That’s a wrap: What we learned about BYU’s 2026 football team in preseason training camp

BYU started preseason training camp three weeks ago with only a few question marks surrounding head coach Kalani Sitake’s 11th team.

That was understandable, considering the amount of talent and experience returning on both sides of the ball, including sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier, preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin, and one of the best groups of linebackers in school history.

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The only unit facing a major rebuild was special teams, as the Cougars lost their kicker, punter, holder, snapper and primary kick returner from last year. The only position group facing uncertainty was receiver, especially after Parker Kingston was kicked out of school last February.

The Cougars concluded fall camp Tuesday with a spirited half-hour team session in front of media members, and, frankly, the defense won the day. Cornerbacks Jayven Williams and Evan Johnson had interceptions.

It was the second straight media observation window in which the defense shined, after the offense clearly had the upper hand in the first scrimmage back on Aug. 15. So that should calm some fears that defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga’s group was struggling this month to adapt to a new play-caller and new coaches in the secondary, Demario Warren and Lewis Walker.

Tuesday also represented the media’s first opportunity to ask questions about last Saturday’s scrimmage, which was not open to reporters. Sitake said the defense “had a good answer” after getting trounced in the first padded scrimmage.

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“They answered back. That is kind of how it’s been throughout all camp. At the beginning, the defense was ahead of the offense and then it just happened that the offense did better in the first scrimmage,” Sitake said. “They kind of went back and forth until the next scrimmage. … But it wasn’t like it was all one side.”

Overall, the Cougars accomplished what they set out to accomplish, the coach said. He also noted that they wrapped up camp without sustaining any “catastrophic” injuries, which has happened in the past.

“We were probably a little bit more physical than we planned, but it is OK,” Sitake said. “We needed the work on both sides. Offense and defense needed the work. We got a couple guys banged up, but they’ll be ready. That is the price you pay for going live and going physical.”

Asked if there were any season-ending injuries, Sitake said there were not, but acknowledged that some guys are not fully healthy right now, without naming names.

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“Just really fortunate that we were able to get through this. They’re not 100% right now, but they should be by the time we get to the game next week,” he said.

Next week, BYU plays host to Utah Tech, Saturday at 6 p.m. MDT at LaVell Edwards Stadium, as the Cougars begin their most-anticipated season in recent memory. Sitake said preparations for the Trailblazers, who host Montana State on Saturday, begin on Wednesday for the coaches.

“I think everybody will say they’re sick of going against each other,” Sitake said. “So it will be good for us to get ready for Utah Tech and they actually have a game this weekend. … That’ll be a good game for us to watch. That will be a tough matchup for them, but it’s good film for us. More than anything, we have to be ready. We have 12 guaranteed opportunities and we can’t squander any of them.”

Here’s more of what we learned about the Cougars in fall camp.

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A lighter, faster Bear Bachmeier is firmly in control

Although he overthrew tight end Walker Lyons and the tipped pass was intercepted by Evan Johnson Tuesday, Bachmeier had a sensational camp, by most accounts. He told the Deseret News the first day that he had dropped about 15 pounds in the offseason, and that was clearly evident throughout camp.

Bachmeier won’t run as much, after having gained more than 500 yards on the ground last year, but when he breaks out of the pocket, he will be difficult to catch.

“He understands what we need from him. Bear and Treyson (Bourguet) have done a great job running the offense and have sustained some drives,” Sitake said. “We’ve given him a lot of different situational type of looks, and he just knows all about (everything). His football IQ was already there, but I think Tyler (Hughes) and A-Rod have done a great job at enhancing his knowledge and getting him to respond quickly.”

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Roderick said last week that Bachmeier is “as accurate of a thrower as I’ve ever coached.”

The offensive coordinator also said that Bachmeier’s “mastery of the offense” is where he’s improved the most in camp.

“He’s always been a good decision-maker, but now, with his knowledge of our offense, he’s making faster decisions than ever, getting the ball out of his hands better than ever, and super accurate,” Roderick said.

Safety Faletau Satuala is ready to roll

When Satuala broke his foot in June, sources told the Deseret News that the junior safety would not be cleared for a return to action when camp begins, but would be ready for Game 1. They were correct.

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Satuala joined the team for contact drills last week, and picked up right where he left off last season, safeties coach Demario Warren said.

“He’s been impressive the whole time,” Warren said. “In the meetings, he’s answering a ton of questions. He’s been sharp. The strength staff has got him looking good. He will be ready to go.”

Tuesday, Sitake said Satuala is back to “full speed” but has been reined in by the coaches as he gets his legs back.

“Football-wise, we know what he can do. We just need to make sure that when we get to the first game he’ll be ready to go,” Sitake said.

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Warren said in Satuala’s absence the starting safeties have been Tommy Prassas and Raider Damuni, and that he feels really good about those three. In media viewing portions of camp, freshman Kennan Pula has seemingly moved into the two-deep at safety as well.

BYU has more depth than ever as a Power Four school

Sitake said it himself: If fall camp proved anything, it is that the plan to retain as many players as possible, develop them, and then supplement the roster with a couple transfer portal additions is paying off. A lot of players who shined in camp might not even make the two-deep roster, guys such as receivers Reggie Frischknecht and Tiger Bachmeier, tight end Keayen Nead, running back Tyler Payne and offensive lineman Zak Yamauchi.

“I think what’s happened is we have way more guys that can start now,” Sitake said. “We’re a deep team. We have a lot of talent in a lot of different places. This (camp) basically confirmed that we do have a lot of talent, and now, us coaches can’t mess it up.”

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A lot of guys will play, especially in the defensive front seven. For instance, BYU has five linebackers — if you include edge rusher Nusi Taumoepeau — who could start almost anywhere else in the country.

“We just need to get guys out there and find different ways to get certain players on the field. That’s going to be a challenge,” Sitake said. “But I’d rather do it that way with a bunch of guys that can play than hope that someone can get it done at a position. I feel good about all our position groups and I even feel good about where we’re at in the kicking game too.”

Matthias Dunn, Brody Laga will keep special teams special

Speaking of the kicking game, that might have been the biggest question mark of all heading into fall camp as the Cougars went about replacing kicker Will Ferrin and punter Sam Vander Haar. However, in the media viewing portions of practice, senior Matthias Dunn and left-footed returned missionary Brody Laga have proven capable of making kicks.

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Both nailed field goals attempts of 40-plus yards at the end of practice Tuesday, and Sitake said they were both stellar in the scrimmages at LES. Redshirt junior punter Fuller Shurtz will also serve as the holder, a BYU tradition.

“Both sides did great (in the second scrimmage), and in the middle of all that special teams is (progressing),” Sitake said. “We are breaking in a kicker and a punter and a snapper and a holder. I feel really good about the third phase, with the kicking game.”

BYU is better equipped to pressure passers in 2026

We’ve already discussed BYU’s depth at linebacker, but nowhere is that more apparent than at the outside linebacker/edge rusher position, which BYU refers to as the “OE” on the depth chart. That group seems to have been revived by new assistant coach Chad Kauha’aha’a, who has stressed the importance of getting more pressure on opposing quarterbacks in 2026.

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Taumoepeau, a sophomore, and Texas transfer Tausili Akana were ultra-impressive in camp (Taumoepeau has totally recovered from Achilles surgery, remarkably) and could be a nightmare for rival QBs. Other defensive ends who impressed in camp were Hunter Clegg, Kendal Wall, Braxton Lindsey, Kinilau Fonohema and Bodie Schoonover.

“We just got playmakers all over the place,” said defensive tackle Justin Kirkland.