BYU football coach Kalani Sitake talked about more than just his push for more resources and his relationship with athletic director Brian Santiago during BYU’s annual football photo day on Wednesday afternoon in the Indoor Practice Facility.
After the seventh practice of preseason training camp, Sitake also provided some injury updates, praised the progress of a young but talented receiving corps, and said the biggest difference between the 2026 Cougars and last year’s team is the development of quarterback Bear Bachmeier.
“Well, I think (the difference) starts with the quarterback. He knows the offense a lot more now than he did last year,” Sitake said. “But that doesn’t take away from what everybody’s done. Our goal is to keep developing our team, keep developing the young talent.”
Sitake acknowledged that the most inexperienced players in the two-deep are probably receivers, but will be counted on to be ready before the opener on Sept. 5 against Utah Tech (6 p.m. MDT, ESPN+).
“So we have to lean on our receivers that maybe haven’t been main starters throughout the season,” he said. “Some of them will be new (and get) more reps than they’ve seen before. But the quality of reps and the quality of talent is there. It’s our job in the next few weeks to get them ready by Game 1 and make sure that they can do it for 12 games to earn more (reps).”
Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and passing game coordinator/receivers coach Fesi Sitake said last week that the unit could develop into a strength of the offense, and Kalani Sitake concurred on Wednesday.
“Yeah, the receivers are doing a great job,” Kalani Sitake said. “I think when you lose guys that have been mainstays on the field, especially Chase Roberts, you’re looking for the new guys to step up, and so far (from) what we have seen in camp and in our practices, we’re gonna be fine.”
Asked for his biggest takeaway from camp so far, Sitake alluded to some players whooping it up at the IPF and said the love the players have for each other and their coaches is shining through.
“They relish every moment that they get to be together, and get to be on the field and play this game,” he said. “I’ve just been really impressed with the brotherhood and the connection that they have to each other. They’re excited about the connection that they have to the fans, and for me and the other coaches, it’s been really cool.”
Sitake, Poppinga give brief injury updates
• One of the bigger personnel-related question marks entering fall camp was the status of running back Jovesa Damuni, who sustained a serious knee injury in spring camp. Sitake generally does not comment on injuries unless they are season-ending, but did say Damuni is “getting closer” to returning to practice, “but we have to be really careful with him.”
Damuni, a redshirt sophomore from Ridgeline High in the Cache Valley, will be ready to play some time this year, Sitake said. How early?
“That we don’t know yet,” he said.
• There’s better news regarding Stanford transfer offensive lineman Zak Yamauchi, a 6-foot-4, 325-pounder from Las Vegas who appeared in eight games last year for the Cardinal. Sitake said Yamauchi, projected as a backup guard in the two-deep, “has been going full-go” in 11-on-11 drills and has recovered from the undisclosed injury.
• Monday, defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga was asked about safety Faletau Satuala, who sustained a foot injury in June and has not been practicing yet this month. “I think we’re right on schedule (for his return) and I think he will be back sooner than everybody thinks,” Poppinga said.
• Outside linebacker Nusi Taumoepeau was also sidelined during spring ball after having had surgery on his Achilles tendon in February. The sophomore from Saratoga Springs who transferred to BYU from Stanford at the same time the Bachmeier brothers did last year said he was cleared the week before preseason training camp began and feels like he’s really close to being 100% recovered.
