There are 117 names on the 2026 BYU football roster that school officials handed out last Wednesday as the Cougars started preseason training camp in Provo.
That’s a lot of players to keep track of, and as usual in this day and age of the transfer portal, there have been plenty of arrivals and departures since the Cougars edged Georgia Tech 25-21 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl last December.
Most of those transactions took place between the bowl game and spring camp, but that doesn’t mean more have not happened since the Cougars concluded spring drills and workouts on April 2.
Here’s a quick recap of the comings and goings since then, now that we’ve had the chance to digest the 2026 roster — which coach Kalani Sitake said last Wednesday is a living, breathing document and could change even more, particularly when school starts on Sept. 2.
Of course, that’s only three days before the Cougars take on Utah Tech in their home opener (6 p.m. MDT, ESPN+) at LaVell Edwards Stadium, so don’t expect any last-minute additions to contribute right away, if at all.
BYU football players no longer on the roster
First, the departures — guys who were on the spring roster who are not on the fall roster:
- Andrew Williams, redshirt freshman, offensive lineman. As Sitake reported when fall camp commenced, the 6-foot-8, 280-pound three-star recruit from Kirksville, Missouri, has decided to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- Cody Hagen, junior, wide receiver. A former four-star recruit from Draper’s Corner Canyon High, Hagen announced his medical retirement from football in May, citing ongoing knee injury issues.
- Ephraim Asiata, sophomore, linebacker. Having had trouble gaining weight in his first two years at BYU, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Asiata was probably going to struggle to make the roster in 2026 before the events in the early morning hours of July 2 jeopardized his career at BYU.
The Utah County Sheriff’s Office’s incident report states that Asiata was driving a green 2026 Cadillac CT5 when he was pulled over at or near the intersection of Nevada Avenue and Slate Canyon Drive in Provo and subsequently charged with driving under the influence, producing a fraudulent California driver’s license, and other violations.
Head coach Kalani Sitake declined to comment specifically on Asiata’s case on July 30, but his removal from the roster is not a surprise.
Also missing from the 2026 roster: freshman tight end Cole Clement, junior receiver Rowan Reay, junior offensive lineman Kaden Chidester, kickers Ian Sanches and Braden Gilbert and Snow College transfer quarterback Max Barker.
Recent additions to the 2026 BYU football roster
Now, the new faces — scholarship players and a few preferred walk-ons who have joined the program since spring ball ended:
- Brody Laga, freshman, kicker. Recently returned missionary an insurance policy if senior Matthias Dunn falters.
- Antonio “TJ” Johnson, freshman, safety. Lanky defensive back from Fort Worth, Texas, joined program in June after graduating from Arlington Heights High.
- Devoux Tuataga, freshman, defensive end. Edge rusher from Cedar Valley High recently returned from a church mission in Chile.
- John Sanders, sophomore, quarterback. Earned a BYU scholarship offer after throwing for more than 2,000 yards last year at Antelope Valley (California) College.
- Journee Tonga, freshman, running back. Profiled in Sunday’s online edition of the Deseret News, Tonga turned down a scholarship offer from San Jose State to walk on at BYU and has already turned a few heads in camp with his quickness and escapability.
- Fisher Ingersoll, fifth-year, wide receiver. Turned down a BYU football scholarship offer four years ago to play baseball at TCU and then Nicholls State in Louisiana. All-around athlete will be a preferred walk-on in his final season of college eligibility.
- Lance Reynolds, freshman, safety. Former Orem High quarterback (2024) is the grandson of former BYU standout player and coach with the same name.
Other new names on the roster include punter Cole Shulman, safety Luke Nadauld and deep snapper Rayden Heintz.
