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Ben Bywater
#2PositionLinebacker
Weight235 lbs
Height6-3
ClassJunior
HometownSalt Lake City, Utah
Previous SchoolOlympus High School
BYU Highlights
- Has played in 32 games, starting 18, for the Cougars (2019-22)
- 2023
- BYU's leading tackler in four-consecutive games and 12 on his career.
- With nine tackles versus Sam Houston, now has 14-career games with nine or more tackles
- Named to Chuck Bednarik Award watch list
- Named to Pro Football Focus and Phil Steele Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team
- Named to Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team
- Named to Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list
- 2022
- Led BYU in tackles with 98 (31 solo), becoming first to lead the Cougars in tackles in back-to-back seasons since current San Francisco 49er Fred Warner (2016-17)
- Finished season as BYU's active career tackles leader (215)
- Named to Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team
- Named New Mexico Bowl Defensive MVP
- Associated Press All-Bowl Team
- Named one of 42 candidates for the 2022 Lott IMPACT Trophy awarded annually to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year
- Butkus award watchlist for award honoring nation's top linebacker
- 2021
- Named Independent Defensive Rookie of the Year by Pro Football Network.
- Selected to All-Independent First Team Defense by Pro Football Network.
- Earned 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 First Team honors
- Led BYU in tackles with 102 (57 solo, 45 assist).
- Led BYU in tackles-for-loss with 8.5 for -16 yards.
- Posted three games with 10 or more tackles and 10 games with five or more
Personal
- Major: Finance
- Missionary Service: Served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Fluent in Spanish
- Parents are Stephanie and David
- Has three sisters and one brother
- An Eagle Scout
- Loves to dirtbike and flyfish
- High school teammates with Oklahoma State defensive end Nathan Latu
Before BYU
- Prepped at Olympus High School
- Selected to the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News 4A All-State First Team as a senior
- Region 6 MVP in 2016
- Played both ways in high school as a linebacker and running back
- Led the team in rushing and second in total tackles
- Totaled 95 tackles as a senior with 10.0 tackles for loss
- Rushed for 766 yards and nine touchdowns in 2016
- Helped Olympus to region championships in 2015 and 2016
- Also played Rugby at Olympus HS
- Coached by Aaron Whitehead
- Also recruited by Stanford, Washington, Utah, Arizona State and Washington State.