PROVO, Utah — BYU finished its first week of fall camp practices on Saturday morning preparing for the 2026 season.
As the first week comes to a close with its fourth practice session on Saturday, take a quick look at BYU's defense and special teams units.
BYU’s defense has established itself as one of the premier units not only in the Big 12 but also nationally. The Cougars expect the 2026 group to be no different with stars returning at every position, led by experienced and newly promoted defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga.
Poppinga steps into the lead role on defense after spending the past three seasons as BYU’s defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator.
A 17-year coaching vet, the former All-MWC Cougar linebacker has served as a co-defensive coordinator at Virginia under Bronco Mendenhall along with nine years of experience as a special teams coordinator.
Poppinga added a few new faces to the defensive staff room, naming DeMario Warren, to serve as defensive passing game coordinator and safeties coach, Lewis Walker to coach the cornerbacks and Chad Kauha’aha’a to coach outside linebackers. Former linebackers coach Justin Ena moves to focus solely on special teams as BYU’s new special teams coordinator.
The newcomers to the defensive side join Sione Po’uha, who continues to coach along the defensive line with the tackles. Po’uha also serves as the associate head coach for the entire team. BYU also returns senior defensive consultant Gary Andersen, the former head coach at Utah State, Oregon State and Wisconsin, back to the defensive room after spending the last two years with the Cougars.
Warren has head coaching experience from Southern Utah and most recently spent the past four seasons at Boise State coaching cornerbacks.
Walker has been coaching since 2014 and spent the past two seasons at Monmouth as the defensive coordinator.
Kauha’aha’a has been with the Cougars the past two seasons as a defensive analyst before entering a full-time coach role. Kauha’aha’a has more than two decades working as a coach on the defensive side of the ball, specializing in the pass rush with stops at UCLA, UNLV, USC, Boise State, Oregon State, Wisconsin, Utah, Utah State and Weber State in his college career.
Even with a bit of a new-look staff, the BYU defense returns a loaded cupboard of talent for 2026 and added a few key pieces in the offseason.
The Cougars return several starters across the board, including preseason All-American cornerback Evan Johnson (6-0, 185), who led the team in interceptions in 2025; 2025 All-American safety and 2026 Bronko Nagurski candidate Faletau Satuala, the team’s leading tackler; fellow Bronko Nagurski candidate linebacker Isaiah Glasker (6-5, 240), an All-Big 12 selection; and defensive tackle 2026 Outland Trophy candidate Keanu Tanuvasa (6-4, 300), a team captain and leader up front.
BYU also added the top defensive player in the portal, linebacker Cade Uluave (6-1, 230) from Cal, an All-ACC First Team honoree that notched triple-digit tackles in 2025. Uluave joins Satuala and Glasker in giving BYU three defenders who have been recognized as preseason watch list players for the 2026 Bronko Nagurski award given to the top defensive player in country.
Defensive Tackles/Ends
Up front, Tanuvasa leads an interior group that includes several experienced lineman. Joining Tanuvasa, a preseason All-Big 12 honoree, is Justin Kirkland (6-3, 310), ready to make an impact after a limited debut in 2025 after transferring from Oklahoma State. Along with Kirkland, the Cougars return Anisi Purcell (6-3, 305), who also had limited reps due to injury in 2025, and Ulavai Fetuli (6-4, 285), who showed flashes of the future seeing the field as a true freshman last season.
BYU also has a few players that could see time inside as well as on the end like Viliami Po’uha (6-3, 278) and Bodie Schoonover (6-3, 275), who both played in every game in 2025.
Others on the edge include experienced returning contributors Tausili Akana (6-3, 235) and Hunter Clegg (6-4, 250), who played in 13 games apiece last season.
Newcomers Braxton Lindsey (6-3, 240) and Adney Reid (6-5, 238) arrived in spring while four-star signee Devoux Tuataga (6-6, 265) just arrived. Each aims to crack the rotation, while other returning youngsters who all could see time include Siosefa Brown (6-4, 240), Kinilau Fonohema (6-5, 250) and Orion Maile-Kaufusi (6-3, 242).
Linebackers
One of BYU’s strongest position groups, Glasker and Uluave lead a talented group with plenty of experience. Among a strong group of returners, Siale Esera (6-3, 245), Ace Kaufusi (6-4, 235) and Miles Hall (6-1, 230) are all back, along with Nusi Taumoepeau (6-3, 242), who shined in the Pop-Tarts Bowl with six tackles, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble in his lone start of the year.
In addition to Uluave, BYU also added Jake Clifton (6-2, 230), a two-year starter from Kansas State, while Pierson Watson (6-3, 230) returns after redshirting in 2025 as another talented backer in the mix.
Cornerbacks
Johnson headlines the unit after leading the squad with five interceptions in 2025. Therrian Alexander III (6-2, 175) also returns after he started 12 games last year opposite Johnson.
BYU also returns Jonathan Kabeya (5-10, 180), who can play outside or as a nickel, while Kevin Doe (6-3 206), a top special teams player, aims to contribute more on the defense.
The Cougars also picked up Missisippi State transfer Jayven Williams (6-2, 175) to bolster the room among several other new faces and returners.
Safeties
All-American Satuala is back in the defensive backfield, along with the experienced Raider Damuni (6-1, 210) as another strong pairing. In addition to those two, Tommy Prassas (6-2, 200) also returns after being in the rotation for two seasons, including starting at nickel for two games in 2025.
Newcomers feature four-star athlete Kennan Pula (6-3, 200), Antonio Johnson (6-3, 175) and Matthew Mason (6-3, 195) competing for time with others returning to the group in 2026.
Special teams
Now with a full-time coach in Ena dedicated to special teams, there is work to do to replace school-record holder Will Ferrin at the kicking position. The Cougars also have to find a punter and return specialists for 2026.
Kicker Matthias Dunn (6-0, 205) returns and looks to earn the starting role in 2026 after getting kickoff reps last season. BYU also added Brody Laga (5-11, 175) in the summer, a talented prospect from Herriman, Utah.
Punter Fuller Shurtz (5-11, 185) returns after seeing some action in 2025 to compete for punting duties, while long snapper Ty Smith (6-0, 205) is back and is joined by newcomer Rayden Heintz (6-0, 212) from Snow and Berkley Alfrey (6-1, 230), who joined the specialists after playing linebacker last year.
Returners could come from all over the roster with an open battle ensuing throughout fall camp.