Five BYU football freshmen who could make an impact right away
Jul 28, 2026, 12:37 PM | Updated: 12:38 pm
PROVO – BYU football put together a top-25 recruiting class for the 2026 cycle. It was the highest-ranked class BYU put together in the 21st century.
Along with being a highly ranked class, it’s a group that is going to compete immediately during the 2026 season.
Eleven of BYU’s 21 high school signees in the 2026 recruiting class are expected to be on the 105-man roster this fall.
With a highly-touted class, there’s opportunity for some to make an immediate impact in their first season as college players.
BYU football freshmen who could make an impact in the 2026 season
As fall camp gets set to kick off next week, here are the five true freshmen to watch for a potential impact on the BYU football team in 2026.
Listed in alphabetical order
Devaughn Eka, RB
BYU football has the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year at running back returning in LJ Martin. The veteran Martin is expected to have a huge year for the Cougars out of the backfield, but the Cougars need to build out the depth in the backfield.
Just crafting💆♂️ #Byu #gocougs #work pic.twitter.com/qqR75bczYJ
— Devaughn Eka (@Devaughn_Eka) May 12, 2026
That’s where former Lehi High MVP Devaughn Eka enters the conversation.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Eka looks impressive physically, but does he know the playbook enough to earn snaps behind Martin and assumed number two running back Sione Moa? If he picks up the offense quickly, he could work his way onto the field.
Legend Glasker, WR
One of the stars of spring ball last March was Legend Glasker. The true freshman from Lehi High School is the cousin of current BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker.
View this post on Instagram
Upon arriving at BYU, he made an impact and earned first-team offense reps at times during spring ball.
At Big 12 Media Days, BYU QB Bear Bachmeier noted that Glasker knows the playbook and was impressive as a freshman in spring.
Braxton Lindsey, EDGE/OLB
A big recruiting win in the 2026 cycle was BYU landing Arkansas native Braxton Lindsey over Oklahoma. The early returns in the spring on Lindsey showed why he was a highly sought-after recruit by Power Four programs.
With some upperclassmen recovering from injuries earlier this year, Lindsey earned a bigger share of snaps in spring ball and was a player often highlighted by coaches as a playmaker on the defensive side.
View this post on Instagram
A dual-sport athlete in high school, Lindsey showed signs of his athleticism in the spring.
BYU has a lot of options at the outside edge/outside linebacker spot, but Lindsey could be hard to keep off the field.
Jaron Pula, WR
There is a clear opportunity for players to emerge at the wide receiver position for BYU. Former four-star recruit Jaron Pula could be one of those players to monitor.
Pula was a big-play receiver at Lone Peak High School; he could provide that to BYU’s passing attack.
Kennan Pula, SAF
The defensive side of the Pula twins is Kennan Pula, who joins a safety room that is deep with Faletau Satuala, Raider Damuni, and Tommy Prassas. But who is the fourth guy?
View this post on Instagram
Kennan Pula could fill that spot.
The 6-foot-3 freshman made one of the greatest interceptions you’ll ever see from a football player last year in the Utah High School Playoffs. He’s got excellent instincts on the backend of a defense. Pula could only strengthen a position group that should be one of the best on BYU’s roster this year.
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.
