Courtesy BYU Photo

Turns out the rumor is true, and BYU safety Faletau Satuala confirmed as much at the close of the team’s spring practice session.

The 6-foot-4, 215 pound product from Bountiful put his collegiate future literally on a coin flip.

“It’s 100% true,” Satuala confirmed. “I don’t know if it’s a good way to put my future, but … my mom kind of like she jokingly told me to flip a coin. And I was like, shoot, I don’t really got anything else to decide on.”

It all came about in early January of 2024, and just prior to the final signing period for that year’s recruiting class. Satuala had paired his final options as BYU and Utah among several other top offers, and whether it was fate, or just plain luck in BYU’s regard, the Cougars won the coin toss and Satuala inked with the program.

Just over two years later, Satuala will enter the 2026 season as one of the team’s top playmakers after a breakthrough campaign last season where made more than several big plays for the Cougars while leading the entire team in total tackles.

Courtesy BYU Photo

Such a season made Satuala an attractive prospect for other programs, and perhaps particularly Michigan, where his main recruiter, position coach and defensive coordinator Jay Hill took a position making the Cougar’s premier safety seemingly a good possibility to go to Ann Arbor, Michigan with him.

But all factors considered, Satuala’s decision to stay at BYU was something he didn’t outsource to a coin despite his strong connection with Hill. That’s not to say the decision to stay in Provo was an easy one, however.

“That first week or two after when we had to start deciding on if we were coming back or try to go with him, It was a really hard decision,” Satuala related. “I was really on the edge of going, and I think there was a lot of dudes who started calling my phone on our team … So just seeing how much everyone cared about me here and were wanting me to stay was was the biggest thing. So I think it was definitely hard, but the love that everyone else here showed and just wanting to try to keep us all together was a big thing to help you stay.”

Hill obviously wanted Satuala to follow him to Michigan, but was understanding and professonial throughout the process.

“He was actually really good about it,” Satuala said. “Before he left, he was like, ‘I love you guys all and and there’s going to be rules, so I’m not going reach out to any of you guys.’ That’s it. But just know that he was always there for us. So I didn’t really get to talk to him at all through all of that. He’s actually really good about it. I just went with my parents and I talked to them about it, and tried to weigh out the pros and cons.”

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

One of the big pros is the defense Sutuala returns to. Despite the losses of standouts like Jack Kelly, Tanner Wall and John Taumoepeau, the Cougars return a littany of top talent, which includes defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa, linebacker Isaiah Glasker and cornerback Evan Johnson, along with a several more key additions and young developing talent.

Oh, and Kalani Sitake is also returning as head coach after being offered an extension just prior to BYU’s bowl game last season.

“The culture and my teammates and coach Kalani,” Satuala answered when asked why he specifically chose to return to BYU for his junior season. “I would say, obviously, all the defense coming back, and having all my teammates be here was really big thing. So I think just coming back with all them and knowing they were all coming back was the biggest thing.”

Like most players, Satuala aims to upping his game and improving on the tremendous form he showed throughout the 2025 campaign while focusing on one key aspect in particular.

“I think the biggest thing is just the leadership of it,” he said. “Once you’re coming in as a starter you now kind of have to help with all the young guys and all the other guys who are competing for those spots, instead of just competing for yourself. So I try to bring the team together and and be a leader on the field and communicating how the play should go.”

Courtesy BYU Photo

It’s not all on Satuala in the leadership regard, and he’ll join well with other top safeties, such as Raider Damuni and Tommy Prassas in helping fill the tremendous void left by Wall.

“I think working with Raider will be really good this year,” Satuala said. “There’s also a lot of high expectations and you can’t let up and just get content with being a starter. We have some really good dudes, especially young guys coming in, who are competing and pushing us for spots. So I think it’ll push our whole room to be really good.”

Courtesy BYU Photo