Fraught with lack of depth and top end talent for more than a few seasons in the program’s history, things have recently flipped for the better, however, and just may reach new heights for the coming 2026 season.

Just ask junior Therrian Alexander, who is the assumed starter at one cornerback position opposite senior Evan Johnson.

“To be honest, I feel like me and Evan are the best corners in the country–one and two,” he stated blunty. “I don’t feel like there’s another two better than us anywhere across the country, in any conference. I don’t care what nobody says.”

It’s quite the statement, and although the statement can be read accurately as perhaps being a bit too brash, it does express a degree of confidence that isn’t entirely unwarranted. Just ask someone who has gone up against BYU’s top cornerback duo just about every day during practice sessions.

Courtesy BYU Photo

“I can say that the top guys here are as good as anyone I went up against when I was at Oregon, and we had some very good ones there,” said Oregon transfer receiver Kyler Kasper. “You don’t have as many top guys here as we did in Oregon, probably, but our top guys? I’d put them up against anything I saw at Oregon or anywhere.”

It’s quite the compliment from someone who went up against several NFL-quality cornerbacks while in Eugene, which includes players such as Christian Gonzalez, who is widely considered one of the best cornerbacks in the entire NFL.

The headliner is of course Evan Johnson, who is referred to as ‘Schmev’ by just about everyone on the team.

Johnson broke through last season in establishing himself as a lockdown corner capable of making the type of big plays on a consistent basis. There was pick-6 he provided versus East Carolina, a play which changed the entire course of the game and sort of ushered in his remarkable season, with his game-sealing interception during Pop-tarts Bowl a fitting conclusion.

It was some of the top cornerback play BYU fans have ever witnessed at the position, and bigger things are anticipated from Johnson as he enters his final senior season in Provo.

Courtesy BYU Photo

“He’s a very intentional guy in everything that he does from a technical standpoint, to studying film, to treatment and getting his body right,” observed first-year BYU cornerbacks coach Lewis Walker. “I think building off of last year when he had five interceptions, can we do that and add a couple more? He’s doing everything he can to do just that and more.”

“I’m just continuing to do the same things, you know? It’s not switching any processes up or anything like that,” Johnson added about his approach this season. “It’s just doing the same thing that I was doing and giving it a little more. I’m doing a little extra things to recover, to work on my craft, make sure my body stays healthy. But I’m not changing anything big. I’m just working as hard as I can to keep on track to improve myself as much as I possibly can.”

As for Alexander, he’s aiming for marked improvements this season and hopes to improve on the solid form he showed last year.

“I think I’m due for a big year,” he said. “I’m feeling really confident in what I’m doing, but I can’t ever be satisfied, so I’m working out there every day and if I continue to progress like I know I can, then the sky’s the limit for me.”

“He’s a long guy who is fast and can run a 4.4 forty,” Walker observed regarding the 6-foot-3 Alexander. “It’s just getting him to play with good pad level so he can get out of his breaks clean and being able to be balanced in his pedal and coming in and out of those transitions. And then uh tackling is a big part for Tre, and e’s not afraid uh to come up and tackle. So I like that about him.”

Courtesy BYU Photo

One aspect regarding both Johnson and Alexander’s approach is how much fun they have being involved with all of it. It’s something Walker observed almost immediately upon being hired as their position coach. The goal now is to parlay their magnetic personalities into true leadership qualities that an enhance the entire cornerbacks group, as a whole.

“I heard Evan was a quiet guy at first, you know? And then he came into his own and and and now I’ve challenged him big time about leadership role, being vocal, not just doing things because you know that you’re going to come out and do everything the right way, but can you pull guys along with you. Can you be vocal with the young guys and show them the way?,” Walker said. “And Tre, I mean, his personality is out there, you know? I always tell him, ‘You’re like Anthony Edwards,’ you know? And everybody loves him in the NBA because he’s authentically himself. But with those two guys their personalities come out. You can’t help but have fun around them, but they know how to lock in when it’s time to work as well.”

And their work has been exemplary, for the most part with the promise of the duo indeed vying to be remembered as among the best to ever pass through Provo, if not the very best.