I believe in those guys’: BYU’s Aaron Roderick on why he didn’t add more receivers after spring camp

BYU receiver Kyler Kasper catches a pass during the first day of fall camp Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Provo.

|

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

Since BYU football coaches learned they would be without two of the more productive receivers from their 2025 roster — veteran Parker Kingston and rising star Cody Hagen — in 2026, they have added a backup quarterback and a running back to the team, but not a receiver.

What’s up with that?

As preseason training camp opened Wednesday in Provo, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick had a simple explanation. Actually, he had several justifications for bringing in junior college quarterback John Sanders (Antelope Valley CC) and freshman RB Journee Tonga, a 5-foot-9, three-star athlete who ran for 4,030 yards and 48 touchdowns in his career at Leuzinger High in Lawndale, California, and not another experienced pass-catcher.

Mainly, it is because they have “a lot of confidence” in the current group, led by redshirt junior JoJo Phillips and Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper , Roderick said, pointing in the direction of Kasper, who was getting in some extra work in the 90-degree temperatures well after practice had ended . Phillips is 6-foot-5 and Kasper is listed at 6-6, although teammates say he’s probably taller than that and has incredible leaping ability.

“We are going to put some size on the field with those two guys,” Roderick said. “They are big, and (freshman) Legend Glasker, he’s a good player, too. He’s ready to play this year. He’s a freshman, but he’s going to play.”

Glasker, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound athlete from Lehi High in northern Utah County, has been turning heads since spring ball , having enrolled early.

BYU wide receiver Legend Glasker, left, catches a pass during practice on March 27, 2026, in Provo.

|

Jaren Wilkey/BYU

“His physical attributes stand out, obviously,” BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier said of Glasker. “I mean, he’s quick, he’s fast, he’s deceptive, and a dynamic route runner. And then he’s smart as well. He’s got the whole nine (yards). He is a good player.”

Roderick also added that redshirt sophomore Reggie Frischknecht , who caught a 7-yard pass against TCU in six appearances last year, “has really improved a lot,” as has senior Tiger Bachmeier, who had seven catches for 53 yards last season.

“They have got to go prove it, but I like what I am seeing, and I believe in those guys,” Roderick said. “I think they are going to step up and play well.”

Coaches have known they wouldn’t have Kingston since the Roy High product was expelled from BYU in February. The speedster who caught 67 passes for 928 yards and five touchdowns in 2025 is rumored to be considering a transfer to an SEC program, perhaps LSU or Ole Miss , which is ironic since Kingston took a jab at the SEC after Ole Miss lost to Miami in the College Football Playoff last winter.

Hagen, the former four-star recruit from Corner Canyon High, caught 15 passes for 126 yards and rushed for 93 yards over the course of two injury-plagued seasons at BYU. He announced his medical retirement from college football last May, citing lingering knee issues.

Did coaches ever consider replacing Hagen that late in the offseason?

“No, not really,” Roderick said. “We didn’t really think about it. We like the guys we have. We believe in them, and we are also deeper at tight end than we’ve been the whole time I have been here. … The depth at tight end just gives us more options with personnel groupings and people to target.”

As has been thoroughly documented by the Deseret News, BYU brought in USC’s Walker Lyons and Oregon’s Roger Saleapaga to fill the shoes of tight end Carsen Ryan, who is currently in the Cleveland Browns’ training camp after having been taken in the seventh round of last April’s NFL draft.

Lyons is on the Mackey Award Preseason Watch List. The award is presented annually to the best tight end in college football. He looks the part of being the next great tight end to make his way through Provo after catching 20 passes for 223 yards and two TDs for the Trojans last year.

“We will play two tight ends a lot, just because they (Lyons and Saleapaga) are two of our best players,” Roderick said. “They deserve to play. They are going to be on the field together a lot.”

Saleapaga told the Deseret News last April that he joined the faith that sponsors BYU, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, during his freshman season at Oregon and that he “felt the spirit so strongly” on his official visit that he “immediately” knew he was headed back home, having grown up in Orem.

Regarding the offense overall, Roderick said the pieces are in place to surpass last year’s success. The Cougars finished the year ranked in the top 25 across 10 major offensive categories, according to a school news release , and were No. 32 nationally in scoring offense at 31.4 points per game.

“Yeah, I expect us to be better than last year,” Roderick said. “That’s my job, to make sure that we are better than last year. So I accept that challenge, and I think we have the players to do it.”

Including the receivers?

“Absolutely,” he said.

Brigham Young University Cougars wide receiver Tiger Bachmeier (19) looks on during the game against the Portland State Vikings at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2025.

|

Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →