Whistles echoed across the practice fields Wednesday as BYU officially opened fall camp.
With the 2026 season just a month away, players are competing for roles, from incoming transfers and freshmen to returning veterans. Wednesday’s practice gave coaches their first extended look at the roster as BYU begins preparing for another season after last year’s success.
The Cougars finished with an 12-2 record and a No. 11 final ranking in the Associated Press poll in 2025.
The first day of camp brought plenty of energy. During the 10-minute media viewing period, players moved quickly while music blasted across the field and coaches paid attention to details. Lots of communication was taking place to emphasize technique on each play.
That excitement extended beyond the practice field.
For running back LJ Martin, simply being back in full pads is something he doesn’t take for granted. Martin underwent shoulder surgery in December 2025, spending the spring recovering before being cleared for full participation in early June.
Martin said he is still shaking some rust off after the long recovery, but that he was eager to get back to where he was before his surgery.
“I think we are really motivated and really excited to be out here,” Martin said. “I think we are having a great time … we are all enjoying being back out here competing with each other.”
While Day One of fall camp is for shaking off the rust, coach Kalani Sitake said one of the biggest differences from spring ball is how quickly the roster has developed. Transfers and young players have become more comfortable with the playbook and terminology.
That growth comes as BYU continues to add competition across the roster, including two unexpected additions to the running back room.
Just ahead of fall camp, the roster showcased two running-back additions: Fisher Ingersoll and Journee Tonga.
Ingersoll was recruited by BYU back in 2022, but turned down the offer to play baseball at TCU. He will return to BYU and will be listed as a senior given his previous college years.
Tonga, a three-star prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, will join BYU as a true freshman after being ranked as the No. 199 running back prospect.
Sitake said both younger players and veterans in the wide receiver group have made an impression during the opening stages of camp. This shows the roster balance throughout each group.
Returning players have also made their own steps forward.
This time last year, quarterback Bear Bachmeier was preparing for his first collegiate season. Now, after appearing in 14 games, Sitake said the sophomore has grown into a leader on the field.
“He’s a veteran now,” Sitake said. “He knows what he’s doing, he’s making corrections out there. It’s nice to see a guy that has been here … I trust him.”
Bachmeier is one of several players returning to BYU as it enters its third season in the Big 12. With a roster featuring players with varying experiences, Sitake and all the other staff are working to provide a growth mindset for each player.
“Everybody has a range of development,” Sitake said. “The veterans have a development but it’s a different development than the freshman coming in. So we have to adjust and specialize all our training, meetings, how we do things and what we do on the football field.”
As fall camp continues, BYU will use the next several weeks to finalize positions and roles before the season-opener against Utah Tech Sept. 5 in Provo.