The 2023 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) as a member of the Big 12 Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars were led by eighth-year head coach Kalani Sitake and played their home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The season was the first year that BYU competed in the Big 12. The BYU Cougars football team drew an average home attendance of 61,944 in 2023, the 26th highest in college football.
Offseason Coaching changes On November 28, 2022 defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki announced his resignation. On December 7, 2022 Jay Hill was announced as his replacement leaving his head coaching position at Weber State University. Hill was also given the title of associate head coach replacing Ed Lamb who was named the Head coach at Northern Colorado. Preston Hadley joined Lamb at Northern Colorado as the defensive coordinator. Kelly Poppinga returned to BYU after stints with the University of Virginia and Boise State University as the special teams coordinator and defensive assistant. On December 20, 2022, former NFL player Sione Pouha was hired as a defensive assistant coach. On January 2, 2023, it was announced that Kevin Clune was not retained and the final defensive assistant coaching position was announced as Justin Ena who played for the cougars and coached with Hill previously.
2023 recruits Name Pos. Height Weight Hometown Notes Jackson Bowers TE 245 Mesa, Arizona Owen Borg LB 200 Draper, Utah Mission prior to enrolling Ryder Burton QB 200 Springville, Utah Pierson Watson LB 210 Flagstaff, Arizona Mission prior to enrolling David Tangilanu DL 255 East Palo Alto, California Mission prior to enrolling Jojo Phillips WR 195 Lancaster, California Miles Hall WR 205 St. George, Utah Siale Esera LB 250 Provo, Utah Saimone Davis DL 220 Hau'ula, Hawaii Mission prior to enrolling Matthew Fredrick TE 230 Salt Lake City, Utah Mission prior to enrolling Talitu'i Pututau DL 260 Salt Lake City, Utah Mission prior to enrolling Ethan Thomason OL 320 Fort Collins, Colorado Mission prior to enrolling LJ Martin RB 205 El Paso, Texas Kevin Doe WR 190 Salt Lake City, Utah Motekiai Mo'Unga DL 250 Provo, Utah Mission prior to enrolling Jake Hill WR 195 St George, Utah Naseri Danielson DB 200 Stockton, California Nason Coleman TE 235 Chandler, Arizona Jordan Kapisi K 190 Honolulu, Hawaii
2022 returned missionaries Nukuluve Helu RB 215 Ace Kaufusi LB 205 Devin Downing WR 190 Jake Griffin OL 285 Ty Burke DB 175 Koa Eldredge WR 195 Raider Damuni DB 210 Cole Hagen QB 185 John Henry Daley DL 225 Petey Tuipulotu DB 195 Weston Jones OL 255 Lucky Finau LB 230 Kasen Krebs LB 210 Landon Rehkow P 170 Matthias Dunn K 175 Bentley Redden TE 220
2023 other additions Name Pos. Height Weight Year Previous school Kedon Slovis QB 215 Transfer from University of Pittsburgh Jayden Dunlap DB 173 Transfer from Cerritos College Aidan Robbins RB 230 Transfer from University of Nevada Las Vegas Isaiah Bagnah DL 235 Transfer from Boise State University Will Ferrin K 175 Transfer from Boise State University Jackson Cravens DL 305 Transfer from Boise State University Weylin Lapuaho OL 310 Transfer from Utah State University Nuuletau Sellesin DL 240 Transfer from Weber State University Ian Fitzgerald OL 305 Transfer from Missouri State University Jake Retzlaff QB 205 Transfer from Riverside City College Paul Maile OL 300 Transfer from University of Utah Crew Wakley DB 203 Transfer from Utah State University Eddie Heckard DB 190 Transfer from Weber State University Dylan Flowers DB 180 Transfer from Southern Utah University David Latu DL 300 Transfer from Snow College AJ Vongphachanh LB 230 Transfer from Utah State University Caleb Etienne OL 325 Transfer from Oklahoma State University Jake Eichorn OL 285 Transfer from Weber State University Darius Lassiter WR 200 Transfer from Eastern Michigan University Keelan Marion WR 200 Transfer from University of Connecticut Kamden Garrett DB 175 Transfer from Weber State University Ray Paulo TE 255 Transfer from Allan Hancock College Deion Smith RB 190 Transfer from University of Colorado Harrison Taggart LB 216 Transfer from University of Oregon Sione Moa LB 220 Transfer from Utah State University Simi Moala OL 312 Transfer from University of Utah Mata'ava Ta'ase TE 255 Transfer from Southern Utah University Joseph Paulo OL 330 Transfer from San Mateo College Wyatt Dawe DL 300 Transfer from Southern Utah University Malae Tanuvasa DB 180 Transfer from University of Utah Marcus Mckenzie DB 172 Originally Signed in 2022 Maika Kaufusi LB 210 Originally Signed in 2022 Kaden Chidester DL 290 Originally Signed in 2022
