Tweaks, new faces, new schemes highlight BYU defense in spring

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The grand reveal is still on the horizon.

But the buzz for what BYU’s new defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga is doing in spring practice is solid amongst players.

They like his personality, his drive, enthusiasm and schemes. Like the man he replaced, Jay Hill, Poppinga wants to create chaos for offenses, and that means getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks by switching up coverages and blitzes.

“Spring has been great,” said cornerback Tre Alexander.

“It’s obviously a different voice at the helm of the defense with coach Pop out there, but it’s just taking time to adjust to how he sees things, how he calls plays, but all in all, our standard is the same, the players are the same.”

Alexander has been impressed with new transfers linebacker Cade Uluave, edge rusher Jake Clifton and corner Jaden Williams on the defense. He says he’s found it fun, and new corners coach Lewis Walker is a new voice and gives a new perspective in wake of the departure of Jernaro Gilford with Hill to Michigan.

“Every day he comes with great energy,” said Alexander. “It makes me want to show up to practice every day and give my all for them.”

Players who have been running Hill’s scheme the past two or three years have seen some things change, like they’d witness with any new coach coming in. There are questions in understanding why they want to play that way.

“But it’s all been great because I feel like we have a lot of our same defense from last year, which made a lot of plays. We just have a new spin on a lot of stuff that makes us play even faster,” said Alexander.

The past two seasons, BYU’s defense had an identity as a take-away unit with 53 combined turnovers gained (fumbles and interceptions). In 2024 BYU tied with Texas in leading FBS in interceptions with 22.

In 2024 the Cougar defense had 17 interceptions and seven fumbles gained for 24 total.

In 2026, under Poppinga, what will fans see “pop” out about the defense?

“I think we are a more experienced team this year than we were last year. A year ago we had a lot of sophomores starting, myself included,” said Alexander, a native of Georgia.

“We had a lot of guys rotating in on the defensive line, but this year we have a vet presence in the middle in Keanu Tanavasa and you have Justin Kirkland with Nusi (Taumoepeau). They all three are vets.

“And then you have a lot of guys coming in at the linebacker position who are just like, dogs. Like Cade, he is special. Jake is special, and then (true freshman) Braxton Lindsey is, like one of those guys who is going to be an NFL player someday.

“He’s making a lot of plays in spring and he’s someone whose name everyone will know.”

Amongst the corners, Alexander said he and Williams talk more than Evan Johnson, whom many consider BYU’s best cover corner. But Williams, a transfer and starter from Mississippi State in the SEC, likes to be very vocal and even scream, said Alexander.

The interception number from last year will be surpassed, predicted Alexander.

“We can be way better in that department, especially myself,” he said. “Being a young’n last year I knew plays were coming but I was kind of scared to just guess it. I was second-guessing myself a lot and left a lot of picks on the board.

“I know that if I step up my numbers, it’s going to be contagious to the rest of the guys and I know myself, Faletau (Satuala) Raider (Damuni), Tommy (Prassas), Shmev (Johnson) and Jaden can definitely top what we did the last two years. There is no doubt in my mind that we can be the number one interception group in the country.”

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