Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Jack Kelly (17) celebrates his interception against the Houston Cougars in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. BYU won 30-18. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Jackson Payne
By Jackson Payne
Jackson has been writing about sports for the Deseret News since 2023.

BYU is five days away from kicking off its 2025 campaign.

As the Cougars prepare to face FCS foe Portland State on Saturday, the program has released its first depth chart for the season.

Here are the currently slated Week 1 starters and backups for BYU.

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Offense

QB

  • No. 47 — Bear Bachmeier — 6-2, 220 pounds, Fr.
  • No. 3 — McCae Hillstead — 5-10, 195 pounds, R-So.
  • OR No. 10 — Treyson Bourguet — 6-2, 205 pounds, R-Jr.
  • No. 16 — Emerson Geilman — 6-3, 200 pounds, Fr.

RB

  • No. 4 — LJ Martin — 6-2, 220 pounds, Jr.
  • No. 30 — Sione Moa — 5-10, 215 pounds, So.
  • No. 28 — Jovesa Damuni — 6-0, 190 pounds, R-Fr.
  • No. 21 — Enoch Nawahine — 5-10, 205 pounds, R-Sr.

WR

  • No. 2 — Chase Roberts — 6-4, 210 pounds, R-Sr.
  • No. 5 — Cody Hagen — 6-0, 185 pounds, So.
  • No. 18 — Reggie Frischknecht — 6-4, 200 pounds, So.

WR

  • No. 11 — Parker Kingston — 5-11, 185 pounds, R-Jr.
  • No. 19 — Tiger Bachmeier — 6-1, 190 pounds, Jr.

WR

  • No. 13 — JoJo Phillips — 6-5, 205 pounds, R-So.
  • No. 0 — Tei Nacua — 6-2, 180 pounds, R-Fr.

TE

  • No. 20 — Carsen Ryan — 6-4, 250 pounds, R-Sr.
  • No. 45 — Keayen Nead — 6-5, 265 pounds, Jr.
  • OR No. 87 — Ethan Erickson — 6-5, 245 pounds, R-Sr.
  • OR No. 82 — Noah Moeaki — 6-3, 245 pounds, R-Fr.

LT

  • No. 71 — Isaiah Jatta — 6-6, 315 pounds, R-Sr.
  • No. 79 — Kaden Chidester — 6-8, 325 pounds, R-So.
  • OR No. 77 — Jake Griffin — 6-5, 305 pounds, R-So.

LG

  • No. 61 — Weylin Lapuaho — 6-4, 310 pounds, Sr.
  • OR No. 51 — Sonny Makasini — 6-4, 315 pounds, R-Jr.

C

  • No. 63 — Bruce Mitchell — 6-4, 305 pounds, R-Jr.
  • No. 67 — Trevor Pay — 6-3, 295 pounds, R-Fr.

RG

  • No. 55 — Austin Leausa — 6-5, 315 pounds, Sr.
  • OR No. 64 — Kyle Sfarcioc — 6-4, 310 pounds, R-Jr.

RT

  • No. 75 — Andrew Gentry — 6-8, 315 pounds, R-Jr.
  • No. 74 — Trevin Ostler — 6-4, 320 pounds, R-Jr.

Defense

DE

  • No. 45 — Viliami Po’uha — 6-3, 270 pounds, So.
  • OR No. 48 — Bodie Schoonover — 6-3, 265 pounds, R-Jr.

OE

  • No. 7 — Logan Lutui — 6-2, 260 pounds, R-Sr.
  • No. 10 — Orion Maile-Kaufusi — 6-3, 245 pounds, R-Fr.
  • OR No. 90 — Hunter Clegg — 6-4, 248 pounds, Fr.
  • OR No. 13 — Tausili Akana — 6-3, 235 pounds, R-So.

N

  • No. 57 — Keanu Tanuvasa — 6-4, 300 pounds, R-Jr.
  • No. 96 — Justin Kirkland — 6-3, 340 pounds, Sr.
  • OR No. 76 — Kaufusi Pakofe — 6-3, 345 pounds, Sr.

