What BYU coordinators had to say about Saturday’s scrimmage

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After Saturday’s 102-play scrimmage, BYU football coach Kalani Sitake gave a “slight edge” to the offense when he was asked which unit won the day in the 2026 team’s first appearance at LaVell Edwards Stadium this month.

Tuesday, it was the coordinators’ turn to talk to reporters, and OC Aaron Roderick and DC Kelly Poppinga wholeheartedly agreed with the head coach.

“Yeah, the offense definitely had a very good day,” Poppinga said. “That was probably their best day they have had. They came out on fire, had a little bit more juice than we did.”

Poppinga said the offense controlled the line of scrimmage with superior physicality, which he termed “disappointing” for the defense.

“Maybe we came out a little overconfident. I don’t know. But I think we rebounded really well (Monday) and today. Our offense is good. I think we are playing against one of the best offenses in the country.”

BYU defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga

“You always want to be the most physical team on the field, and that day we weren’t. And so they did a good job. They ran the ball pretty much at will, and they threw the ball, too. It was a good day for them.”

Poppinga said the defense had “stacked some really good days before that,” so he wasn’t overly concerned. He said he expects a much better performance from his guys in the next scrimmage.

“Maybe we came out a little overconfident. I don’t know,” he said. “But I think we rebounded really well (Monday) and today. Our offense is good. I think we are playing against one of the best offenses in the country.”

Poppinga told his unit that the Bear Bachmeier they faced a year ago as a true freshman is nothing like the quarterback with 14 games, a spring camp, and summer workouts under his belt.

“That dude is smart, and he knows where to go with the ball. If you don’t disguise well, and you tell him exactly what we’re playing before the ball is snapped, you’re in trouble,” Poppinga said. “It is good to be able to see that and it is making us better as a defense to be able to play an offense like that, and the weapons that they have.”

Poppinga said he still hasn’t decided whether he will be in the press box or down on the field during games this season. He was in the press box during the first scrimmage, and predicts he will be on the field for the next one, then decide.

“There’s pros and cons to both,” he said. “I gotta weigh them out in my mind. But I think as a staff, we feel good either way.”

Roderick on the scrimmage, backup QB situation

Roderick is generally conservative in the way he describes the offense’s performance in scrimmages, but on Tuesday he held very little back. He was obviously pleased.

“I thought we played well, did a lot of good things. Bear was very sharp. And I thought our receivers and tight ends played really well,” he said. “It was nice to do some actual tackling (because) you get to find out about the young running backs a little bit.”

Associated Press Preseason Second-Team All-American LJ Martin only participated in the “thud” portion of the scrimmage (no tackling), but guys such as Sione Moa, Preston Rex, Journee Tonga and Devaughn Eka got good looks, Roderick said.

“That was a good takeaway, just getting to see some of those guys play live,” he said.

Asked about the pecking order at running back, Roderick said Martin and Moa are obviously the lead backs, but after that it is fairly open.

“I don’t think we have the exact depth set yet, but Preston Rex is gonna play this year. Devaughn’s gonna play this year. And then this kid Journee (Tonga), we haven’t ruled him out yet. He is explosive. Like, every time he touches the ball, something exciting happens, it seems like.”

As for the receivers, Roderick said their play at LES confirmed that Bachmeier will have plenty of options this year, and plenty of big targets. Kyler Kasper is listed at 6-foot-6, Jojo Phillips is listed at 6-5 and Reggie Frischknecht is 6-4.

“They’re big. That stands out. You see them walk out on the field and you are impressed (with that size),” Roderick said. “I don’t think anybody in the country is gonna have a bigger group than we have. Maybe somebody, I don’t know. But we have great size, and I really like the way they’re executing.

“Jojo is playing really good football. … Kyler Kasper really showed up in the scrimmage, played well. Tiger Bachmeier had a really good scrimmage. He’s playing well. Reggie Frischknecht is playing well. And (Legend) Glasker, too. Those guys are all doing a really nice job.”

Tuesday, freshman Enoch Watson ran the second-team offense during the 30-minute media viewing portion of practice; however, Roderick said that if the season started today, Bachmeier’s backup would “definitely” be fifth-year senior Treyson Bourguet.

“Treyson is playing good football, man. He would start for a lot of teams in the country, and Enoch would, too,” Roderick said. “I mean, Enoch, he is super talented, and just learning new things every day. He never repeats a mistake, and he has a very high ceiling.”

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