BRISTOL, Conn. — Six members of the BYU football team were today named to the 2026 Pro Football Network Preseason All-Big 12 Teams, including running back LJ Martin the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Joining Martin on the PFN Big 12 First Team is cornerback Evan Johnson and center Bruce Mitchell. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier, linebacker Isaiah Glasker and safety Faletau Satuala were named to the PFN third team.
MARTIN, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior from El Paso, Texas, was the 2025 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and received Pro Football Network second-team All-America honors. He was also a semifinalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and was named All-Big 12 by the Pro Football Network, Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions.
As a junior in 2025, Martin rushed for 1,305 yards and was ranked No. 11 nationally while his average of 100.38 yards per game was 12th. Martin was also No. 13 nationally with 120 all-purpose yards per game and his 1,305 yards were the seventh-most in school history for a single season.
Martin was recently selected Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and was named preseason All-America by The Sporting News, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. He was also named to the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football.
JOHNSON, a 6-foot, 185-pound senior from Monterey, Calif., finished the 2025 season with 47 tackles (including 38 solo), five interceptions, a sack and seven passes defended. His five picks led BYU and tied for the most in the Big 12.
Following the 2025 season, Johnson was named Sports Info Solutions First-Team All-Big 12, Pro Football Network Second-Team All-Big 12 and Honorable Mention All-Big 12 by the league. He was also recognized as the Jim Thorpe National Defensive Back of the Week on Sept. 23.
Johnson was recently named Big 12 First Team cornerback and Preseason All-America by SIS. He was also recognized as the No. 4 returning cornerback in the country by Pro Football & Sports Network and was named to the Phil Steele 2026 Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team.
MITCHELL, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound senior from Kamas, Utah, was recently named Phil Steele Preseason All-America Second Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-America Third Team and was named to the watchlist for the Rimington Trophy, presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA DI football. He was also named to the All-Big 12 Preseason Team and received Preseason All-Big 12 First Team recognition from Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
A co-captain, Mitchell started all 14 games for BYU as a junior in 2025. He anchored the middle of an offense line that averaged 31.4 points per game in 2025, ranking in the top 25 in 10 offensive statistics, including time of possession (No. 9), rushing first downs (No. 12), fewest sacks allowed (No. 12), rushing touchdowns (No. 13), rushing plays of 10+ yards (No. 18), total plays of 10+ yards (No. 19), first downs (No. 19), total offensive plays (No. 22), points scored (No. 23) and fewest interceptions (No. 23).
BACHMEIER, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound sophomore from Murrieta, Calif., was honored as conference freshman of the week seven times in 12 weeks during the regular season, on his way to earning the 2025 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year Award and being named Big 12 Honorable Mention.
Bachmeier was a candidate for the Manning Award and was named semifinalist for both the Davey O'Brien Award and the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year. During the 2025 season he was named to the Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 list twice and was also a Manning Star of the week.
As a freshman in 2025, Bachmeier completed 251 of 387 passes (64.9 percent) for 3,033 yards and 15 touchdowns with just 7 interceptions. He averaged 216.6 yards per game passing and was second on the team in rushing, with 147 carries for 527 yards and 11 scores.
Bachmeier was recently named Phil Steele Preseason All-Big 12. He was also named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award.
GLASKER, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound senior from South Jordan, Utah, was named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-Big 12 First Team and listed as one of the top senior prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft by The Athletic. He was also named to the 2026 preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented annually to the national defensive player of the year.
As a junior in 2025, Glasker posted 67 total tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss. The Cougar co-captain also had three sacks, a forced fumble, had two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Glasker was named third-team All-Big 12 and was a candidate for both the Butkus Award and the Bednarik Award.
SATUALA, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior from Bountiful, Utah, played in all 14 games for No. 12-ranked BYU in 2025. He led the Cougars with 78 tackles and two forced fumbles, while collecting three interceptions and 7.5 tackles for loss, en route to being named second-team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America. Satuala also earned All-Big 12 honors and was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week and Lott Trophy Player of the Week for his play in helping BYU defeat Iowa State in Ames to improve to 8-0 on the season.
Satuala was recently named 2026 preseason All-America and All-Big 12 by Athlon Sports. In addition, he was named Preseason All-Big 12 Team First Team by Phil Steele.
BYU kicks off the 2026 football season against Utah Tech on Saturday, Sept. 5 at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT.
