A few years ago, it seemed like name tags were in order when BYU opened preseason training camp, as new faces dominated the roster handed out in early August.
Not so in 2026, as head coach Kalani Sitake began official team practices Wednesday in preparation for the season-opener on Sept. 5 against Utah Tech with a roster filled with veterans and experienced players. Rather than rely on an influx of players from the transfer portal, BYU went heavy on roster retainment and development since edging Georgia Tech 25-21 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl last December.
After a couple of hours of workouts on the Zions Bank Practice Fields north of the Student Athlete Building, Sitake said even the newcomers — such as tight end Walker Lyons, receiver Kyler Kasper and linebacker Cade Uluave — are up to speed, thanks to many of them having joined the squad before spring drills last March.
“We are way further ahead than we were last year, so that’s a good sign,” Sitake said. “And even with the new guys that have come in, you can’t even tell that they’re new anymore. … You can tell that the guys worked really hard in the offseason, in the summer, and it has paid off a lot.”
Temperatures cooled off the last few days in Provo and throughout northern Utah, making for much more comfortable conditions than the Cougars dealt with in July during player-run practices, said quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who weighed in at 227 pounds after having finished last season “somewhere around 240.”
Of course, last year at this time, Bachmeier himself was new to Provo and the team, and “kinda wondering what I had gotten myself into,” he said Wednesday. Different story on Aug. 5, 2026, for the sophomore from Murrieta Valley, California.
“Obviously feeling much more comfortable now,” he said, nodding his head in agreement when it was suggested that he now knows the offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick’s playbook inside and out. “There’s a night and day difference.”
There was a smoky haze in the Salt Lake and Utah valleys Wednesday morning, thanks to rampant wildfires throughout the state, but Bachmeier said it was barely noticeable once practice began, and Sitake mentioned that the team overall reported for Day 1 in excellent condition.
“Got to stay humble and stay hungry, and just keep working hard,” he said. “We are going to utilize all the time that we have from now until Game 1, and with Practice 1 out of the way, I can’t wait to watch the film. I am really excited about what we did today.”
Linebacker Isaiah Glasker, after embarking on his fifth fall camp as a Cougar, pronounced the defense as having picked up right where it left off.
“The team’s looking good so far,” Glasker said. “I know our defense is stacked, and so it is going to be fun playing and getting back out here and playing with these guys.”
Senior running back LJ Martin also met with the typical first-day-of-camp media throng Wednesday, and said he’s been cleared to do everything since June after having had shoulder surgery last December.
“I felt great. Just a little bit of rust to shake off,” he said.
Practice ended a few minutes earlier than expected, so media members were able to watch only five to seven minutes of practice. By then, that meant watching third-string quarterback Enoch Watson run a few plays.
Yes, Roderick said that if the season started today, the freshman returned missionary would be QB3 and senior Treyson Bourguet would be Bachmeier’s primary backup. However, Roderick noted that there’s still plenty of time the next four weeks for things to change in that regard.
Some notable BYU football roster comings and goings
The Deseret News will get into more specifics regarding the roster in the coming days, but there have been some fairly significant changes in personnel since spring ball ended.
Most notably, Sitake said that 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman Andrew Williams, a 295-pound offensive lineman from Kirksville, Missouri, is not on the roster released Wednesday because he has decided to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A three-star recruit when he signed with BYU last year, Williams has started the process of submitting his missionary papers (application).
“He will get his call soon, and we will see where he’s going to go,” Sitake said. “Andrew will be Elder (Williams) for the next two years, and we are really proud of his decision.”
Not surprisingly, linebacker Ephraim Asiata has been removed from the roster after news came out last week that the Herriman High product had been arrested July 2 on suspicion of DUI and other charges.
Offensive lineman Kaden Chidester and kicker Ian Sanchez are also off the roster.
On the flip side, there were a couple surprise additions.
BYU has added freshman running back Journee Tonga from Leuzinger High in Lawndale, California.
“He knows the playbook pretty well already for someone his age, so I am really impressed,” LJ Martin said.
BYU has also added a fifth quarterback, as sophomore John Sanders will wear No. 15 and join the room that includes Bachmeier, Bourguet, Watson and former Bountiful High star Owen Geilman. Sanders spent last year at Antelope Valley College in California and threw for 2,083 yards and 19 touchdowns while leading his team to an 11-1 record and a bowl win.
“We just felt like we needed more arms,” Roderick said. “He had a really nice year last year in junior college.”
Another surprise addition to the offense is former American Fork two-sport star Fisher Ingersoll, who is listed as a senior wide receiver. Ingersoll played baseball for TCU and Nicholls University the past few years but has not played football since high school.
