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New BYU defensive backs coach Lewis Walker takes players through drills during the first day of fall practices at BYU on August 5, 2026. (Courtesy BYU Photo)

Courtesy BYU Photo

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Mississippi State transfer Jayven Williams tracks down a pass during spring practices. March 27, 2026

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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BYU’s new cornerback coach Lewis Walker has some key questions to address regarding his position group over the next month of fall practice sessions.

Who replaces Mory Bamba as the team’s No. 3 cornerback?

How often will BYU actually employ a third corner in a nickel formation?

How apt is his group in providing adequate depth behind assumed starters Evan Johnson and Tre Alexander?

What’s his favorite soda shop among the seemingly hundreds that exist uniquely in Utah County?

Okay, the last one may not be on top of his list, although the prior three are among the top assignments in order to help procure another strong Cougar defensive unit for the coming 2026 season.

The good news is that Walker and his group appear competent in sorting it all out.

Walker was named as the direct replacement for Jenaro Gilford, who left to coach for Michigan back in January, and has attempted to hit the group running as best he can. He comes to BYU after having spent two years as the defensive coordinator for Monmouth and two years as the defensive backs coach for North Dakota State prior to that.

Returning to BYU marks sort of a homecoming for Walker, who grew up to play for local Judge Memorial before moving on to play cornerback for Utah. Overall he’s had 12 years of coaching experience, yet presents a relatively youthful and energetic face to BYU’s new defensive coaching staff with the daunting task of replacing Gilford, who perhaps saw more success in coaching up BYU’s corners as any coach in Cougar football history.

“I like him a lot and feel he’s bringing some new stuff that is really going to help me this season,” said Johnson. “It’s great to get a new perspective. He’s similar to Coach (Gilford) in some ways, but I like the sort of new things he’s teaching us, too.”

Johnson is of course locked in as the team’s top coverage option on the outside and should be set for another standout season. But who backs him up and takes his spot when or if Johnson is moved to play slot corner within the nickel position is left to be decided.

As far as who may be the leader in the clubhouse currently, that designation may belong to Mississippi State senior transfer Jayven Williams.

“We got Jayven Williams in from Mississippi State, and he’s going to come in, and he’s going to do a good job,” Walker said. “If we need it to be on a third down or we’re in a lot of man and we want to keep a corner on the field rather than bringing in a bigger body, we can slide Evan into nickel and Jayven Williams will come in and play corner. And so now you have Evan, Jayven, and Tre on the field.”

But it’s not just Williams, and the competition certainly remains open and will continue throughout the next few weeks, if not for some time after.

Those vying for the third cornerback spot, along with Williams, are freshmen Jordyn Criss, from Arlington, Tecas, Seth Shigg, who transferred from Army, and Justice Brathwaite, who is the son of former BYU running back Reynaldo Brathwaite. But perhaps the most intriguing option may be Kevin Doe, who will be entering his junior season at BYU this season after entering the program as an extremely athletic yet raw athlete.

“The thing about Kevin is he played defensive end in high school, and he played basketball,” Walker said. “So when they recruited him to come here to BYU, they moved him to corner. He didn’t blink and he just went.”

Indeed Doe was one of the first players to catch Walker’s eye when he first arrived at BYU in his current capacity.

“I remember my first day walking in the weight room when I got here, I saw him in the weight room and I’m like, ‘That has to be a safety.’, and they’re like, ‘No, that’s a corner,'” Walker related. “So here’s a guy who is 6-foot-3 and a half, and 208 pounds that’s fast, he’s physical, hand he can jump. He’s coming along really, really well, and for him, man, the sky’s the limit for him as well because you get a big, long, physical guy that can run that way … the NFL would love corners like that.”

Of course Doe has to prove himself in the coming weeks if he’s worthy of playing, along with everyone else listed, although overall Walker likes what he has to work with and feels cornerback can be a strong position for the defense this season.

“I like the attitude of the group and we have some really good athletes,” he summed up. “We have some very good experience overall, and then some new guys who are developing well, and I like the potential.”