2026 BYU Tight Ends: Roster Breakdown, Depth Chart, and Expectations

Story by

Story by
2026 BYU Tight Ends: Roster Breakdown, Depth Chart, and Expectations

BYU tight end Walker Lyons at Spring Camp | BYU Photo

Casey Lundquist · BYU Cougars On SI

Thu, Jul 30, 2026 ·

4 min read

Roster Breakdown

Newcomers headline the BYU tight end group. The Cougars lost starter Carsen Ryan to graduation last season. Ryan was the best BYU tight end of the Big 12 era, so he left big shoes to fill. The Cougars turned to the transfer portal to fill the void that Carsen left.

BYU brought in USC transfer Walker Lyons and Oregon transfer Roger Saleapaga. Both Lyons and Saleapaga had prior connections to BYU, and both of them had carved out roles for themselves at their previous stops. Lyons and Saleapaga were called two of BYU's best players back in Spring Camp, and both of them are expected to play major roles for BYU.

Behind Lyons and Saleapaga, BYU returns 2025 role players Noah Moeaki and Keayen Nead. BYU uses up to three tight ends situationally, so we expect them to be in similar roles in 2026. Keayen Nead, in particular, will be used as a run-blocking tight end.

The rest of BYU's tight ends are inexperienced. Jacob Nye enters his second year with the program after redshirting a season ago. Matthew Fredrick has returned from his mission and joind the program as well. If either of Fredrick or Nye are ready to contribute, BYU will have an extremely deep group of tight ends.

2 - Roger Saleapaga II

7 - Walker Lyons

24 - Ethan Wood

44 - Josh Davis

45 - Keayen Nead

80 - Jacob Nye

82 - Noah Moeaki

83 - Will Zundel

86 - Cole Clement

87 - Matthew Fredrick

Depth Chart

We expect both Lyons and Saleapaga to play a lot, and we believe both will start as well. Given the question marks at wide receiver, BYU will feature a heavy dose of tight ends. We expect BYU to run a lot of 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends, two wide receivers) with Lyons and Saleapaga.

Behind Lyons and Salepaga, we believe Moeaki and Nead will find their way on the depth chart as well. As mentiond, Nead will primarily be used as a run blocker. Moeaki can catch some passes out of the backfield. If either Lyons or Saleapaga goes down with injury, Moeaki would be in line to take those reps.

Walker Lyons OR Roger Saleapaga

Noah Moeaki OR Keayen Nead

Expectations

The expectations for this room are high following the standout performances of both Lyons and Saleapaga during Spring Camp. Saleapaga looked like a player that could lead BYU in receiving. He is a matchup problem for defenses with his size and route running ability. Here's a clip of Saleapaga creating separation against defensive back Jonathan Kabeya.

Walker Lyons came in with high expectations as well. The former USC Trojan was signed to replace Carsen Ryan. Like Saleapaga, Lyons will be a fixture in the BYU offense. He doesn't move as well as Salepaga does, but he is capable of creating separation against linebackers and using his frame to keep defensive backs out of passing lanes, like he did on this rep against Evan Johnson.

If BYU is going to accomplish its goals of winning the Big 12 and making the College Football Playoff, it needs two or three reliable pass-catchers to emerge. Given the turnover at wide receiver, BYU is going to expect its tight ends to play fill those roles. The expectations for this group, despite their lack of production at BYU, is very high.

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on X and Facebook for the latest news.

Today's best reads