Depth chart: Cougars counting on continuity to keep defense near top of Big 12 in 2026

BYU defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga instructs during a practice March 6, 2026, in Provo. | Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

In the days after BYU came from behind to beat Georgia Tech 25-21 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl to get its 12th win of the season, prospects for the Cougars having as good of a defense in 2026 as they did in 2025 looked bleak.

Highly successful defensive coordinator Jay Hill was on his way to join Kyle Whittingham at Michigan, cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford eventually went with him, and predictions were flying around social media websites that the twosome would plunder some of BYU’s top defenders as well.

Turns out that only backup linebacker Max Alford made the move to Ann Arbor, leaving the BYU defense that ranked in the top three in most of the key statistical categories in the Big 12 in 2025 mostly intact.

Sure, the Cougars lost some outstanding defenders to graduation or the NFL — linebacker Jack Kelly, safety Tanner Wall, defensive linemen John Taumoepeau and Logan Lutui, and cornerback Mory Bamba are the most notable departures — but they managed to keep the likes of safety Faletau Satuala, defensive linemen Keanu Tanuvasa, Nusi Taumoepeau and Tausili Akana, linebackers Isaiah Glasker and Siale Esera and cornerbacks Tre Alexander and Evan Johnson in Provo.

In January, head coach Kalani Sitake promoted Kelly Poppinga to defensive coordinator and brought in Demario Warren and Lewis Walker to round out the defensive staff. Chad Kauha’aha’a was promoted from defensive analyst to outside linebackers coach and Gary Andersen was retained as a senior defensive consultant and the “chief consultant” to head coach Sitake.

“We have as good of a two- or three-deep that I’ve ever had,” Poppinga said. “Now, we have to put it (together). I keep saying that, right? Because everybody wants to (see) high expectations. We have higher expectations than anybody. But I feel really good at every position.”

BYU defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga

The Cougars didn’t hit the transfer portal hard for defensive players — only three of their nine transfers play on that side of the ball — but the guys they did land should make immediate impacts: linebackers Cade Uluave (Cal) and Jake Clifton (Kansas State) and cornerback Jayven Williams (Mississippi State).

So it was an enthusiastic and confident Poppinga who addressed reporters last Thursday as spring practices concluded in Provo.

“We have as good of a two- or three-deep that I’ve ever had,” Poppinga said. “Now, we have to put it (together). I keep saying that, right? Because everybody wants to (see) high expectations. We have higher expectations than anybody. But I feel really good at every position.”

Sitake seconded that sentiment as well, saying the defensive prowess that he, Hill and the other coaches established in 2025 should continue. BYU had the second-best defense in the Big 12, behind only Texas Tech, in terms of points allowed in league games; BYU allowed 21.9 points per game, Texas Tech an amazing 11.1.

Poppinga “is a guy who understands how to put this thing together,” Sitake said on March 23. “I have been really, really fired up about how he’s doing it. He’s exceeded my expectations so far, and we haven’t played a game yet.”

Poppinga said there were still some “fierce” position battles coming out of spring camp, most notably at linebacker after the additions of Uluave and Clifton, and at the rush defensive end position.

“I feel really good about where we are at,” Poppinga said. “We have great senior leadership. We have great players coming back that have a ton of experience. Now we are really refining all the things we learned in spring ball, and continuing to learn and grow through the summer.

“I told the guys that a lot of championships are won between now and the time fall camp starts,” Poppinga continued. “I am excited to see these guys grow and develop and help us get a Big 12 championship, and get into the playoff, and make a run there.”

Can Poppinga pick up where Hill left off?

What follows is a position-by-position at the possible two-deep chart this season, but first, a quick recap of BYU’s defensive highlights in 2025:

• BYU was 35th in total defense, allowing just 332.4 yards per game
• BYU was 19th in scoring defense, allowing only 19.14 points per game
• BYU tied for ninth in most interceptions, with 17
• BYU was 20th in turnover margin (+8)
• BYU was 30th in the country in rushing defense, allowing 122.7 yards per game on the ground
• BYU was 19th in third-down conversion percentage defense, at 33.3%

“We got mostly everything (installed) that we wanted to get in,” Poppinga said. “I would say we got in more than we thought we were going to get in. … There’s a lot of carryover from last season, but there’s some new stuff, too, as well. I feel really comfortable with our install, and I think Kalani felt good about how fast things went and how fast our guys picked up things, because we are experienced. We have a ton of returning starters.”

Here’s the Deseret News’ seventh-annual stab at the post-spring defensive depth chart. Our article on the post-spring offensive depth chart was posted Wednesday.

