A month after the BYU defense's season-ending coup de grace against Colorado in the Alamo Bowl, coordinator Jay Hill's unit continues to reap the rewards of an outstanding 2024 campaign.
Perhaps the most significant development is that it appears that all three starting linebackers — Isaiah Glasker, Jack Kelly and Harrison Taggart — are planning to return for more heroics in 2025. Throw in some solid backups such as Ace Kaufusi, Miles Hall and Siale Esera, and it might qualify as the most talented, deepest group of linebackers in recent BYU football history.
"Well, we have great players (returning)," Hill told BYUtv's "Sports Nation" last week. "Keeping those guys around (was a priority). Jack is a good example of that. (He) is so important to us and our future successes and stuff. We need to keep the guys that have helped build it, and Jack is one of those guys."
There was also some question regarding Glasker's future plans — he was noncommittal from the podium after earning the bowl's Defensive Player of the Game award — but the converted safety appeared at last Saturday's basketball game at the Marriott Center with other team leaders when the football team was honored for its season and Kalani Sitake and Jake Retzlaff spoke to the crowd.
That's probably a good sign for the Cougars .
How good was BYU's defense in 2024? It was easily one of the better ones in program history , given the quality of competition — 11 of the 13 foes were Power Four schools — and what the season-ending statistics revealed.
BYU finished 13th in total defense, allowing 308.8 yards per game. It was 18th in scoring defense, allowing only 19.62 points per game.
Also, 12 different players recorded interceptions for BYU in 2024, and the Cougars tied with Texas for most interceptions in the country, with 22. Texas played 16 games, BYU 13, so in essence BYU led the nation in picks per game.
What will it do for an encore?
"We know we have not arrived. We have great pieces coming back to the puzzle. I expect next year to be better than this year," Hill said on BYUtv. "So is it sustainable? I don't know. You can only keep climbing so high before there are no more spots to climb. But I like where we are at and we are heading in the right direction."
Another area where BYU's defense ranked among the best in the country was team passing efficiency defense. The Cougars ranked No. 3 in the country in that category, keeping opposing passers to a 105.91 pass efficiency rating.
Hill credited linebackers coach Justin Ena, cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford, defensive line coaches Sione Po'uha and Kelly Poppinga and senior analysts Chad Kauha'aha'a and Gary Andersen for much of the defense's success, then reminded everyone that "it is all the players" when plays need to be made, games need to be won.
"I have phenomenal assistant coaches on our side of the ball," Hill said. "Those guys are phenomenal. … I really believe we have the best defensive staff in the country, and I am lucky to be with those guys. They help me be much better."
With the start of spring practices roughly a month away, here's the Deseret News' annual pre-spring ball glance at BYU's defensive depth chart for the 2025 season.
Jakob Robinson and Marque Collins will be missed, but BYU returns a slew of cornerbacks who contributed a lot in 2024. Those returners include Evan Johnson (who had an interception in the 36-14 win over Colorado), Tre Alexander, Jayden Dunlap, Jonathan Kabeya and, possibly, Mory Bamba .
Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (1) reaches out for the ball that is just out of reach as BYU cornerback Evan Johnson (21) defends during game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Hill told BYUtv's "Sports Nation" that Bamba might be able to apply the new junior college exemption from the Diego Pavia ruling and "hopefully" get a year back. Hill said he and Gilford aren't looking for corners in the transfer portal because they like what they have returning at that position.
"I think it is important that those guys have an opportunity to develop and prove to us that they can be starters," Hill said. "I would rather continue to recruit high school kids and develop the ones that we have here. And there are some guys that can really play. … We need them to develop. I think with them having the opportunity to prove who they are, they will be able to do that."
Hill's own safeties room witnessed some departures, as Crew Wakley transferred to Purdue , and Micah Harper left for Montana , each with one year of eligibility remaining. But there is plenty of talent, and a decent amount of experience with which Hill can work.
At free safety, senior Tanner Wall, who earned First Team Academic All-American honors , and a couple of highly regarded rising sophomores, Faletau Satuala and Tommy Prassas, give Hill plenty of options at that all-important position.
At strong safety, Raider Damuni filled in admirably when Wakley was injured and missed the Arizona State game and the bowl game. Veteran Talan Alfrey is also in the mix there.
The one defensive unit that obviously needed help out of the transfer portal was defensive line, and the Cougars got some immediate assistance in the form of Utah transfer Keanu Tanuvasa , Texas transfer Tausili Akana and Southern Utah transfer Anisi Purcell. Former American Fork standout Hunter Clegg is also headed to Provo, after signing with Utah before a church mission.
"The transfers that we got are ones that we think we know everything about, and we know can play, and can fit into BYU," Hill said. "… We are so excited about Keanu (Tanuvasa), and everything he represents, and the player he is, and the person he is. That is the most important thing. He is a phenomenal young man."
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake talks with Utah defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa after the game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. BYU won 22-21. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Part-time starter Logan Lutui is getting a year of eligibility back on a medical waiver, a BYU football spokesperson confirmed.
Also expected back are seniors Joshua Singh, Luke To'omalatai and John Taumoepeau, junior Bodie Schoonover and sophomores Viliami Po'uha, Ephraim Asiata and Sani Tuala.
"Those guys (coming back) look good right now in their workouts. I am excited to see them in spring ball," Hill said.
Snow College transfer David Latu hit the portal and landed at Boise State .
BYU improved slightly in getting to opposing quarterbacks in 2024, registering 20 sacks in 13 games. That was better than in 2023, but ranked the Cougars 108th in the country in team sacks (1.54 per game), tied with Washington and West Virginia . Replacing potential NFL draft pick Tyler Batty will not be easy.
"I feel good about that group. We have returners that have played a lot. We have young guys there. They are the future of the program and they need an opportunity to prove that they can be that," Hill said. "We lose some critical guys, obviously. … But our guys will step up. I think they will play great."
BYU was 33rd in the country in rushing defense, allowing 126.3 yards per game on the ground. It was also an opportunistic defense, forcing 29 turnovers.
Only CFP participants Notre Dame (32 in 15 games) and Texas (31 in 16 games) forced more turnovers than the Cougars. BYU was 24th in turnover margin at plus-8.
Getting the aforementioned Glasker and Kelly back softens the blow the Cougars' linebackers corps took earlier this month when brothers Aisea and Sione Moa hit the transfer portal. Aisea signed with Michigan State.
BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker celebrates after a play during during victory over Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Coaches remain high on former four-star recruit Siale Esera , who will count 2024 as a redshirt year because he appeared in only four games before the bowl game. He had a sack against the Buffaloes. Former Skyline High star Miles Hall is also one to watch, having shined in the ASU game with six tackles and a forced fumble.
"The goal is always going to be to be the No. 1 defense in the Big 12. And we did that this year. I think we led in fewest points (against), yards, and turnovers," Hill said. "The main, key categories, we led the Big 12 in. … But we have areas where we can get better — third-down conversions, red zone."
Indeed, the Cougars were just 85th in third-down conversion percentage defense, allowing opponents to convert on 41.1% of their chances. BYU was 46th in red-zone defense, as opponents scored on 80.4% of their surges inside the 20-yard-line.
Strongside defensive end (SE)
Bodie Schoonover — 6-3, 265, Jr.
Viliami Po'uha — 6-3, 260, So.
Tausili Akana — 6-4, 215, So.
Nose tackle
Luke To'omalatai, 6-2, 315, Sr.
Joshua Singh — 6-0, 285, Sr.
Defensive tackle
Keanu Tanuvasa — 6-4, 300, Jr.
John Taumoepeau — 6-2, 285, Sr.
Sani Tuala — 6-5, 260, So.
Outside defensive end (OE)
Logan Lutui — 6-2, 255, Sr.
Ephraim Asiata — 6-3, 210, So.
Anisi Purcell — 6-3, 250, Jr.
Outside (Rover) linebacker
Jack Kelly — 6-2, 240, Sr.
Ace Kaufusi — 6-4, 230, Jr.
Miles Hall — 6-1, 230, So.
Strongside (Sam) linebacker
Isaiah Glasker — 6-5, 235, Jr.
Choe Bryant-Strother — 6-3, 235, Sr.
Middle (Mack) linebacker
Harrison Taggart — 6-1, 235, Jr.
Siale Esera — 6-3, 245, So.
Mory Bamba — 6-3, 195, Sr.
Marcus McKenzie — 5-11, 172, Jr.
Evan Johnson — 6-0, 180, Jr.
Therrian "Tre" Alexander III — 6-2, 170, So.
Jayden Dunlap — 6-0, 180, Sr.
Jonathan Kabeya — 5-10, 173, So.
Ethan Slade — 6-0, 195, Sr.
Strong safety
Raider Damuni, 6-10, 200, Jr.
Talan Alfrey — 6-2, 205, Sr.
Free safety
Tanner Wall — 6-1, 200, Sr.
Faletau Satuala — 6-4, 200, So.
Tommy Prassas — 6-2, 190, So.
Kicker
Will Ferrin — 6-3, 175, Sr.
Punter
Sam Vander Haar — 6-0, 220, Jr.
Punt returner
Parker Kingston — 5-11, 185, Jr.
Kick returner
Keelan Marion — 6-0, 195, Sr.
