Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick perhaps said it best as BYU coach Kalani Sitake and several of his assistant coaches met with reporters via Zoom on Wednesday to discuss college football Signing Day and the 30 new players who have joined the program within the past two months.
“It is hard to summarize recruiting classes now, because we have high school players we sign, we have guys that go on missions, we have guys that come home from missions, and then we have transfer portal guys,” Roderick said. “But overall, I think we’ve made a lot of good progress in upgrading our roster.”
Whatever the case, it is clearly the program’s best haul ever from the high school ranks, as 247Sports ranks BYU’s 21-member 2026 recruiting class No. 21 in the country and No. 2 in the Big 12. There were no new signings from the prep ranks announced Wednesday — the 21 prep players all signed back in December — and no new transfer portal additions from the nine previously announced when they signed last month.
“The recruiting department did an amazing job recruiting, getting all the right people connected to our recruits, whether from the transfer portal or coming out of high school, and then connecting them and showing them what BYU is all about,” Sitake said. “The coaches were able to get a great recruiting class and a great transfer portal class.”
Newly minted defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga, who steps in with the departure of Jay Hill to Michigan, said Cal transfer linebacker Cade Uluave “is a big pickup for us” and that the additions make the BYU defense as deep as it has been since he arrived three years ago to coach special teams and edge rushers.
“On paper, this is the best recruiting class in BYU history,” Poppinga said. “Offensively, defensively and even some special teams things that we did. I am really excited about where we are, especially defensively, with some of these inside linebackers that we got in, some outside backers that we were able to get, not just out of high school, but the portal.”
Eight returned missionaries join program
While most of the new additions have been known for weeks, even months, Sitake also used the occasion to “celebrate” the new coaching hires announced Tuesday and to release the names of eight players from previously signed classes who have returned from missions and have joined the program as midyear enrollees.
That group includes linebacker Owen Borg (Corner Canyon HS), tight end Matthew Fredrick (East HS), linebacker Blake Lowe (Temecula, California), receiver Jett Nelson (American Fork HS), offensive lineman Tui Pututau (West HS), defensive end Adney Reid (Spanish Fork HS/Australia), defensive end David Tangilanu (Menlo, California) and quarterback Enoch Watson (Queen Creek, Arizona).
“We have a good number of missionaries who have returned and are starting their first semester here after their service in the mission field for a couple of years,” Sitake said. “… So with all that momentum and the dynamic within our team, I feel really good about where we are at.
“On paper, this is the best recruiting class in BYU history.”
— BYU defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga
“Really happy about the January that we had in the weight room and with our offseason conditioning,” Sitake continued. “Really excited about where we are headed.”
Asked which of the eight returned missionaries are looking like they can help immediately this fall, Sitake said, “They all do,” and then added that a lot more will be known once they start spring practices.
BYU will start spring practices on Feb. 27.
“These guys are hungry and want to get after it. We just have to bring them along (slowly) because they haven’t been in contact (drills) or even in the weight room for two years,” Sitake said. “Some of them just got home, and others have gotten home in November and had some time to get ready.”
New, familiar faces on BYU coaching staff
Tuesday, Sitake announced that linebackers coach Justin Ena has been promoted to special teams coordinator, defensive analyst Chad Kauha’aha’a has been promoted to outside linebackers coach and former Hawaii and Utah defensive back Lewis Walker has been hired as cornerbacks coach.
Walker has been coaching for more than a decade, and was at Monmouth the past two seasons. He had recently rejoined the staff at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State on Dec. 31 before Sitake lured him to Provo. With the hiring of Walker, former SUU head coach Demario Warren will move back to coach the safeties.
Former New England Patriots assistant coach Tyler Hughes will replace Matt Mitchell as BYU’s assistant QBs coach. Hughes, a former Bountiful High and Snow College coach, was most recently an offensive analyst for Alabama.
“Tyler’s a really good coach,” Roderick said. “He’s been on our radar for several years. We’ve just stayed in touch over the years and talked about the potential for him to work here at some point when the time was right for everyone. Just the way the stars aligned, this time just seemed to be the right time.”
Additionally, Raelon Singleton was promoted to assistant wide receivers coach, Dylan Almond was promoted to assistant special teams coach, and Tyus Moe was promoted to assistant linebackers coach.
Returned missionary QB Enoch Watson gets head start
Watson, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound QB who played under former BYU QB greats Ty Detmer and Max Hall at American Leadership Academy in Arizona, returned last fall and was able to practice with the team six times before the 25-21 win over Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Sitake and Roderick said.
The offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach noted that quarterback Ryder Lyons, a four-star recruit who signed in December, is already on his mission in Orlando, Florida, but it is too early to plan out what the QB room will look like beyond 2026.
Bountiful High product Emerson Geilman is already on his mission, too, after redshirting in 2025.
Rising sophomore Bear Bachmeier, who set the college football world on fire last fall by leading BYU to 12 wins as a true freshman, has said he will return, along with backup Treyson Bourguet. Utah State transfer McCae Hillstead has transferred back to Utah State, joining former BYU coaches Bronco Mendenhall and Robert Anae in Logan.
The backup QB position will be hotly contested this spring and summer, but Roderick is not ruling out Watson.
“We’re super excited about Enoch. … We’ve actually had him in pads and seen him play already, and he looks really good,” Roderick said. “He’s a very talented guy, a strong-arm guy with a lot of athletic ability and great size. … I like what I’ve seen out of him so far in the weight room, and we’ve thrown a little bit on the field as well.”
Is BYU finished adding to the 2026 roster?
