Offensive rundown: BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick assesses developments within his group
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- BYU Offensive Coordinator Aaron Roderick instructs his players during practices
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- BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier is seeing a lot of quality reps during his first spring practice session in Provo. March 2, 2026
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- Jojo Phillips is just one of several talented receivers looking to replace both Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston for BYU this season. March 10, 2026
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- BYU sophomore Sione Moa (30) runs the ball up the field during the non-conference game against Portland State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2026.
BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick provided a good and fairly comprehensive rundown of key developments within the Cougar offense during an interview session recently, touching on every position from quarterback to wide receiver. Much like the Cougar defense, the offense appears to be full of key returning talent albeit with a few more unanswered questions.
Running back
Running back depth was a major issue for the Cougars last season, although it appears the ability to fill-in for LJ Martin in 2026 will be much improved. The key development is the reemergence of Sione Moa, whose career appeared to be in serious jeopardy toward the close of last season due to his rare compartment syndrome condition.
“Sione Moa is a really good football player,” Roderick said. “He was one of our best players last year until he got hurt and the year before. And DeVaughn Eka doing a great job. Preston Rex has improved a lot. So yeah, we’re going to be very, very solid at running back.”
Eka is a true freshman running back from Lehi while Preston Rex moved over to help provide depth at running back last season after playing at defensive back through his first two seasons in Provo.
Two players not mentioned would be Jovesa Damuni, who sustained what could be a serious lower-leg injury early on during spring practices, and Logan Payne, who has been mentioned by Roderick previously as a potential contributor at the position.
Backing up Bear
Bear Bachmeier is without question the team’s top option at quarterback, but with regards to who becomes his primary backup is certainly in play. According to Roderick, there’s two primary candidates currently vying for the spot; senior Treyson Bourguet and freshman Enoch Watson, who was coached by former BYU great Max Hall at the high school level.
“Treyson is a veteran player. He knows our offense very well and has a lot of respect from his teammates. He’s playing good football (and I have) lots of confidence in him,” Roderick said. “And then Enoch Watson is learning what to do, but (he’s) super talented. He’s very high ceiling guy, super athlete, (and has a ) live arm. He’s just in the process of learning the offense each day. He’s right on schedule to be a really good football player.”
According to Roderick, both Bourguet and Watson are sharing second-team reps currently, and while Bourguet probably has the edge currently based on experience, the competition is likely to continue into the fall.
“I have a lot of confidence in both of them,” Roderick said. “Again, Enoch has a lot to learn, but his upside is very high. And in Treyson’s case, I think Treyson is an underrated athlete and he knows our offense very well. When he goes in, we don’t skip a beat. We can operate at a high level with Treyson right now.”
Left tackle
The big vacancy left to fill on BYU’s offensive front is at left tackle in the wake of last year’s starter Isaiah Jatta playing out his eligibility. So far there’s one player who has seen just about all the reps at the critical position and is firmly established as the frontrunner to earn the starting role this coming season.
“Paki Finau is is playing with the first team right now and he’s (someone we) tried to recruit him in high school,” Roderick said. “We loved him in high school. We feel really great about having him now. He’s doing a nice job. And (Jr Sia is) out there doing a good job too. But Paki has been taking most of the reps with the ones and has played very well.”
Finau is a transfer from Washington and has three years of eligibility remaining at BYU. Sia is a transfer from Utah State and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Receiver
Receiver is perhaps the biggest void to fill on the offensive side of the football where both Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston leave behind some big shoes to be filled. The options are a plenty, with everyone from Cody Hagen and Jojo Phillips, both of whom contributed last season, to exciting newcomers such as true freshman Legend Glasker and Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper.
As for who is leading the way in establishing himself as BYU’s top receiving option, it looks to be Phillips.
“Jojo Phillips has taken a big step forward,” Roderick said. “You know, that that injury he had last year was pretty serious. We we don’t talk a lot about details and stuff, but that was a tough injury and it hurt his confidence and it took him some time to get back and then the bowl game it was like, okay, that’s Jojo that we’ve been expecting and I’ve seen more growth in him this spring.”
Roderick also spoke highly of those developing behind Phillips, which includes some names new to the roster this spring.
“Kyler Kasper had a great spring. He’s everything I thought he was going to be up to this point and he’ll be a big part of our offense,” Roderick said. “And I see Tei Nacua growing every day. I see Reggie Frischknecht out there improving. I’m going to forget somebody there, but that there’s enough guys there for sure. And then when you factor in that we have some tight ends that are good receivers, we’ll have enough weapons.”
Nacua is entering his redshirt sophomore season while Frischknecht is in his second season at BYU after transferring from Southern Utah. As for the tight ends, Oregon transfer Roger Saleapapga and USC transfer Walker Lyons look to be used frequently as top receiving options this coming season.
As for the offense as a whole, Roderick is encouraged with what he believes to be an emerging strength.
“I think we have balance,” he concluded. “I think we’re going to be a balanced team. We can run it, we can throw it, and we have good size, and we’re going to be physical.”
