NCAAF News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Newsletter

Power Rankings

USA TODAY Sports

BYU Football 2024 Spring Roster News and Notes

Originally posted on BYU Cougars on SI
By Casey Lundquist | Last updated Mar 2, 2024 11:00 AM ET

On Thursday, BYU kicked off 2024 Spring camp. Like they do at the beginning of every camp, BYU released a new roster for the upcoming season. A handful of players will try new positions this Spring, another handful will wear new jersey numbers. There's also a long list of newcomers, and another set of returning players that have added weight in preparation for the season. Here's a comprehensive look at the changes (vs 2023) to BYU's 2024 Spring roster.

Newcomers

There were 36 newcomers on BYU's Spring roster. Here is a breakdown of the newcomers and how they ended up at BYU.

2024 Signing Class

19 - Noah Lugo (Quarterback)
22 - Tommy Prassas (Safety)
24 - Therrian Alexander (Cornerback)
44 - Ephraim Asiata (Defensive End)
45 - Viliami Po'uha (Defensive End)
55 - Danny Saili (Defensive Tackle)
80 - Ryner Swanson (Tight End)
91 - Dallin Johnson (Defensive Tackle)

A sizable chunk of BYU's 2024 signees have enrolled early and are participating in Spring camp. Therrian Alexander was rotating with the first and second-team defenses on day one. He has all the talent to be an early contributor in Provo.

Ryner Swanson was mentioned as a standout by multiple reporters in attendance. Swanson has a college-ready frame and he posseses a rare talent as a pass-catcher. Defensive tackle Danny Saili has the potential to be a day-one starter for BYU. Saili weighed in at 6'3 and 360 pounds.

Transfer Portal

Seven transfers are on the Spring roster. Gerry Bohanon is one of two quarterbacks competing for the starting job.

3 - Gerry Bohanon (Quarterback)
4 - Marque Collins (Cornerback)
10 - Treyson Bourguet (Quarterback)
17 - Jack Kelly (Linebacker)
23 - Darrien Stewart (Safety)
31 - Sam Van Der Haar (Punter)
96 - Nic Harris (Deep Snapper)

Jack Kelly and Marque Collins will probably be in the starting lineup when BYU kicks off the 2024 season. Both of them were stars for the Weber State defense.

Darrien Stewart, a transfer from Utah, is enrolled and participating in Spring camp.

Treyson Bourguet is a transfer from Western Michigan who started eight games during his time at Western Michigan. He is competing for the third-string quarterback job. He still has three years of eligibility remaining, so he could factor in down the road.

Prior Signing Classes

Eight signees from prior signing classes have joined the team and are participating in Spring camp.

23 - Pokaiaua Haunga (Running Back)
28 - Jovesa Damuni (Running Back)
33 - Dallin Havea (Defensive Tackle)
46 - Nathan Hoke (Linebacker)
57 - Lingi Havea (Defensive Tackle)
66 - Sione Hingano (Offensive Line)
72 - Joe Brown (Offensive Line)
89 - Dominique McKenzie (Wide Receiver)

Pokaiaua Haunga, Joe Brown, and Dom McKenzie are three names to watch from this list.

Walk-ons

13 players were added to the roster as walk-ons.

20 - Dane Christensen (Quarterback)
26 - Micah Fe'a (Quarterback)
30 - Sione I Moa (Running Back)
32 - Will Zundel (Tight End)
38 - Payton VanSteenkiste (Safety)
47 - Brock Fabrizio (Safety)
52 - Justice Ena (Offensive Line)
53 - Orion Maile-Kaufusi (Defensive End)
65 - Kaden Bybee (Offensive Line)
67 - Ryker Keele (Offensive Line)
83 - Weston Covey (Wide Receiver)
84 - Prince Zombo (Wide Receiver)
95 - John Taumoepeau (Defensive Tackle)

BYU added some very capable players as walk-ons. Orion Maile-Kaufusi, who signed with Oregon State as a scholarship player back in 2021, was a surprise addition to the roster.

