2023 BYU Football Season Review

BYU completed its inaugural season as a member of the Big 12 Conference in 2023. The campaign consisted of memorable moments against high-caliber opponents and fans while setting the program on a course for improvement in a new era of Cougar football. 

Season one of life in the Big 12 proved to be a challenging task, facing teams that were bigger, stronger, faster and more experienced week to week than in previous schedules. The Cougars expected all of this in 2023 and bolstered the roster with more than 20 transfers with collegiate experience that proved to be valuable additions in a grueling first year. Head coach Kalani Sitake also revamped his defensive coaching staff in 2023, bringing in new associate head coach and defensive coordinator Jay Hill to lead a more aggressive defense to combat the high-powered Big 12 offenses. 

By the end of the season, the Sagarin ratings had BYU’s 2023 schedule ranked as the No. 11 toughest in the country. That ranking tied for the toughest schedule in 25 years, matching the 2004 season.  

Cougar fans showed up in full force at home and away to support BYU football as always. BYU was No. 3 in the Big 12 in home attendance, behind departing members Texas (101,625) and Oklahoma (83,742) with an average attendance of 61,944. That number ranked No. 26 overall and No. 3 in the west, just behind Washington (68,814) and USC (66,071)

Tough Schedule
Heading into the 2023 season, BYU had never played more than seven Power 5 teams in a single year, and never faced more than four consecutively in any season. BYU played 10 Power 5 opponents in 2023, including 10 in a row for the first time in history. 

The Cougars faced four teams that finished in the Associated Press Top 25 (No. 3 Texas, No. 15 Oklahoma, No. 16 Oklahoma State, No. 23 Kansas)—the second-most in school history and the most since 1991’s five AP Top 25 teams.  

In Big 12 play, BYU faced seven teams that made a bowl game, including Texas, who made the College Football Playoff ranked No. 3. The Cougars also played each of the top-5 league finishers, including the top 3 all on the road (Texas, Oklahoma State, West Virginia). 

Among the other newcomers to the Big 12 (UCF, Houston, Cincinnati), only the Knights made a bowl game in their first year with six wins, and all finished with a sub-.500 record. BYU was the only team of the new additions to play both highly ranked Oklahoma and Texas in 2023, and faced just one of the other newcomers in Cincinnati. The other three all had games against two of the newcomers and played only one of Texas and Oklahoma. The schedules of the other new teams ranked 37 (Houston), 39 (UCF) and 51 (Cincinnati) according to Sagarin ratings.

Revamped Defense
The Big 12 featured some of the most high-powered offenses in the country and BYU matched up against the seven teams ranked in the top 40 in total offense, including No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 9 Texas, No. 11 TCU, No. 21 Kansas, No. 27 West Virginia, No. 30 Oklahoma State and No. 33 Cincinnati.

To prepare for the new challenge on defense, BYU’s new defensive coordinator and former Weber State head coach Jay Hill brought along new staff members Kelly Poppinga (defensive ends), Sione Po’uha (defensive tackles), Justin Ena (linebackers) while keeping cornerbacks Jernaro Gilford from the previous staff.

Learning a new scheme in 2023 had its bumps and bruises when at times BYU struggled to get stops, but it often made up for it with takeaways, finishing the year ranked No. 20 in interceptions with 14 and tied for No. 40 in total turnovers gained with 20 on the year. 

The Cougars had two players ranked in the top 20 in interceptions, with defensive back Eddie Heckard leading the team with 5, good for No. 6 nationally while his teammate in the secondary Jakob Robinson had four of his own. Each one had a pick-six. Heckard added another defensive score with a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Five more players had at least one interception for the Cougars. 

BYU also had several other playmakers on defense showcase their talent throughout the year, along with unexpected contributors stepping up into bigger roles perhaps earlier than expected.

The safety position was hit hard by injuries, with both expected starters in Micah Harper and Talan Alfrey knocked out before the season began. Harper was lost for the year while Alfrey returned for the last three games. 

In their place, Ethan Slade emerged as one of the most reliable defenders, finishing third on the team with 60 tackles after starting 11 games before missing the final game of the year with an injury. Converted wideout Tanner Wall also stepped up early, playing in the first five games with three starts, making 22 stops before he was lost to injuries as well. Utah State transfer Crew Wakley made good on his opportunity, appearing in all 12 games, making seven starts and finished fifth on the team with 59 tackles while adding six pass breakups to lead the safeties room. Malik Moore, Preston Rex and freshman Raider Damuni all saw time at the safety position during the year.

Among the most consistent performers was defensive lineman Tyler Batty, who had a banner year in a new-look defense from his position on the end. Batty led the Cougars for the third year in sacks, picking up 5.5 with nine total tackles for loss. Batty finished with 57 total tackles to lead the defensive line and had eight quarterback hurries as the most effective pass-rusher on the squad. Batty also forced two fumbles and recovered another. 

Off the field, Batty’s accolades continued. He earned a spot on the prestigious AFCA Allstate Good Works Team, awarded to players that not only excel on the field, but are exemplary in their service to the community. He was recognized at halftime of the CFP Playoff at the Sugar Bowl. (read more). 

The Cougars also had some of the most experienced linebackers in the country with veterans Max Tooley, Ben Bywater and Utah State transfer AJ Vongphachanh. Tooley and Vongphachanh finished 1 and 2 in tackles, with 92 and 85, respectively. The two backers concluded their collegiate careers with over 300 tackles apiece (Tooley 311, Vongphachanh 308). Bywater was on pace to join them with 32 over the first four games but suffered a season-ending injury at Kansas. No other team in the country had two linebackers with more than 300 career tackles. 

BYU Offense
Big 12 defenses also brought new challenges to the Cougars all year as BYU found itself in a tough spot to move the football in several games, especially on the ground. Despite starting the year near the bottom of the rankings in rushing offense, the Cougars ran the football much more effectively in the back half of the year. In the first six games, BYU averaged just 2.4 yards per carry but nearly doubled that number to 4.5 yards per carry over the final six games, including a season-high 217 yards against Oklahoma. 

BYU also got creative on offense during the year, opening up the playbook with five different players throwing passes, including two quarterbacks, one wide receiver, one running back and even the punter. Wideout Parker Kingston, a former high school quarterback, threw two passes, both going for touchdowns. 

New transfer quarterback Kedon Slovis started the year off strong with seven total touchdowns in the first two games, including his first two career rushing touchdowns in the season opener and then a five-touchdown performance against Southern Utah when he threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns while running for one more. Slovis was also key in BYU’s comeback win at Arkansas, throwing two touchdown passes in the second half and running eight yards for a third-down conversion to keep the game-winning drive alive in the fourth quarter before slinging the game-winner to Chase Roberts. 

The Cougar career for Slovis was cut short after the Texas game after an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year. The veteran quarterback concluded his collegiate career with 11,689 passing yards and 80 touchdowns through the air during his time at BYU, Pittsburgh and USC. Ty Detmer is the only BYU quarterback to throw for more yards as a college quarterback than what Slovis accomplished in his five-year career. 

Junior college transfer Jake Retzlaff got his opportunity in the final four games, bringing a dual-threat dynamic to the offense to help spark the run game’s improvement in the back half of the year. The junior threw for 648 yards and ran for 116 across the final four games, adding six total touchdowns. 

BYU's ground game featured transfer running back Aidan Robbins and true freshman LJ Martin. Robbins, expected to be the lead back was slowed by injuries early in the season but Martin was able to make a big impact early with a 91-yard, two-touchdown performance in his debut against Sam Houston. Martin finished the year with 109 carries, 518 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Robbins missed four games in the middle of the season, but finished strong to total 101 carries, 485 yards and one touchdown. He ran 22 times for a career-high 182 yards against Oklahoma. 

Other offensive highlights included 19 different players catching a pass, with eight different receivers grabbing touchdowns. Chase Roberts led the receivers room with 42 receptions, 573 yards and five touchdowns, followed by transfer newcomer Darius Lassiter making several highlight reel catches en route to 29 total receptions, 365 yards and four touchdowns. Both Roberts and Lassiter earned spots on the SportsCenter Top 10 plays with their one-handed catches. Roberts had what proved to be the game-winning touchdown at Arkansas laying out for a one-handed grab in the back corner of the end zone while Lassiter had a diving one-handed snag in BYU’s home win over Texas Tech to earn a spot on the list. 

Even though the offensive production was not up to the usual Cougar standards, records still fell in 2023 when tight end Isaac Rex became the program’s career leader for touchdown catches by a tight end. Rex tied College Football Hall of Famer Gordon Hudson with 22 career touchdowns with his first score of the year against Southern Utah. He had to wait a little bit longer than expected before his next one but secured the record for himself in November with his next touchdown against Iowa State. He added one more against Oklahoma for 24 total in his career, more than any other tight end at BYU, a school with 15 All-America citations from the tight ends. Rex finished his Cougar career playing in 52 games with 112 receptions, 1,385 yards and 24 touchdowns. His 24 receiving touchdowns also ranks fifth among all players at BYU. 

Special Teams
On special teams, punter Ryan Rehkow got the most work in a single-season he had in his Cougar career and made the most of it, finishing No. 2 nationally in punting average at 48.37 yards per kick. The Ray Guy watch-list honoree booted the ball 68 times for 3,289 yards, dropped 25 inside the 20 and had 31 go for more than 50 yards. He was named the Ray Guy Ray’s 8 Player of the Week three times in 2023 and National Ray Guy Punter of the Week and Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week once apiece. 

BYU also quietly found its next kicker in Will Ferrin, a Boise State transfer that did everything asked of him and impressed with consistency throughout the year. Ferrin made 32 of 33 PATs, including making his final 30 in a row to finish out the year. Ferrin made 11 of 14 field goals, getting better as the season went on, connecting on a season-long of 49 yards vs. Oklahoma and posted another 48 yarder in the season finale the next week in the rain at Oklahoma State.

Long snapper Austin Riggs finished his Cougar career playing in all 12 games in 2023, highlighted by a fumble recovery on punt coverage against Cincinnati to set up a BYU touchdown. 

BYU's return game featured Hobbs Nyberg and Parker Kingston splitting time, while Keelan Marion was the featured kick returner during the season. Marion finished No. 51 nationally, with 20.68 yards per return. 

Big 12 Honorees
The Big 12 Conference announced 10 BYU players received recognition in their inaugural year in the league following the 2023 regular season. 

Batty, Rehkow and sophomore left tackle Kingsley Suamataia each earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors, while Kamden Garrett, Heckard, Lassiter, offensive lineman Paul Maile, Rex, Robinson and linebacker Max Tooley received honorable mention recognition. 

Read more about the 2023 All-Big 12 Teams. 

Looking to 2024
While the 2023 campaign did not produce more desirable results in terms of wins and statistics, it did provide the Cougars with much-needed experience for what their new future will look like in the Big 12 year-in and year-out.  

A physical conference with some of the most talented players on both offense and defense, along with some of the game’s most experienced and sought-after coaching staffs, BYU now aims to take another step forward in 2024 with a renewed sense of optimism, fueled by its own experiences in year one. 

Perhaps the biggest offseason commitments to the Cougars did not come via the transfer portal or the recruiting trail, but several of its own players opting to return for their senior seasons to work toward a more proper sendoff. 

Offensive linemen Connor Pay, Brayden Keim and Caleb Etienne, all with starting experience, opted to return for their senior seasons despite NFL opportunities, while wide receiver Keanu Hill will come back for a sixth season after 45 games played in 2023 and move to tight end to build his resume for a professional career. The Cougars also return its leading rusher from 2023, LJ Martin, who ran for 518 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman last season.

Seven of BYU’s top eight pass-catchers all return for 2023 along with quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who will aim to keep the reigns of BYU’s offense in 2024 after getting his first looks last year.  

On defense, Batty also opted to return for his senior campaign despite his most productive year as a Cougar and the NFL at his doorstep. In addition to Batty, linebacker Ben Bywater also plans to return for a sixth year to lead a talented linebacker room that had plenty of youngsters make plays in 2023, including Oregon transfer Harrison Taggart and four-star freshman Siale Esera, who both saw their first action in Cougar blue. 

The BYU secondary should get its starting safeties back for 2024 in Harper and Alfrey, which will only add to a deeper group that benefited from more playing time to the younger class in 2023. Now the Cougars have a wealth of experienced options for depth with returners Slade, Wall, Wakley and Damuni all starting games last season.  

Kicker Will Ferrin returns in 2024 to lead the specialists after the departure of Rehkow to the NFL. 

In all, on the offensive side BYU gets back four offensive lineman with starting experience, its quarterback from the final four games, its leading rusher and every starting wide receiver returning in 2024. On defense, the Cougars return their best defensive end along with at least three other defensive linemen with starting experience, their top linebacker from the prior two seasons in Bywater along with two underclassmen in the linebacker room with starting experience and a secondary bolstered by its two starting safeties and three more with starting experience and one starting cornerback in Robinson that was one of the most dynamic corners in the Big 12 with four interceptions in 2023. 

With several new additions in a loaded recruiting class for 2024, BYU now has the experience to go along with the talent needed to face yet another daunting schedule in year two of the Big 12. 

Read more about BYU's 2023 season with game-by-game recaps below and a full list of all the individual 2023 awards. 

Awards
BYU players garnered several individual accolades throughout the season. See all the honors below.

