When BYU defensive end Logan Lutui announced Feb. 1 that he was returning to Provo for a final season of eligibility in 2025, despite going through senior sendoff ceremonies last November, the declaration did not cause much of a stir.
After all, Lutui started in only four games last year, and had just seven tackles and a sack in 336 plays from scrimmage. The Weber State transfer was solid throughout his career at BYU after sustaining a season-ending injury early in 2022, but not spectacular by any stretch.
However, through three games this season, Lutui has not only held off a group of young and talented edge rushers for his starting position, he has emerged as a vital part of Jay Hill's defense. Lutui, 6-foot-2 and 260 pounds, leads No. 25 BYU (3-0) in tackles, with 15.
The Hunter High product also has three tackles for loss and a pass breakup heading into Saturday's Big 12 opener at Colorado (8:15 p.m. MDT, ESPN).
"I'm happy with how I've been playing, especially these past three games. I'm happy how our whole defensive line has been playing. We've been playing as a unit lately," Lutui said Monday. "The people who've been coming in who are getting their first couple snaps in college football, they haven't dropped off any from the players that we've had last year. So I think for me, I'm just impressed about not only just myself, but also the entire defensive line."
It is not usual for a defensive lineman to lead a team in tackles, so the stat shows just how valuable Lutui has been as relatively inexperienced rush ends such as Bodie Schoonover (four tackles) and Viliami Po'uha (four tackles) get accustomed to the position.
Texas transfer Tausili Akana , Utah transfer Hunter Clegg and Kinilau Fonohema are also developing into strong pass rushers, edge rushers coach Kelly Poppinga said. Inside, veterans such as John Taumoepeau (nine tackles) and Keanu Tanuvasa (eight tackles) have made running on the Cougars ultra-difficult.
Oklahoma State transfer Justin Kirkland is expected to make his BYU debut Saturday against the Buffs, Hill said Tuesday.
Oklahoma State Cowboys nose tackle Justin Kirkland (97) reacts after a play against the Central Arkansas Bears at Boone Pickens Stadium on Sept., 02 2023, in Stillwater, Okla. | Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images
"I think they are playing very good. There is definitely some stuff to clean up. We are among the leaders in the nation in (fewest) rushing yards (allowed). We lead the nation in (fewest) points given up. So there is so many good things we are doing. But we got a lot of room to improve," Hill said. "That is going to be the key.
"Can we improve this week? Can we improve the next week? If we can, this defense has a real chance (to be elite). But we gotta keep improving."
Last year, Lutui split time with Isaiah Bagnah at rush end, while all-Big 12 performer Tyler Batty manned the other side. Lutui's most memorable play came in the 36-14 win over Colorado in the Alamo Bowl, as he sacked quarterback Shedeur Sanders for a 23-yard loss that essentially put the Buffaloes out of field goal range.
He also had two pass breakups in the 34-28 win over Baylor last year.
"We welcome him back, because we have a ton of youth there, and not a lot of playing experience," Poppinga said in June. "We are really talented at defensive end. I think we are as talented as we have been since I have been here over the last three years. Now it is just about getting everybody caught up to speed with repetitions and game situations and all that stuff."
Lutui humbly said that he leads the team in tackles because teams are running plays in his direction, but that doesn't account for the fact that his hustling nature stands out in every game. When coaches talk about guys having great motors, they are talking about guys like Lutui.
"I think the biggest thing for our defense is when we stop the run, it's a really gap-sound defense. And I guess the ball just seems to bounce my way," Lutui said Monday. "That comes through everybody playing their 1/11th, and so I give a lot of credit to our entire defense for doing their job. When the ball comes my way, I'm excited and ready to make a play. So I just tip my hat to my teammates and for them doing their job to allow me to make plays."
After serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Auckland, New Zealand, Lutui was at Weber State for three seasons and had 16 tackles for the Wildcats in 2021. He was a late addition to BYU's 2022 team, arriving a month before the season as a walk-on defensive end after giving up his Weber State scholarship.
His wife, Selai, is the daughter of BYU director of football relations Jack Damuni, and their son Ezekiel, whom they call "Ziggy," was born in May 2022.
"I loved Weber State, but it was good for my wife to be closer to home," he told the Deseret News in 2022 after filling in for an injured Batty and getting four tackles in a 41-20 loss at Oregon. "We were intending to step away from football, but we found an opportunity over here at BYU, and we are loving it."
Shortly after getting that start at Oregon , Lutui tore his ACL and was out for the remainder of the season. It is that season that he is getting back this year after applying for an NCAA hardship waiver.
He played in 10 games in 2023, making eight tackles, and was named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team.
Now a scholarship player, Lutui is grateful for the NIL program that BYU set up in the early days of that NCAA rule change that allowed players to benefit from their name, image and likeness. In particular, a program sponsored by Built Brands paid tuition for all walk-ons.
"Without the Built Bar deal, I probably wouldn't still be playing football," he said in 2023.
He earned his degree in exercise science last April.
"I always knew I had (an extra year) from when I had tore my ACL back in 2022," he said. "But I think something that helped me make the decision to come back was not only talking with my wife, but also with coach Hill and coach Kalani and what they saw that I could do this year with our team."
The coaches told him the defense could be fantastic this year, and through three games they were right. BYU is allowing just 44.3 rushing yards per game, second in the nation behind only Minnesota (41.3).
"That's what kind of had an influence in my decision of coming back and being able to be a part of something great," Lutui said. "I'm so glad that I did. I'm glad that they were able to talk me into it. And, yeah, I'm glad to be part of this team."
BYU defensive end Logan Lutui (7) reacts after a tackle during game against the Stanford Cardinal at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
