Where former BYU players are playing college football in 2026
Aug 24, 2026, 4:07 PM | Updated: 5:55 pm
PROVO — BYU football has had success retaining its roster under head coach Kalani Sitake.
However, like any college program in the transfer-portal era, attrition is inevitable. Sometimes it’s a player moving on to seek a bigger role and more playing time.
It could be a coaching change or other factors that go into a departure.
Transfers are commonplace in this era of rosters.
With that in mind, we look at former BYU football players still playing college football at the FBS and FCS levels in 2026.
Some of these players are already on their second or third program since departing BYU. It shows how active transfer portal moves truly are in building out college rosters.
Among the notable former Cougars who are preparing for the 2026 season is John Henry Daley. The former Lone Peak High star began his college career at BYU before transferring to Utah. He followed Kyle Whittingham to Ann Arbor and will now play for the Wolverines.
Former BYU and Springville High quarterback Ryder Burton enters his redshirt junior season at UAB. Last year with the Blazers, Burton started in two games, including an upset win over nationally ranked Memphis. Burton projects as the starting quarterback for UAB in 2026.
Staying with the quarterbacks, last year’s backup, McCae Hillstead, is the starting quarterback for Utah State as the Aggies kick off the Pac-12 era this fall.
Former walk-on BYU signal-caller Nick Billoups was last with the Cougars in 2023. He’s entering his final season of college football as a backup at The Citadel.
Since leaving BYU, Billoups has been at UCLA, Lane College, and now The Citadel, a military college in South Carolina.
Former BYU defensive back Micah Harper, who began his career with the Cougars in 2020, is gearing up for a return to the Big 12 this fall. Harper left BYU after the 2024 season and played at FCS Montana in 2025. Now he’s set to compete at safety for the Iowa State Cyclones.
BYU hosts Iowa State on Friday, Oct. 9, in Provo.
Here’s the entire list of former BYU players on college football teams in 2026.
Former BYU football players on college team rosters in 2026
- Max Alford | LB | Michigan
- Zion Allen | DB | Hawaii
- Maguire Anderson | WR | Florida International
- Tayvion Beasley | DB | USF
- Nick Billoups | QB | The Citadel
- Jackson Bowers | TE | Oregon State
- Cale Breslin | RB | Montana State
- Ryder Burton | QB | UAB
- Nason Coleman | TE | Northern Arizona
- Weston Covey | WR | Columbia
- John Henry Daley | DE | Michigan
- Naseri Danielson | LB | San Jose State
- Saimone Davis | TE | Stephen F. Austin
- Devin Downing | WR | Southern Utah
- Chika Ebunoha | DB | Utah State
- Koa Eldredge | WR | Hawaii
- Zoom Esplin | OL | Idaho State
- Nathaniel Gillis | DB | Northern Colorado
- Korbyn Green | CB | Tulsa
- Jake Griffin | OL | Arizona
- Micah Harper | SAF | Iowa State
- Dallin Havea | DL | UCLA
- Dominique Henry | WR | Florida Atlantic
- McCae Hillstead | QB | Utah State
- Sione Hingano | OL | Stephen F. Austin
- Iosefa Letuli | DL | Hawaii
- Noah Lugo | QB | Southern Utah
- Brooks Maile | DL | Northern Colorado
- Dominique McKenzie | WR | San Jose State
- Aisea Moa | LB | Michigan
- Jackson Nelson | OL | Utah State
- Isaiah Perez | DL | Eastern Washington
- Landon Rehkow | P | Utah State
- Dalton Riggs | LS | Ohio State
- Tate Romney | LB | Oklahoma State
- Danny Saili | DT | Oklahoma* (Committed)
- Porter Small | DL | Weber State
- Vae Soifua | OL | Sacramento State
- Boyd Sorensen | DL | Weber State
- Carson Su’esu’e | TE | New Mexico State
- Harrison Taggart | LB | Utah State
- Sani Tuala | DL | Idaho State
- Carson Tujague | DL | Utah State
- Ikinasio Tupou | OL | San Jose State
- Victory Vaka | DT | Middle Tennessee* (Committed)
- Prince Zombo Jr. | WR | Utah Tech
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSL and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