Chaz Ah You, LB
Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Player of the Year Watch List

Tyler Batty, DE
Team Captain
AFCA Good Works Team
Pro Football Focus Big 12 First Team
All-Big 12 Team Second Team
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Honorable Mention
Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Honorable Mention
Phil Steele All-Big 12 Third Team
CFN Midseason Honorable Mention All-American
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team First Team
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 18)
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Athlon Sports All-Big 12 Preseason Fourth Team

Ben Bywater, LB
Team Captain
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team Third Team
Butkus Award Watch List
Bednarik Award Watch List
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Lott Impact Trophy Candidate
Athlon Sports All-Big 12 Preseason Fourth Team
Phil Steele All-Big 12 Preseason Third Team

Kody Epps, WR
Team Co-Captain
Athlon Sports All-Big 12 Preseason Third Team

Caleb Etienne, OL
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List

Will Ferrin, K
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District

Ian Fitzgerald, OL
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List

Kamden Garrett, CB
All-Big 12 Team Honorable Mention
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team Honorable Mention

Talmage Gunther, WR
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District

Micah Harper, S
Athlon Sports All-Big 12 Preseason Fourth Team

Eddie Heckard, CB
Team Captain
CFN All-America Honorable Mention
All-Big 12 Team Honorable Mention
Phil Steele All-Big 12 Third Team
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 23)
CFN Midseason Defensive Newcomer of the Year
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Third Team
Phil Steele All-Big 12 Preseason Fourth Team

Keanu Hill, WR
Team Co-Captain
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List

Parker Kingston, WR
Paul Hornung award Honor Roll (Sept. 19)

Atunaisa Mahe, DT
Team Co-Captain
Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Player of the Year Watch List

Paul Maile, OL
Team Co-Captain
All-Big 12 Team Honorable Mention
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team Honorable Mention
Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Player of the Year Watch List

Blake Mangelson, DE
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District

LJ Martin, RB
FWAA Freshman Focus Honoree (Sept. 18)
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team Third Team

Marcus McKenzie
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team Third Team (specialist)

Malik Moore, S
Team Co-Captain

Hobbs Nyberg, PR
Athlon Sports All-Big 12 Preseason Fourth Team
Phil Steele All-Big 12 Preseason Fourth Team

Darius Lassiter, WR
All-Big 12 Team Honorable Mention
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team Honorable Mention

Connor Pay, OL
Team Captain
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team Honorable Mention
Rimington Trophy Watch List
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Athlon Sports All-Big 12 Preseason Fourth Team

Ryan Rehkow, P
Team Co-Captain
ESPN All-America Second Team
CFN All-America Honorable Mention
Phil Steele All-America Honorable Mention
All-Big 12 Second Team
Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year Honorable Mention
Phil Steele All-Big 12 Second Team
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team Third Team
Big 12 Special Teams Co-Player of the Week (Sept. 4)
Ray Guy Award Ray’s 8 (Sept. 4, Sept. 11, Nov. 7)
Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week (Sept. 5)
Ray Guy Award Watch List
Phil Steele All-Big 12 Preseason Second Team

Isaac Rex, TE
Team Captain
All-Big 12 Team Honorable Mention
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team Third Team
John Mackey Award Candidate
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Phil Steele All-Big 12 Preseason Fourth Team
Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Player of the Year Watch List

Austin Riggs, LS
Phil Steele All-Big 12 Team Fourth Team

Aidan Robbins, RB
Team Co-Captain
Doak Walker Award Candidate
Athlon Sports All-Big 12 Preseason Second Team
Phil Steele All-Big 12 Preseason First Team

Chase Roberts, WR
Team Co-Captain
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team Second Team

Jakob Robinson, CB
Team Co-Captain
Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist
All-Big 12 Team Honorable Mention
CFN Midseason Cornerback of the Year
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team First Team
Jim Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week (Oct. 5, Oct. 26)

Ethan Slade, S
Burlsworth Trophy Nominee

Kedon Slovis, QB
Team Captain
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team Honorable Mention
Johnny Unitas Award Top 25 Watch List (Oct. 3)
Maxwell Award Watch List
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Watch List
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List

Kingsley Suamataia, OL
Team Captain
All-Big 12 Team Second Team
Phil Steele All-Big 12 Third Team
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team Third Team
Outland Trophy Watch List
All-Big 12 Preseason Team
Athlon Sports All-Big 12 Preseason Third Team
College Football News Preseason All-America Second Team
Phil Steele All-Big 12 Preseason Fourth Team
Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Player of the Year Watch List

Max Tooley, LB
Team Co-Captain
Phil Steele All-Big 12 Third Team
All-Big 12 Team Honorable Mention
CFN Midseason All-Big 12 Team Honorable Mention
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Phil Steele All-Big 12 Preseason Fourth Team

AJ Vongphachanh, LB
Team Captain

Jernaro Gilford, Cornerbacks Coach
Broyles Award Nominee