The aforementioned Bachmeier, and his brother, Tiger, was added to BYU’s roster after spring camp last year, but don’t expect Sitake and company to make many more moves this spring — barring an unforeseen happening like last year when QB Jake Retzlaff ran afoul of the honor code.
“At this point now, (any additions) would probably be for depth more than anything,” Sitake said. “We have a number of guys that are coming back from injury, so that would probably be the only thing (that would cause us to look more into portal).
“We’re always looking and evaluating, but I feel like we’re in a really good spot,” Sitake continued. “There are a couple places that we might still look at. I don’t think you can ever say that you’re done and then close up shop.”
He added that it would be “foolish” for BYU to not look at players who fit the program and the mission of the school and could meet a position need within the team.
Roderick also said the Cougars are probably finished, barring something opening up like it did last year.
“I’ll never say we’re completely done,” Roderick said. “We are never fully satisfied. We feel good about our depth right now, feel good about our roster, but there’s always a chance we’ll add another good player, if there’s a chance to add a good player.”
Given star RB LJ Martin’s injury history, there are many fans who want to see BYU add another experienced running back. Sione Moa, widely regarded as BYU’s RB2, has also dealt with injuries.
Roderick said if there’s an incoming freshman who could play an immediate role in 2026, it is Lehi running back DeVaughn Eka, who signed in December and has already enrolled at BYU.
“I never want to put too much on a freshman, but if there’s a position where a freshman can play on offense, it’s running back,” Roderick said. “We’ll see how he does. But I would not be surprised at all if he plays this year. He’s a very talented kid, and we’re super excited about him.”
BYU’s 8 returned missionaries joining program
- Adney Reid, linebacker, 6-5, 225 Spanish Fork, Utah (Spanish Fork High/The King’s School, Australia)
- Enoch Watson, QB, 6-3, 202, Queen Creek, Arizona (American Leadership Academy)
- Blake Lowe, athlete, 6-3, 205, Temecula, California (Chaparral High)
- Jett Nelson, wide receiver, 6-5, 210, American Fork, Utah (American Fork High)
- Owen Borg, linebacker, 6-2 200, Draper, Utah (Corner Canyon High)
- Matthew Fredrick, tight end, 6-5, 230, Salt Lake City (East High)
- Tui Pututau, defensive end, 6-5, 255, Salt Lake City (West High)
- David Tangilanu, defensive line, 6-5, 255, Menlo, California (Menlo-Atherton High)
BYU’s 9 transfer portal additions
- Kyler Kasper, wide receiver, 6-6, 210 Chandler, Arizona (Williams Field HS/Oregon)
- Walker Lyons, tight end, 6-4, 235 Folsom, California (Folsom HS/USC)
- Zak Yamauchi, offensive line, 6-4, 325 Las Vegas, Nevada (Bishop Gorman HS/Stanford)
- JR Sia, offensive line, 6-5, 325 Herriman, Utah (Mountain Ridge HS/Utah State)
- Paki Finau, offensive line, 6-5, 310 Hesperia, California (Oak Hills HS/Washington)
- Cade Uluave, linebacker, 6-1, 235 Herriman, Utah (Mountain Ridge HS/Cal)
- Jake Clifton, linebacker, 6-2, 225 Owasso, Oklahoma (Owasso HS/Kansas State)
- Jayven Williams, cornerback, 6-2, 185 Mobile, Alabama (Baker HS/Mississippi State)
- Roger Saleapaga II, tight end, 6-4, 245 Orem, Utah (Orem HS/Oregon)
BYU’s 21 December signings
- Ryder Lyons, quarterback, 6-2, 225 El Dorado Hills, California (Folsom High)
- Brock Harris, tight end, 6-6, 245 St. George, Utah (Pine View High)
- Bott Mulitalo, offensive lineman, 6-5, 330 American Fork, Utah (Lone Peak High)
- Ty Goettsche, tight end, 6-6, 220 Englewood, Colorado (Cherry Creek High)
- Kaue Akana, safety, 6-3, 220 Orem, Utah (Orem High)
- Jax Tanner, offensive lineman 6-4, 275 Meridian, Idaho (Rocky Mountain High)
- Terrance Saryon, receiver, 5-11, 175 Vancouver, Washington (Evergreen High)
- Braxton Lindsey, linebacker, 6-3, 230 Rogers, Arkansas (Rogers High)
- Lopeti “Jr.” Moala, edge rusher, 6-4, 255 Orem, Utah (Orem High)
- Legend Glasker, wide receiver, 6-2, 175 Lehi, Utah (Lehi High)
- Matthew Mason, safety, 6-3, 190 Las Vegas, Nevada (Faith Lutheran High)
- Sefanaia Alatini, safety, 6-2, 200 Oakland, California (St. Francis High)
- Antonio Johnson, cornerback, 6-4, 170 Fort Worth, Texas (Arlington Heights High)
- Parker Ord, tight end, 6-4, 215 Frisco, Texas (Panther Creek High)
- Nehemiah Kolone, defensive lineman, 6-4, 265 Stillwater, Oklahoma (Stillwater High)
- Adam Bywater, linebacker, 6-4, 215 Salt Lake City, Utah (Olympus High)
- Justice Brathwaite, cornerback, 6-1, 190 Gilbert, Arizona (Higley High)
- Devaughn Eka, running back, 5-11, 190 Lehi, Utah (Lehi High)
- Graham Livingston, receiver, 5-11, 180 Millville, Utah (Ridgeline High)
- Kennan Pula, athlete, 6-2, 195 Highland, Utah (Lone Peak High)
- Jaron Pula, athlete, 6-2, 185 Highland, Utah (Lone Peak High)