T

  • No. 55 — John Taumoepeau — 6-2, 300 pounds, Sr.
  • No. 94 — Anisi Purcell — 6-3, 305 pounds, R-Jr.
  • No. 99 — Ulavai Fetuli — 6-4, 275 pounds, Fr.

SAM LB

  • No. 16 — Isaiah Glasker — 6-5, 240 pounds, R-Jr.
  • No. 44 — Ephraim Asiata — 6-3, 210 pounds, So.
  • No. 34 — Maika Kaufusi — 6-3, 235 pounds, R-So.

Mack LB

  • No. 54 — Siale Esera — 6-3, 245 pounds, R-So.
  • OR No. 33 — Choe Bryant-Strother — 6-3, 238 pounds, R-Sr.
  • No. 30 — Max Alford — 6-1, 230 pounds, Jr.

Rover LB

  • No. 17 — Jack Kelly — 6-2, 242 pounds, R-Sr.
  • No. 18 — Ace Kaufusi — 6-4, 240 pounds, Jr.
  • No. 21 — Miles Hall — 6-1, 230 pounds, R-So.
  • OR No. 23 — Pierson Watson — 6-2, 225 pounds, Fr.

SS

  • No. 3 — Raider Damuni — 6-1, 200 pounds, Jr.
  • OR No. 11 — Faletau Satuala — 6-4, 210 pounds, So.
  • No. 25 — Talan Alfrey — 6-2, 205 pounds, R-Sr.

FS

  • No. 28 — Tanner Wall — 6-1, 205 pounds, R-Sr.
  • OR No. 11 — Faletau Satuala — 6-4, 210 pounds, So.
  • No. 27 — Matthias Leach — 6-3, 180 pounds, R-Fr.

Nickel

  • No. 22 — Tommy Prassas — 6-2, 195 pounds, So.
  • No. 15 — Tayvion Beasley — 5-10, 180 pounds, Jr.
  • No. 20 — Cannon DeVries — 6-0, 185 pounds, Fr.

CB

  • No. 0 — Evan Johnson — 6-0, 180 pounds, R-Jr.
  • No. 1 — Therrian Alexander III — 6-2, 175 pounds, So.

CB

  • No. 4 — Mory Bamba — 6-3, 190 pounds, R-Sr.
  • No. 29 — Jayden Dunlap — 6-0, 185 pounds, R-Sr.
  • No. 32 — Marcus McKenzie — 5-11, 185 pounds, R-So.

Special teams

PK

  • No. 44 — Will Ferrin, 6-3, 175 pounds, R-Sr.
  • No. 97 — Matthias Dunn, 6-0, 200 pounds, R-Jr.
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P

  • No. 35 — Sam Vander Haar, 6-0, 220 pounds, R-Jr.
  • No. 31 — Fuller Shurtz — 5-11, 179 pounds, So.

PR

  • No. 11 — Parker Kingston, 5-11, 185 pounds, R-Jr.
  • No. 19 — Tiger Bachmeier — 6-1, 190 pounds, Jr.

KR

  • No. 11 — Parker Kingston, 5-11, 185 pounds, So.
  • No. 5 — Cody Hagen — 6-0, 185 pounds, So.

LS

  • No. 26 — Garrison Grimes — 6-2, 220 pounds, R-Sr.
  • No. 43 — Ty Smith — 6-0, 195 pounds, R-Fr.

Depth chart takeaways

  • There are 14 total “OR” designations on the depth chart.
  • With Bear Bachmeier having been announced as the starter at quarterback, BYU is letting its QB2 battle continue into the season with McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet listed as co-backups.
  • After playing almost exclusively at free safety as a freshman in 2024, Tommy Prassas is listed as the starter at nickel.
  • Faletau Satuala is listed as an “OR” starter at both free and strong safety as the only player to appear on the depth chart in multiple defensive positions.
  • Only one projected defensive line starter — Logan Lutui — has ever started a contest for the Cougars.
  • Conversely, the projected offensive line starters have a combined 34 career starts at BYU.
  • In addition to handling punt returns again, Parker Kingston will replace Keelan Marion as BYU’s primary kick returner.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates an interception during the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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