‘We asked for a miracle and we got one’: Coaches update BYU’s injury situation ahead of Arizona game

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As expected after star senior safety Raider Damuni was helped to the sidelines after suffering a lower left leg injury in the 63-7 win over Utah Tech, BYU’s defense will be shorthanded Saturday when the No. 14 Cougars host Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

BYU coach Kalani Sitake confirmed that in his weekly press briefing on Monday, but spoke as if Damuni’s injury could have been worse.

“I think I asked on Saturday night for a miracle, and we got one,” Sitake said when asked if there were any season-ending injuries. “Raider is going to be able to play (again) this year, and he will be able to heal, and hopefully we can get him back as soon as possible.”

During Monday’s Coordinators’ Corner program, BYU defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga said Damuni’s injury “wasn’t as significant as we were thinking” and that he could be back in “a few weeks.”

Obviously, BYU would love to have Damuni back for the Notre Dame game on Oct. 17, which Poppinga noted is a possibility.

Sitake said he would love to have Damuni on the field this Saturday (1:30 p.m. MT, Fox), especially because Arizona features perhaps the best quarterback in the Big 12, Noah Fifita. The senior threw two touchdown passes in the Wildcats’ 35-7 win over Northern Arizona in Tucson on Saturday night.

On BYU’s depth chart, released Monday afternoon, redshirt sophomore Tommy Prassas — who is from Tucson, coincidentally — is listed as the starting strong safety. He is backed up by sophomore Jarinn Kalama.

At free safety, junior Faletau Satuala is the starter, backed up by Kennan Pula and sophomore Payton VanSteenkiste. Satuala was coming off a foot injury that limited what he could do in fall camp, but started last week and is back to full health.

“Tommy (Prassas) is ready for this moment. Tommy’s been a guy that started for us before, and he’s worked really hard, and he’s been mentored by Raider,” Sitake said. “I think he and (Satuala) are going to be good, and then we’re going to need Kennan Pula and Jarinn Kalama to be ready to roll, too.”

Expect the Cougars to play a lot of nickel (five DBs) against Fifita and Arizona’s plethora of outstanding receivers. That means sophomore Cannon DeVries and freshman Crew Clark could see some action. Another nickel, Jonathan Kabeya, is still recovering from an injury he suffered last season and some setbacks in fall camp and is not on the current depth chart.

“We have a lot of talent there at the safety position and I feel good about their abilities. This is going to be a lot of fun to see them play, and for Tommy to have his opportunities,” Sitake said. “We still need Raider, who’s a leader on our team. He can’t be on the field making plays, but he can be on the sidelines and he can be in the classroom and he can be here helping these guys out. We still need his leadership until he’s ready to get back on the field, and we hope that’s going to be sooner than later.”

Sitake said linebacker Isaiah Glasker, who didn’t play against the Trailblazers, will play against Arizona, along with field backer Nusi Taumoepeau, who played briefly after sitting out the final few weeks of fall camp.

Update on RB Sione Moa’s injury

Redshirt sophomore running back Sione Moa is still listed as RB2 on the depth chart, despite leaving in the first quarter Saturday and not returning.

“Still evaluating,” Sitake said of Moa’s status.

Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick was also asked about Moa’s condition on Coordinators Corner.

“It looks like it is not super serious … not season-ending,” Roderick said. “… As far as when his return is, I am not sure yet.”

Honors pour in for BYU players

The Big 12 had a difficult time picking its weekly award winners on Monday because there were a lot to choose from, frankly.

BYU’s DeVries, for instance, was named Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Week with Colorado’s Boo Carter. The conference also split its offensive and defensive player of the week awards.

DeVries returned a second-half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Utah Tech, and also returned a pair of punts for 73 yards. He ranks third nationally in punt return average.

“Yeah, I’m just super grateful for the opportunity, first of all,” DeVries said after the game. “Once I caught the ball, I knew that there could be a crease, and once I saw it open up, oh, man, it was all out from there, and definitely it’s a dream come true.

“I’ve always dreamed of returning a kick for a touchdown here at LES and to make it happen, it was something I couldn’t describe. So it was pretty awesome.”

Also Monday, BYU’s Legend Glasker was named Big 12 Freshman of the Week. Glasker caught three passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 16 yards and a touchdown in his collegiate debut. Glasker became the first BYU freshman with three or more scores in a game since Jamaal Williams in 2012.

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier won the award seven times last season.

“Bear, I mean, he’s just so smart, and I feel like his smarts helps me just do better on the field just by looking at the defense and seeing what he wants me to do,” Glasker said. “So, yeah, him just being so smart really helps me a lot, just do things on the field better.”

Glasker was the first true freshman in the FBS to score on his first two career touches since the 2024 season, when Washington’s Decker DeGraaf and Alabama’s Ryan Coleman-Williams accomplished the feat.

Cougars on the air

Arizona (1-0) at No. 14 BYU (1-0)

• Saturday, 1:30 p.m. MDT

• At LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo

• TV: FOX

• Radio: 102.7 FM/1160 AM

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