When Bodie Schoonover signed to play football for BYU in 2020, prior to a church mission in Texas and South Africa, the tight end and linebacker out of nearby American Fork High was widely viewed as the gem of that year’s recruiting class.
Schoonover, who was 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds at the time, returned from his two years of service somewhat heavier than that, and has never really found a permanent place in the starting lineup. Still, his loyalty to the program he grew up cheering for has never wavered.
Heading into the 2026 season, Schoonover might just get his opportunity to be an every-down player for the Cougars on a defensive line that is as experienced as almost any in the country. Last year, while checking in at 270 pounds, Schoonover played in all 14 games, starting in 10 of them.
This year, he’s penciled in as the co-starter at the bigger defensive end position, along with junior Viliami Po’uha, although Schoonover will also play on the interior as well.
“Yeah, I never thought I’d be where I’m at right now, but the way my body has grown and the way that things have happened, I’m where I am, and I love it now,” he said during spring workouts. “I’m super comfortable with everything, and with the new coaches. They believe in me a lot, so I love it.”
Schoonover said playing a lot the latter half of last season, after he appeared in all 13 games in 2024 but started in none, gave him a much-needed boost of confidence. The highlights were two sacks against Iowa State, a huge pass breakup against Utah, and six tackles against Arizona and Texas Tech.
He said the Arizona game is where his career finally took off.
“That was the biggest thing I was missing, was the confidence to go out there and do what I knew I could do,” he said.
Schoonover, who sat out spring camp after having surgery on his left shoulder in the offseason, credited senior defensive consultant Gary Andersen for helping him learn how to be a defensive lineman, along with fellow defensive linemen such as Keanu Tanuvasa, Anisi Purcell and two guys who have graduated — John Taumoepeau and Logan Lutui.
“Not only is he a great coach, he’s also just a great guy,” Schoonover said of Andersen. “He just really cares about us. So it’s easy to be coached by him, because we know it’s coming from a place of love.”
In early February, head coach Kalani Sitake promoted defensive line coach Sione Po’uha to associate head coach, but Po’uha will still coach the interior defensive line and Chad Kauha’aha’a will coach the outside linebackers and edge rushers.
“Not only is he a great coach, he’s also just a great guy. He just really cares about us. So it’s easy to be coached by him, because we know it’s coming from a place of love.”
— Bodie Schoonover on coach Gary Andersen
Schoonover said his role will change slightly with Kelly Poppinga replacing Jay Hill as BYU’s defensive coordinator.
“It is very similar to what I have already done, but there’s a couple of changes,” Schoonover said. “I might be playing a little bit more inside, but it is what it is.”
According to a study released by CBS Sports earlier this week, BYU returns 76% of its defensive line snaps, which ranks third nationally. Only TCU and Georgia return more snaps at that position. The Cougars are fourth nationally in total returning defensive snaps.
“I am really happy with the way we have recruited at defensive line,” Poppinga said in February. “… We have a lot of young guys who haven’t really played a lot for us who are going to be very, very good players.”
A closer look at BYU’s defensive line in 2026
Suffice it to say, the strength of the defensive line is on the interior, with seniors Tanuvasa and Justin Kirkland the projected starters at the defensive tackle and nose tackle positions. They will most likely be backed up by senior Anisi Purcell and redshirt freshman Ulavai “Vai” Fetuli, who appeared in three games last year.
The group is so deep and talented that coaches didn’t see the need to bring in any help from the transfer portal, as they did in 2025 when they brought in Tanuvasa, Kirkland, Purcell and defensive end Tausili Akana.
“They know we can do it and that we can perform the job,” Tanuvasa said. “Not only do we have young guys such as Vai, who is really good, but we have me and Justin and Anisi all with a year under out belts in this system, and we are extremely confident in one another.”
Other defensive tackles on the roster are Maverick McManus, Kelepi Latu-Finau, Nehemiah Kolone and David Tangilau.
Kirkland, a transfer from Oklahoma State, was sidelined for much of the season with various injuries and counted 2025 as his redshirt season because he only played in four regular-season games and two postseason games. Postseason games — conference championship games and bowl games — don’t count against the redshirt limit.
Poppinga said the 6-3, 335-pound redshirt senior from Roy High should be good to go in 2026.
“Justin’s had a great spring, way different than the fall. He’s healthy. He was a little banged up in the fall, but now he’s healthy and he’s playing with better pad level,” Poppinga said. “He’s lost a little bit of weight. He’s leaner, more mobile. He’s playing super physical. He’s hard to move. Good luck trying to single block that guy.”
On the outside, sophomore Nusi Taumoepeau, who came on really strong at the end of last year, and junior Akana will battle for reps most of the season. Also in the mix at the defensive end spots are Hunter Clegg, Kinilau Fonohema, Vince Tautua, Kendal Wall, returned missionary Adney Reid and true freshman Braxton Lindsey.
“We’re big, we’re long and we’re physical,” said Poppinga. “That’s the position that we probably recruited the best the past few years. We don’t want to live in the transfer portal. We want to be a team that recruits the high school ranks and develops from within.”
Schoonover said the group’s goal is to get more than the 30 sacks that they got last year.
“If we get the details down and do the little things right, we will surpass that, for sure,” he said.
