On Friday, BYU veteran linebacker Ben Bywater announced that he will return to BYU for his senior season. Bywater, who suffered a season-ending injury against Kansas, joined the program in 2019. After Bywater's injury, BYU's defense was never the same. The Cougars struggled to contain the run in the games following Bywater's injury.
In his career, Bywater has tallied 247 total tackles including 15.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and 3 interceptions. He led BYU in tackles in 2021 and 2022.
With Bywater announcing his return, BYU's linebackers are one of the top position groups on the team. The Cougars will field veterans like Ben Bywater and Weber State transfer Jack Kelly. They also have young players that made a big impact in 2023 like Siale Esera, Harrison Taggart, and Ace Kaufusi.
Bywater is one of a handful of upperclassmen that were honored on senior day and will return to BYU in 2024. He will be joined by fellow seniors like Connor Pay, Tyler Batty, Isaiah Bagnah, and Caleb Etienne.
More must-reads: