirt sophomore Tommy Prassas to possibly be moved from nickel back to either the field safety or boundary safety spot to play alongside returning starter Raider Damuni on the back end of BYU’s defense.

Another player who was primarily a cornerback last season, Cannon DeVries, could also be moved back to safety. Also in the mix at safety are four-star freshman Kennan Pula of Lone Peak High and Jarinn Kalama, a redshirt sophomore from Hawaii by way of Utah’s Wasatch High School.

Is BYU’s cornerback depth a concern?

Obviously, BYU can ill-afford to lose any cornerbacks as it goes about replacing Mory Bamba, who signed a free agent contract with the New York Jets after going undrafted in April.

It does have two solid returning starters in junior Tre Alexander and senior Evan Johnson, a candidate to be on the all-Big 12 preseason team that is scheduled to be released soon.

“It’s not like we are dealing with a bunch of freshmen coming in, or new starters. We got a ton of returning starters. I am excited about where we are at right now.”

Kelly Poppinga

Beyond those two, BYU has Mississippi State transfer Jayven Williams, a senior, juniors Kevin Doe and Jonathan Kabeya, sophomore Matthias Leach and freshman Jordyn Criss waiting in the wings for more playing time.

Leach was moved from safety to corner in the spring, Poppinga said.

When he was specifically asked on April 2 how established the two- and three-deep chart is for the defense, Poppinga acknowledged that cornerback is the only area of concern, if one could call it that.

“The one position where I think we gotta continue to develop some depth is at the corner position,” Poppinga said. “I think we have some really good young guys there that can play. Jordyn Criss, Kevin Doe, some of those guys that haven’t played a lot, I thought had really solid (spring camps).

“That would be the one position where I think we gotta … get us a fourth and fifth corner,” Poppinga continued. “But other than that, I feel really good about all the other positions.”

Williams is a 6-foot-2, 185-pounder from Mobile, Alabama, whose experience could become important. He played in 13 games at Mississippi State in 2025 and totaled 18 tackles, one interception and two pass breakups. Prior to 2025 he spent three seasons at Kennesaw State, appearing in 24 games.

What else is Poppinga saying about BYU’s defense?

Overall, Poppinga described the defense he has inherited from new Michigan DC Jay Hill and bolstered with transfer linebackers Jake Clifton and Cade Uluave as experienced and capable of doing its part to get BYU back to the Big 12 championship game.

“It’s not like we are dealing with a bunch of freshmen coming in, or new starters,” Poppinga said. “We got a ton of returning starters. I am excited about where we are at right now.”

Poppinga singled out cornerback Alexander, rush end Hunter Clegg and Uluave as having made big impacts.

“I am really glad that Cade Uluave (a Cal transfer) is here,” he said. “That dude’s a really good player. … I just think we have a really good football team, and we have a chance (to contend for a Big 12 title).”

Poppinga said the coaching staff’s expectations for the 2026 season are higher than he can ever remember.

Regarding the defensive line, led by Keanu Tanuvasa and Justin Kirkland on the inside and Bodie Schoonover, Nusi Taumoepeau, Viliami Po’uha and Tausili Akana on the outside, Poppinga said BYU coaches have recruited that position “probably better” than any other position on the team.

“I think we have strengths everywhere,” Poppinga said on March 27. “That’s what I told them after practice today. But we can talk about it all we want. People can tell us how great we’re going to be. It doesn’t matter. None of that matters. We still have to put all the work in on the field and off, take all the right steps and go through the process. That’s what it is going to take for us to be great.”

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