Defensive line has potential to be dynamic

There’s a reason why BYU coaches didn’t plumb the transfer portal for help in the defensive trenches in 2026 — that’s because the guys they have coming back are pretty good, led of course by seniors Keanu Tanuvasa, Anisi Purcell and Justin Kirkland on the inside and veterans Bodie Schoonover, Viliami Po’uha, Tausili Akana and Nusi Taumoepeau on the outside.

Redshirt freshman Ulavai Fetuli could also contribute.

The line has also been bolstered by returned missionaries Adney Reid, Tui Pututau and David Angilau.

“It is a blessing because coaches know that we can do it and we can perform well,” Tanuvasa said. “They didn’t have to hit the portal because we have young guys like Vai (Fetuli) who can perform. Guys like me, Justin and Anisi have a year under our belts in the program and are even more confident than before.”

Players on the verge of making the two-deep are sophomores Hunter Clegg and Kini Fonohema and freshman Braxton Lindsey, who showed well in spring camp after arriving from Rogers, Arkansas.

Tradition of strong LB play should continue

Replacing the NFL-bound Jack Kelly won’t be easy, but the Cougars feel like they’ve improved in the linebacker positions with the additions of Uluave and Clifton, especially Uluave.

“There’s guys that made plays every single day (in spring camp), but I can tell you right now I am really glad Cade Uluave is here,” Poppinga said. “That dude is a really good player.”

BYU linebacker Cade Uluave goes through drills during spring camp in Provo March. 25, 2026. | Nate Edwards, BYU Photo

Senior Isaiah Glasker missed spring ball with an injury, but should be good to go in a couple of weeks, Poppinga said.

Junior Siale Esera finds himself in a battle to hold on to his starting spot against fellow juniors Clifton, Maika Kaufusi, Ace Kaufusi, Miles Hall and others.

“Yeah, it is going to be super competitive,” Uluave said. “A lot of people say that the linebacker group might be the most stacked and most deep of any on the team, and I 100% agree. Everybody here is a phenomenal player … the versatility among the whole group is really impressive.”

Secondary should be solid again

Coaches Hill and Gilford left Walker and Warren a lot to work with in the BYU secondary, most notably standout safeties Faletau Satuala, Tommy Prassas and Raider Damuni and experienced cornerbacks Evan Johnson, Jonathan Kabeya (a nickel) and Tre Alexander. If those guys stay healthy, the secondary should be fine.

But if injuries creep in, as they did last year in the cases of Damuni, Prassas and Kabeya, there could be some issues.

BYU safety Faletau Satuala (11) celebrates after a play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the Big 12 championship game held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

That’s one of the reasons why they landed Jayven Williams, the Mississippi State transfer. Redshirt freshman cornerback Jordyn Criss also had a good camp.

“The one position where I think we gotta continue to develop some depth is at the corner position,” Poppinga said. “We have some really good young guys there that can play, like Jordyn Criss. … That would be the one position where I think we have to develop guys and get us a fourth, fifth corner who can play. Other than that, I feel really good about all the other positions.”

BYU football projected depth chart (2026)

Defense

Starter; backup

• DE 48 Bodie Schoonover (Sr.); 45 Viliami Po’uha (Jr.)
• DT 57 Keanu Tanuvasa (Sr.); 94 Anisi Purcell (Sr.)
• NT 96 Justin Kirkland (Sr.); 99 Ulavai Fetuli (Fr.)
• DE 59 Nusi Taumoepeau (So.); 13 Tausili Akana (Jr.)
• OLB 54 Siale Esera (Jr.); 18 Ace Kaufusi (Jr.)
• MLB 4 Cade Uluave (Sr.); 33 Maika Kaufusi (Jr.)
• OLB 16 Isaiah Glasker (Sr.); 31 Jake Clifton (Jr.)
• NB 2 Jonathan Kabeya (Jr.); 22 Tommy Prassas (So.)
• CB 0 Evan Johnson (Sr.); 26 Jordyn Criss (Fr.)
• CB 1 Tre Alexander (Jr.); 15 Jayven Williams (Sr.)
• SS 10 Faletau Satuala (Jr.); 35 Jarinn Kalama (So.)
• FS 3 Raider Damuni (Sr.); 27 Matthias Leach (So.)

Other potential two-deep players: 20 Kevin Doe (Jr.); 32 Cannon DeVries (So.); 10 Orion Maile-Kaufusi (So.); 44 Ephraim Asiata (So.); 90 Hunter Clegg (So.); 97 Kini Fonohema (So.); 30 Braxton Lindsey (Fr.); 21 Miles Hall (Jr.), 23 Pierson Watson (Fr.); 28 Crew Clark (Fr.).