2023 departures Name Pos. Height Weight Year Reason Matthew Criddle DB 195 Graduation Lorenzo Fauatea DL 310 Graduation Alden Tofa DL 277 Graduation Earl Tuioti-Mariner DL 288 Graduation Lane Lunt TE 235 Graduation Kaleb Hayes DB 195 Graduation Chris Jackson DB 184 Graduation Joe Tukuafu OL 300 Graduation D'Angelo Mandell DB 192 Graduation Christopher Brooks RB 230 Graduation Lopini Katoa RB 210 Graduation Pepe Tanuvasa LB 245 Graduation Houston Heimuli RB 265 Graduation Harris LaChance OL 310 Graduation Brayden Cosper WR 205 Graduation Jake Oldroyd K 195 Graduation Gunner Romney WR 195 Graduation Jaren Hall QB 205 NFL Draft Puka Nacua WR 205 NFL Draft Blake Freeland OT 305 NFL Draft Payton Wilgar LB 235 Graduation Jackson Kaufusi LB 226 Graduation Hayden Livingston DB 205 Graduation Alema Pilimai DL 275 Graduation Gabe Summers DL 295 Graduation Carter Wheat TE 236 Graduation Britton Hogan LS 200 Graduation Jackson McChesney RB 225 Graduation Masen Wake TE 260 Graduation Morgan Pyper LB 215 Graduation Dallin Holker TE 240 Transfer Jacob Conover QB 205 Transfer Campbell Barrington OL 295 Transfer Terence Fall WR 185 Transfer Tate Romney LB 220 Transfer Logan Fano DL 240 Transfer Keenan Pili LB 237 Transfer Nathaniel Gillis DB 174 Transfer Clark Barrington OL 305 Transfer Gabe Jeudy-Lally DB 185 Transfer Korbyn Green DB 175 Transfer Isaiah Perez DL 280 Transfer Talin Togiai OL 320 Transfer Logan Pili LB 225 Transfer George Udo DB 200 Transfer Dean Jones DB 205 Transfer Vae Soifua OL 296 Transfer Cash Peterman K 200 Transfer Samisoni Peaua DL 225 Transfer Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters QB 200 Transfer Kyson Hall WR 182 Transfer Sione Veikoso OL 305 Josh Wilson LB 215 Tavita Gagnier LB 225 Hunter Greer DL 275 Carter Krupp DB 210 Donovan Hanna OL 307 Micah Wilson LB 213 Josh Larsen DL 292 Kyle Hester TE 245 Lisala Tai OL 230 Justen Smith K 205
Schedule
Game summaries Sam Houston
Sources: Brigham Young University entered the season at home against the transitioning FCS to FBS team, Sam Houston State. BYU were favorites to win the game, especially at home.
BYU started off the game with an 8 play, 50 yard drive ending it with a 5-yard Kedon Slovis touchdown run. Two quarters went by with no score attempted by both the Cougars and Bearkats, before an 11-play, 55 yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, and Kedon Slovis ended the drive with a 1 yard touchdown run.
The Cougars ended off the game winning 14-0 in their first ever meeting with Sam Houston State.
Southern Utah
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Arkansas
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Kansas
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Cincinnati
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TCU
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Texas Tech
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No. 7 Texas
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West Virginia
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Iowa State
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No. 14 Oklahoma
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No. 20 Oklahoma State
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Personnel Coaching staff Name PositionKalani Sitake Head coach Jay Hill Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator/safeties coachKelly Poppinga Special teams coordinator/defensive ends coachAaron Roderick Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coachDarrell Funk Offensive line coachFesi Sitake Passing game coordinator/wide receivers coachJustin Ena Linebackers coachSteve Clark Tight ends coachJernaro Gilford Cornerbacks coach Harvey Unga Running backs coach Sione Po'uha Defensive tackles coach
Roster
Depth chart
References For information on BYU's other athletic sports this season please check out the following: