Early in the second quarter of the Cougar’s 18-15 win over SMU last season, the Mustangs were working on mounting any type of offensive challenge. Faced with a 2nd-and-8 situation, SMU quarterback Preston Stone, who is readily noted for his running ability, appeared ready to break the pocket before Glasker, as if shot from a cannon, beat his blocking assignment and summarily dropped Stone for loss of eight yards.

“That was really a ‘here we go!’ moment for me,” Glasker recalled. “That’s the play where all the work and preparation I had done began to be validated.”

Of course true validation isn’t just handed out for just one standout play, or even a few plays, but for consistent play-making throughout the course of a season, which is exactly what Glasker provided in 2024.

A team-leading 70 tackles along with 14.5 tackles-for-loss, which also led the team, on top of 3.5 sacks, which placed him second behind Jack Kelly, are numbers that speak for themselves. Oh yeah, the 6-foot-5, 240 pound converted safety also tied for the team lead in interceptions with three on the season, including a 21-yard pick that was returned for a touchdown in BYU’s 41-19 win over Arizona.

It was the type of season that reminded many of some of the top BYU outside linebackers of seasons past, such as Kyle Van Noy, Fred Warner, Bryan Kehl and David Nixon, all of whom went on to play at the NFL level.

“I’m just a fan of watching him play and he’s definitely up there with the best that have played the position at BYU,” said Nixon. “But what makes Isaiah unique is his height and length, which is a huge advantage. He can cover a lot of ground and did it very well last season. He’s just so fun to watch and I’m excited to see what improvements he’s made for this season.”

Worth the Weight

As mentioned, Glasker’s arrival at his current status was a long and often arduous process in transforming himself to play a position few envisioned when first walked on to BYU’s football program following his mission service for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Uruguay.

Weighing in at just 190 pounds, prior to the 2022 season, the plan was to play at free safety, a position he exceled at while playing for Bingham at the high school level. But that plan was soon scuttled after a conversation with BYU Coach Kalani Sitake.

“He sat me down and just let me know that he felt the best way for me to get to the NFL level was to play linebacker,” Glasker said. “I believed what he told me, made the switch and was able to play a bit during my freshman year.”

Glasker’s 2023 playing experience included eight games before exiting earlier than planned due to sustaining an injury that was apparently caused by him still being undersized. Sure, his abilities provided plenty of value in coverage from his outside linebacking position while mounting good pass rushes on occasion, but due to his relatively slight and lanky frame, he lacked the sustainability to effectively fill gaps and take on blocks.

Ultimately the physical tax proved too much, forcing him to miss some action down the stretch while providing an obvious offseason task to take on in preparation for the 2024 season and indeed for the rest of his career.

“I definitely needed to put on some weight, and I did,” Glasker said. “I came to BYU weighing in at 190 and started last season at 240, and it definitely made a huge difference.”

The weight gain was applied with the help of BYU linebackers Coach Justin Ena, who would meet with Glasker early most mornings.

“He had me here every morning at 7 a.m. drinking protein shakes, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and just lots and lots of protein,” Glasker said. “It’s about eating when you’re not hungry and eventually I got there. I got at a good weight where I instead of me feeling most of hits out there, I was making others feel it. That’s where you want to be.”

Only the beginning

What’s truly notable about Glasker’s current status is the fact that he’s had just one year playing with the type of frame he’s now developed, indicating bright returns ahead of him.

“It’s very rare to see a 6-foot-5 linebacker move the way he does,” Nixon said. “Linebackers his size typically can’t move like he’s shown he can in so many games. His ability to cover sideline-to-sideline shows you how athletic he is. It’s the type of size and athletic combination that NFL scouts salivate over because he really can do it all. He’s great in coverage because of his massive wingspan and now he has the bulk to really do it all out there. Like I mentioned, he’s just very fun to watch. He just glides out there and he’s a player you can do a lot of things with, which NFL scouts love.”

As far as NFL prospects go, not to mention the preseason accolades he’s received, Glasker isn’t focused on any of it currently.

“I don’t like focusing on any type of recognition. I’d rather give it to the line in front of me and all the people out there that allow me to get to where I want to be,” he said. “I’m nothing without the line in front of me and the players beside me and behind me. I’m fortunate to be able to play with a lot of great players here at BYU.”

As for his life off the field, Glasker is enjoying every moment at BYU.

“It’s been great and I’ve always had great teachers to help me along the way,” he concluded. “I just got accepted into my major, which is global supply chain, so I’m really excited about that. Our coaches here stress education, and ever since I got here I think we had the best GPA as a team ever, and I’m very proud of be a part of that. I’ve also met a lot of great people here and it’s really been everything I could have hoped for, and more.”