Prince Zombo was an accomplished wide receiver in Arizona who committed to BYU as a PWO.

John Taumoepeau, a former Snow College standout, is on the roster after committing to BYU before the 2023 season.

Brock Fabrizio was a scholarship-grade player in high school before blowing out his knee. He committed to BYU as a PWO before his mission. He is now home and on the roster. His older brother, Quinn Fabrizio, played at the University of Utah.

Sione Moa was a standout at Timpview High School during his prep career.

Position Changes

Keanu Hill - Tight End (Listed at Wide Receiver in 2023)
Koa Eldredge - Safety (Listed at Wide Receiver in 2023)
Kevin Doe - Cornerback (Listed at Wide Receiver in 2023)
Nukuluve Helu - Linebacker (Listed at Running Back in 2023)
Tyler Little - Defensive Tackle (Listed at Offensive Line in 2023)
Bruce Mitchell - Offensive Line (Listed at Defensive Tackle in 2023)

Keanu Hill is the most notable position change in 2024. Hill is up 25 pounds after moving from wide receiver to tight end.

Nukuluve Helu, who was listed as a running back throughout the 2023 season, is now a linebacker. Helu is a special athlete that could factor into the rotation eventually, even if he's not in the two-deep initially.

Koa Eldredge, a wide receiver from Hawaii, has moved to safety. There are 16 safeties currently on the roster.

Number Changes

3 - Raider Damuni (Wore #33 in 2022)
7 - Crew Wakley (Wore #38 in 2022)
12 - Preston Rex (Wore #27 in 2022)
20 - Koa Eldredge (Wore #80 in 2022)
27 - Ty Burke (Wore #32 in 2022)
50 - Nukuluve Helu (Wore #30 in 2022)
63 - Bruce Mitchell (Wore #96 in 2022)
86 - Jackson Bowers (Wore #19 in 2022)

Raider Damuni will wear the no. 3, his high school jersey number. Crew Wakley, who had a breakout season in 2023, will wear the single-digit no. 7.

Weight Changes

Multiple players on the roster started camp at different weights than they played at in 2023.

Weight Gainers

49 players came in heavier in 2024 than they were in 2023. Here are the players that gained 10 pounds or more.

Naseri Danielson up +30 lbs. vs 2023
Keanu Hill up +25 lbs. vs 2023
Ace Kaufusi up +25 lbs. vs 2023
Miles Hall up +25 lbs. vs 2023
Weston Jones up +25 lbs. vs 2023
LJ Martin up +20 lbs. vs 2023
Landon Rehkow up +20 lbs. vs 2023
Jojo Phillips up +15 lbs. vs 2023
Kevin Doe up +15 lbs. vs 2023
Maika Kaufusi up +15 lbs. vs 2023
Jordan Kapisi up +15 lbs. vs 2023
John Nelson up +15 lbs. vs 2023
Isaiah Bagnah up +10 lbs. vs 2023
Isaiah Glasker up +10 lbs. vs 2023
Mory Bamba up +10 lbs. vs 2023
Jake Hill up +10 lbs. vs 2023
Zion Allen up +10 lbs. vs 2023
Malae Tanuvasa up +10 lbs. vs 2023
Petey Tuipulotu up +10 lbs. vs 2023
Bodie Schoonover up +10 lbs. vs 2023
Anthony Olsen up +10 lbs. vs 2023
Joshua Singh up +10 lbs. vs 2023

A few notable names stand out on this list. Keanu Hill is up 25 pounds to prepare for his move to tight end. Ace Kaufusi, who started the last game of the year at Oklahoma State, is up 25 pounds and ready to compete for a starting spot at linebacker. LJ Martin came in about as ready for college football as a true freshman can be in 2023. Still, Martin is up 20 pounds to 225 pounds. For reference, Tyler Allgeier played at 220 pounds in 2021.

Wide receiver Jojo Phillips has the potential for a breakout season in 2024. He is up 15 pounds to 205 pounds, filling out his 6'5 frame.

John Nelson transitioned inside to defensive tackle this year. He is up 15 pounds to 290 pounds.

Weight Losers

14 players dropped weight in preparation for Spring camp.

Trevin Ostler down -25 lbs. vs 2023
Caleb Etienne down -15 lbs. vs 2023
Raider Damuni down -10 lbs. vs 2023
Bentley Redden down -10 lbs. vs 2023
Harrison Taggart down -5 lbs. vs 2023
Keelan Marion down -5 lbs. vs 2023
Enoch Nawahine down -5 lbs. vs 2023
Nason Coleman down -5 lbs. vs 2023
Lucky Finau down -5 lbs. vs 2023
Sonny Makasini down -5 lbs. vs 2023
Weylin Lapuaho down -5 lbs. vs 2023
Bruce Mitchell down -5 lbs. vs 2023
Crew Wakley down -3 lbs. vs 2023
Nick Billoups down -3 lbs. vs 2023

Caleb Etienne, Raider Damuni, and Harrison Taggart stand out on this list. Etienne is down 15 pounds, but he is still a mountain of a man at 6'8 and 315 pounds. Size has never been the problem for Etienne, so dropping some weight could help him reach him sky-high potential.

Raider Damuni is now a year off his mission. Damuni's potential is as high as any safety in the room. He trimmed down to 200 pounds in preparation for the season.

Harrison Taggart's competitive advantage is his speed. He dropped some weight and is now playing at 230 pounds. Playing at a lighter weight could help him take a step forward in 2024.

Who Redshirted in 2023?

28 players on the roster last year used their redshirt season in 2023. Here's the comprehensive list, headlined by Jake Retzlaff, Jojo Phillips, Maika Kaufusi, and Jake Griffin.

7 - Hinckley Ropati (Running Back)
12 - Jake Retzlaff (Quarterback)
13 - Jojo Phillips (Wide Receiver)
16 - Cole Hagen (Quarterback)
18 - Ryder Burton (Quarterback)
19 - Jackson Bowers (Tight End)
19 - Mory Bamba (Cornerback)
29 - Jayden Dunlap (Cornerback)
29 - Jake Hill (Wide Receiver)
30 - Miles Hall (Linebacker)
31 - Kevin Doe (Cornerback)
32 - Ty Burke (Safety)
34 - Maika Kaufusi (Linebacker)
35 - Bentley Redden (Tight End)
37 - Malae Tanuvasa (Safety)
37 - Jordan Kapisi (Kicker)
39 - Landon Rehkow (Punter)
43 - Naseri Danielson (Linebacker)
49 - Nason Coleman (Tight End)
49 - Lucky Finau (Linebacker)
50 - Nukuluve Helu (Linebacker)
63 - Bruce Mitchell (Offensive Line)
73 - Weston Jones (Offensive Line)
77 - Jake Griffin (Offensive Line)
79 - Kaden Chidester (Offensive Line)
88 - Devin Downing (Wide Receiver)
97 - Matthias Dunn (Kicker)
98 - Wyatt Dawe (Defensive Tackle)

Two Crowded Position Groups

The numbers on the Spring roster are a little out of balance. Here are the two most crowded position groups, and two groups that will see some attrition before Fall camp.

1. Quarterback

There are 10 quarterbacks on the roster. For reference, BYU had six quarterbacks on the roster last year. History suggest 3-4 of these quarterbacks won't be on the roster come Fall camp.

2. Safety

There are 16 safeties on the roster for a position group that only plays two on the field at a time. It doesn't take a mathematician to figure out that the safeties will be eight deep. Those numbers will have to go down before Fall camp.

This article first appeared on BYU Cougars on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: