2021 BYU Cougars football team

The 2021 BYU Cougars football team represents Brigham Young University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars are led by sixth-year head coach Kalani Sitake and play their home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium. This is the eleventh year BYU competes as an NCAA Division I FBS independent.

2021 BYU Cougars football
Conference	Independent
Head coach	Kalani Sitake (6th season)
Offensive coordinator	Aaron Roderick (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Ilaisa Tuiaki (6th season)
Home stadium	LaVell Edwards Stadium (Capacity: 63,470)

2021 NCAA Division I FBS independents football records
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Army			–						0	–	0
BYU			–						0	–	0
Liberty			–						0	–	0
New Mexico State			–						0	–	0
Notre Dame			–						0	–	0
UConn			–						0	–	0
UMass			–						0	–	0
As of February 5, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll.

Before the season

Previous season

In an unprecedented season deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cougars finished the 2020 season 11-1. This was BYU's first 11-win season since 2009, and their first one-loss season since 1996. They finished the season ranked No. 11 in both the AP and Coaches Poll Top 25. The team finished highly ranked in both offensive and defensive numbers. Quarterback Zach Wilson, offensive lineman Brady Christensen, and wide receiver Dax Milne all opted to forego their senior seasons and leave early for the NFL Draft.

Coaching changes

On January 4, 2021 it was announced that Jeff Grimes had accepted a job with the University of Baylor as the offensive coordinator. Offensive line coach Eric Mateos followed Grimes to Baylor. Aaron Roderick, previously serving as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Grimes, was promoted to offensive coordinator for the Cougars. Wide receivers coach Fesi Sitake was then promoted to passing game coordinator. Both Roderick and Sitake will retain their roles as position coaches for the quarterbacks and wide receivers, respectively.

On February 4, 2021 it was announced that Kevin Clune had accepted a job as the linebackers coach for the Cougars. With the new hire Ed Lamb shifted to coach the safeties on the defensive side of the ball, Preston Hadley to the Defensive Ends/Hybrids and Ilaisa Tuiaki to interior defensive line.

2021 recruits

Name	Pos.	Height	Weight	Hometown	Notes
Ricky Wolfgramm	DL	6'2"	258	Salt Lake City, Utah	[1]
Quenton Rice	WR	6'1"	190	Las Vegas, Nevada	[2]
Elia Migao	OL	6'4"	320	Temecula, California	[3]
Enoka Migao	DL	6'5"	240	Temecula, California	[4]
Isaiah Glasker	DB	6'5"	205	South Jordan, Utah	[5]
Nathan Hoke	LB	6'3"	225	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	[6]
Kyson Hall	WR	5'11"	180	Spanish Fork, Utah	[7]
Jovesa Damuni	RB	6'0"	180	Providence, Utah	[8]
Raider Damuni	DB	6'2"	190	Provo, Utah	[9]
Dallin Havea	RB	6'2"	230	Orem, Utah	[10]
John Henry Daley	DL	6'5"	225	Alpine, Utah	[11]
Logan Fano	LB	6'4"	225	Spanish Fork, Utah	[12]
Sione Hingano	OL	6'5"	285	Chandler, Arizona	[13]
Bentley Redden	TE	6'5"	220	San Clemente, California	[14]
Weston Jones	OL	6'5"	255	Washington, Michigan	[15]
Dylan Rollins	OL	6'6"	285	Missoula, Montana	[16]

2020 returned missionaries

Name	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Notes
Tysen Lewis	OL	6'5"	270	Freshman	[17]
Talen Alfrey	DB	6'3"	185	Freshman	[18]
Campbell Barrington	OL	6'6"	280	Freshman	[19]
Donovan Hanna	TE	6'4"	230	Freshman	[20]
Isaac Matua	LB	6'3"	205	Freshman	[21]
Oliver Nasilai	LB	6'2"	245	Freshman	[22]
Ben Ward	TE	6'5"	240	Freshman	[23]
Cade Albright	DL	6'5"	215	Freshman	[24]
Michael Daley	LB	6'3"	225	Freshman	[25]
Ethan Erickson	TE	6'5"	225	Freshman	[26]
Brock Gunderson	OL	6'4"	265	Freshman	[27]
Dallin Holker	TE	6'5"	222	Sophomore	[28]
Brooks Maile	DL	6'4"	285	Freshman	[29]
Bruce Mitchell	DL	6'4"	265	Freshman	[30]
Chase Roberts	WR	6'4"	195	Freshman	[31]

