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Top tackler: BYU’s Logan Lutui contributing standout performances both on and off the field

By Brandon Gurney - | Sep 22, 2025

Marcia Harris, Special to the Herald

BYU senior Logan Lutui takes the field BYU seniors take the field before the Big 12 game against Houston in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.

Considering the level of play Logan Lutui is providing this season, his unforced mistake made during BYU’s 34-13 win over East Carolina can easily be overlooked.

What’s more, there’s some question remaining if he even did anything wrong, at least in the minds of both Cougar coaches and players.

The mistake? The senior defensive end didn’t sub out quick enough, at least in the view of those officiating, prior to a play that led to Cougar safety Tanner Wall picking off a pass. The officials subsequently flagged Lutui for illegal substitution, taking the interception off the board while maintaining possession for East Carolina with a little extra yardage.

Sure, Wall would have liked to have had the interception stand, along with all of Cougar nation, but the senior safety laughed all of it off when asked.

“We sat by each other on the plane, and I was kind of giving him a hard time,” Wall said during Monday’s team press conference. “But there’s no hard feelings whatsoever. It was kind of a little mix up there, but we ended up getting an interception on that drive anyway.”

Indeed Evan Johnson effectively ended the drive by picking off the first of his two passes in what was a breakout performance by the junior cornerback.

As mentioned, it was a rare infraction made by Lutui this season, if you can even term it an infraction, at all.

As the senior statesman of BYU’s otherwise young defensive end corps, Lutui leads the entire team in tackles through the first three games, notching 15 in total. It’s a rare accomplishment for any defensive lineman to lead any team in tackles, particularly when flanked by standout linebackers like Jack Kelly and Isaiah Glasker, and it speaks to just how dominant BYU has proved upfront which is due in no small part to Lutui’s overall play.

“I’m happy with how I’ve been playing,” said the 6-foot-2, 260 pound Lutui, who trasnferred to BYU from Weber State prior to the 2022 season. “I’ve been happy with how our whole defensive line has been playing. We’re playing as a unit, lately, and those who have been coming in who are getting their first snaps in college football haven’t dropped off (in their level of play) from those players that we had last year. So I’ve been impressed…with our entire defensive line.”

BYU’s defensive end position is flush with a lot of talent, but not a lot of experience with Lutui being the lone player with any playing experience prior to the 2025 season. Given that singular experience, Lutui is the natural leader of the group and has embraced the role totally according to both coaches and those who play alongside him.

Lutui’s leadership all occurs behind the scenes, although what he’s presented live to Cougar fans has been nothing short of exemplary through three games played, considering his tackling total.

“The ball just seems to have bounced my way,” Lutui said when asked regarding that total. “I know that comes by everyone playing their (role) and I give a lot of credit to our defense for doing their job and when the ball comes my way, I’m excited to go make a play. So I just tip my hat to my teammates for allowing me to make plays.”

Certainly all involved are grateful for Lutui’s presence this year considering he easily could have moved on to other things after the 2024 season before opting to appeal for another year of eligibility.

“Something that helped me make my decision to come back was not only talking with my wife, but talking to Coach (Jay) Hill and Coach Kalani and what they saw I could do this year,” Lutui related. “I think that’s what kind of influenced my decision to come back and to be a part of something great, and I’m so glad that I did. I’m glad they talked me into it and I’m glad to be a part of this team.”

 

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