2021 other additions

Name	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Notes
Dean Jones	DB	6'2"	190	Freshman	Originally Signed in 2020[32]
Josh Larsen	DL	6'4"	230	Freshman	Originally Signed in 2020[33]
John Nelson	DL	6'4"	260	Freshman	Originally Signed in 2020[34]

2021 departures

Name	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Notes
Zayne Anderson	DB	6'2"	210	Senior	Graduation
Isaiah Kaufusi	LB	6'2"	220	Senior	Graduation
Matt Bushman	TE	6'5"	240	Senior	Graduation
Troy Warner	DB	6'1"	200	Senior	Graduation
Khyiris Tonga	DL	6'4"	321	Senior	Graduation
Jeddy Tuiloma	DL	6'1"	300	Senior	Graduation
Chris Wilcox	DB	6'2"	195	Senior	Graduation
Tristen Hoge	OL	6'5"	310	Senior	Graduation
Chandon Herring	OL	6'7"	310	Senior	Graduation
Jared Kapisi	DB	6'0"	195	Senior	Graduation
Bracken El-Bakri	DL	6'3"	286	Senior	Graduation
Zac Dawe	DL	6'4"	271	Senior	Graduation
Sam Lee	LB	6'0"	220	Senior	Graduation
Kieffer Longson	OL	6'7"	315	Senior	Graduation
Kavika Fonua	LB	6'0"	205	Senior	Graduation
Samuel Allred	DB	6'0"	205	Senior	Graduation
Kyle Griffitts	TE	6'3"	245	Senior	Graduation
Brady Christensen	OL	6'6"	300	Junior	Declared for NFL Draft
Zach Wilson	QB	6'3"	210	Junior	Declared for NFL Draft
Dax Milne	WR	6'1"	190	Junior	Declared for NFL Draft

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result
September 2	vs. Arizona	Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas, NV
September 11	Utah	LaVell Edwards Stadium Provo, UT
September 18	Arizona State	LaVell Edwards Stadium Provo, UT
September 24	South Florida	LaVell Edwards Stadium Provo, UT
October 1	at Utah State	Maverik Stadium Logan, UT
October 9	Boise State	LaVell Edwards Stadium Provo, UT
October 16	at Baylor	McLane Stadium Waco, TX
October 23	at Washington State[35]	Martin Stadium Pullman, WA
October 30	Virginia	LaVell Edwards Stadium Provo, UT
November 13	Idaho State	LaVell Edwards Stadium Provo, UT
November 20	at Georgia Southern	Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA
November 27	at USC	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA

Rankings

NuSkin BYU Sports Network

The NuSkin BYU Sports Network is owned and operated by BYU Radio and features the talents of Greg Wrubell (play-by-play), Riley Nelson (analyst), Mitchell Juergens (reporter/sideline analyst), and Jason Shepherd (host) for the third consecutive year. The network is in charge of producing and broadcasting all BYU Football pre and post game shows as well as coaches shows and live broadcasts.

Affiliates[36]

• BYU Radio- Flagship Station Nationwide (Dish Network 980, Sirius XM 143, KBYU 89.1 FM HD 2, TuneIn radio, and byuradio.org)
• KSL 102.7 FM and 1160 AM- (Salt Lake City / Provo, Utah and ksl.com)
• KSNA- Blackfoot / Idaho Falls / Pocatello / Rexburg, Idaho (games)
• KSPZ- Blackfoot / Idaho Falls / Pocatello / Rexburg, Idaho (coaches' shows)
• KMXD- Monroe / Manti, Utah
• KSVC- Richfield / Manti, Utah
• KDXU- St. George, Utah

Personnel

Coaching staff

Name	Position
Kalani Sitake	Head Coach
Ed Lamb	Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams/Safeties Coach
Aaron Roderick	Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
(Vacant)	Offensive Line Coach
Fesi Sitake	Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach
Steve Clark	Tight End Coach
Ilaisa Tuiaki	Defensive Coordinator/Interior Defensive Line Coach
Preston Hadley	Defensive Ends/Hybrids Coach
Jernaro Gilford	Cornerbacks Coach
Harvey Unga	Running Backs Coach
Kevin Clune	Linebackers Coach

Roster

2021 BYU Cougars football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 17 Jacob Conover Fr QB 3 Jaren Hall Jr QB 10 Mason Fakahua So QB 10 Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters So QB 19 Rhett Reilly Jr QB 16 Baylor Romney Jr OL Campbell Barrington Fr OL 56 Clark Barrington Jr OL 65 Chandler Bird Fr OL 66 James Empey Sr OL 71 Blake Freeland Jr OL 64 Brayden Keim So OL 76 Harris LaChance Jr OL Tysen Lewis Fr OL 75 Burke Parker So OL 70 Connor Pay So OL 61 Keanu Saleapaga Sr OL 63 Joe Tukuafu Sr OL 68 Mo Unutoa Sr OL 72 Seth Willis So RB 25 Tyler Allgeier Jr RB 30 Luc Andrada So RB 10 Javelle Brown So RB 19 Miles Davis So RB 43 Theo Dawson Jr RB 20 Sione Finau Jr RB 4 Lopini Katoa Sr RB 21 Jackson McChesney So RB 7 Hinckley Ropati So RB 45 Chase Wester Sr TE Donovan Hanna Fr TE 82 Bentley Hanshaw So TE 80 Lane Lunt Sr TE 83 Isaac Rex So TE 35 Ben Tuipulotu So TE 35 Hank Tuipulotu Jr TE 13 Masen Wake Jr TE Ben Ward Fr TE 96 Carter Wheat So WR 31 Jacob Boren So WR 27 Chayce Bolli So WR 85 Brayden Cosper Jr WR 0 Kody Epps So WR 88 Terence Fall So WR 36 Talmage Gunther So WR 86 Keanu Hill So WR 82 Chris Jackson Sr WR 15 Kade Moore So WR 13 Joe Nelson So WR 26 Hobbs Nyborg So WR 2 Neil Pau'u Sr WR 18 Gunner Romney Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB Talan Alfrey Fr DB 15 Caleb Christensen So DB 2 Keenan Ellis Sr DB 27 Tavita Gagnier So DB 22 Ammon Hannemann So DB 1 Micah Harper So DB 11 Isaiah Herron Jr DB Dean Jones Fr DB 20 Hayden Livingston Jr DB 16 D'Angelo Mandell Sr DB 28 Jason Money Sr DB 12 Malik Moore Sr DB 26 Mitchell Price Sr DB 10 Morgan Pyper Jr DB 20 Ethan Slade So DB 28 Petey Tuipulotu So DB 7 George Udo Jr DB 29 Shamon Willis Sr DB 13 Jaques Wilson Jr DB 37 Wes Wright Jr DL 92 Tyler Batty So DL 55 Lorenzo Fauatea Sr DL 44 Seleti Fevaleaki So DL 75 JT Gentry Jr DL 73 Caden Haws So DL 59 Fisher Jackson So DL 21 Hirkley Latu Jr DL Josh Larsen Fr DL 58 Uriah Leiataua Sr DL 94 Freddy Livai So DL 62 Atunaisa Mahe So DL 48 Alex Muti So DL John Neslon Fr DL 90 Jacob Palu So DL 88 Alema Pilimai Jr DL 78 Andrew Slack So DL 98 Gabe Summers Jr DL 57 Alden Tofa Sr DL 91 Earl Tuioti-Mariner Sr LB 3 Chaz Ah You Jr LB 59 Truman Andrus So LB 33 Ben Bywater So LB 17 Matthew Criddle Sr LB 54 Chase Hughes Jr LB 46 Drew Jensen Jr LB 38 Jackson Kaufusi Jr LB 52 Preston Lewis So LB Isaac Matua Fr LB Oliver Nasilai Fr LB 41 Keenan Pili Jr LB 47 Pepe Tanuvasa Sr LB 94 Kade Pupunu So LB 31 Max Tooley Jr LB 49 Payton Wilgar Jr LB 52 Josh Wilson So	Special teams Pos. # Name Class DS 87 Britton Hogan Jr DS 84 Austin Riggs So P 24 Ryan Rehkow So K 39 Jake Oldroyd Sr K 97 Justen Smith So	Head coach Kalani Sitake (BYU) Coordinators/assistant coaches Ed Lamb (BYU) Assistant Head Coach, Special Teams, Safeties Aaron Roderick (BYU) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Vacant (BYU) Offensive Line Fesi Sitake (Southern Utah) Passing Game Coordintor/Wide Receivers Steve Clark (BYU) Tight Ends Harvey Unga (BYU) Running Backs Ilaisa Tuiaki (Southern Utah) Defensive Coordinator, Interior Defensive Line Jernaro Gilford (BYU) Cornerbacks Preston Hadley (BYU) Defensive Ends/Hybrids Kevin Clune (Cal State Fullerton) Linebackers Nu'u Tafisi (California) Director of Strength and Conditioning Justin McClure (Northern Colorado) Football Strength and Conditioning Coach AJ Middleton (Redlands) Football Strength and Conditioning Coach Jon Swift (BYU) Director of Football Operations Jack Damuni (BYU) Executive Coordinator of On-campus Recruiting and Community/Player Relations Jasen Ah You (BYU) Executive Coordinator of Recruiting and Player Personnel Vacant (BYU) Offensive Graduate Assistant Spencer Patterson (Dixie State) Offensive Graduate Assistant Kyle Griffitts (BYU) Defensive Graduate Assistant Gavin Fowler (BYU) Defensive Graduate Assistant [37] Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

Depth chart

Defense [38] FS George Udo Caleb Christensen Tavita Gagnier WLB MLB SLB Chaz Ah You Keenan Pili Payton Wilgar Drew Jensen Pepe Tanuvasa Max Tooley Ben Bywater Josh Wilson Jackson Kaufusi SS Malik Moore Matt Criddle Morgan Pyper CB D'Angelo Mandell Shamon Willis Jaques Wilson DE DT DT DE Tyler Batty Atunaisa Mahe Lorenzo Fauatea Uriah Leiataua Seleti Fevaleaki Caden Haws Earl Tuioti-Mariner Alden Tofa Fisher Jackson Freddy Livai Gabe Summers Alema Pilimai CB Keenan Ellis Micah Harper Isaiah Herron Offense [38] X-Receiver Gunner Romney Chris Jackson Kody Epps LT LG C RG RT Harris LaChance Clark Barrington James Empey Connor Pay Blake Freeland Keanu Saleapaga Keanu Saleapaga Joe Tukuafu Seth Willis Mo Unutoa Brayden Keim Burke Parker Connor Pay Tysen Lewis Campbell Barrington TE Isaac Rex Carter Wheat Lane Lunt Z-Receiver Neil Pau'u Braydon Cosper Keanu Hill QB Jaren Hall Baylor Romney Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters Key Reserves DB Hayden Livingston WR Talmage Gunther RB Miles Davis WR Terence Fall DB Ammon Hannemann DL Hirkley Latu RB Jackson McChesney LB Kade Pupunu RB Tyler Allgeier Lopini Katoa Sione Finau FB Masen Wake Theo Dawson Chase Wester Special Teams PK Jake Oldroyd PK Justen Smith P Ryan Rehkow P Jake Oldroyd KR Miles Davis KR Caleb Christensen PR Hobbs Nyborg PR Talmage Gunther LS Britton Hogan LS Austin Riggs H Hayden Livingston H Ryan Rehkow

References

1. "Ricky Wolgramm – 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
2. "Quenton Rice – 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
3. "Elia Migao – 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
4. "Enoka Migao – 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
5. "Isaiah Glasker – 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
6. "Nathan Hoke – 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
7. "Kyson Hall – 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
8. "Jovesa Damuni – 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
9. "Petey Tuipulotu – 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
10. "Dallin Havea – 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
11. "John Henry Daley – 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
12. "Logan Fano – 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
13. "Sione Hingano - 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
14. "Bentley Redden – 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
15. "Weston Jones - 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
16. "Dylan Rollins - 2021 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
17. "Tysen Lewis – 2018 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
18. "Talen Alfrey – 2018 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
19. "Campbell Barrington – 2018 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
20. "Donovan Hanna – 2017 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
21. "Isaac Matua – 2018 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
22. "Oliver Nasilai – 2018 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
23. "Benjamin Ward – BYU Football Bio". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
24. "Cade Albright – 2019 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
25. "Michael Daley – 2019 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
26. "Ethan Erickson – 2019 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
27. "Brock Gunderson – 2019 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
28. "Dallin Holker Bio". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
29. "Brooks Maile – 2019 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
30. "Bruce Mitchell – 2019 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
31. "Chase Roberts – 2019 BYU Football Recruiting Class". BYU Cougars. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
32. "Dean Jones 2020 BYU Football Recruiting Class". |publisher=BYU Cougars |accessdate= 2020-12-19
33. "Josh Larsen 2020 BYU Football Recruiting Class". |publisher=BYU Cougars |accessdate= 2020-12-19
34. "John Nelson 2020 BYU Football Recruiting Class". |publisher=BYU Cougars |accessdate= 2020-12-19
35. "Boise State, BYU will play annually through 2023". The Sporting News. September 28, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
36. "BYU Sports Network Affiliates". BYUcougars.com. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
37. "BYU Men's Football Staff". BYU Athletics.
38. "Depth Chart - Loyal Cougars".