BYU loses 2 defensive players to injury, another to portal before hosting Texas Tech

PROVO — One of BYU football's most prolific tacklers is calling it a season, with his collegiate career still to be determined.

BYU linebacker Ben Bywater, who led the Cougars in tackling in both 2021 and 2022, told 1280 The Zone Monday during his weekly appearance that he will have season-ending shoulder surgery.

A short time later, BYU coach Kalani Sitake confirmed that Bywater's season is done before the Cougars' Saturday home tilt with Texas Tech (5 p.m. MDT, FS1).

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound junior from Olympus High suffered the injury during BYU's 38-27 loss to Kansas on Sept. 23. Through that point, Bywater was again leading the team in tackles with 32 through four games.

Bywater suffered a torn labrum a year ago for BYU when he totaled 98 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, five pass breakups and three interceptions. He also posted a team-high 102 tackles during the 2021 season.

"I knew it was torn the second it happened," Bywater told radio hosts David James and Patrick Kinahan in describing an "out-of-body" experience as he entered the medical tent favoring his shoulder. "The truth is, I damaged a nerve in my arm. It would be five, six weeks from the time it happened (for recovery).

"Unfortunate, but it is one of those things where I was really trying to push it," he added. "But at the end of the day, I still can't move it. It has been three weeks. I've still got nerve damage in my arm."

A fifth-year senior who also served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guatemala, Bywater still has an extra year of eligibility provided by the COVID-19 pandemic. But he said he hasn't made a decision yet if he'll return for one more year, or enter the NFL draft.

"I will be playing football next year; whether it is here or the NFL, I don't know," he said. "A lot of conversations to be had."

If his career is over, Bywater would wrap up his time at BYU with 247 career tackles, including 112 solo stops, 15.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, six pass breakups and three interceptions, including a pick six against SMU to help win the New Mexico Bowl in December.

When the injury happened, Bywater's first thought was "when can I return?" according to Sitake. Then it shifted in the ensuing days and weeks.

"If you guys know Ben, you know he's going to want to play," Sitake said. "But I think as we started looking into it and getting more feedback and more advice from the professionals, Ben was so focused on getting back on the field and playing; and then the best thing to do was to look at his options and decide with his family. But I think that's the right decision, to get the surgery and get him healthy, not to put him in harms' way. I would do the same if he were my son; this is the right thing to do."

A Butkus and Bednarik Award nominee, Bywater was one of four defensive captains alongside defensive end Tyler Batty, linebacker AJ Vongphachanh, and cornerback Eddie Heckard. That role will continue, Sitake said, as well as mentoring Harrison Taggart, Siale Esera and Ace Kaufusi in the linebacker position.

"We still need his leadership," he added. "He's done a great job of that, getting Harrison and Siale ready to play that position. He'll still be needed on our team."

Sitake added that BYU safety Tanner Wall is likely out for the year after undergoing surgery. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound sophomore from Arlington, Virginia, had a career-high six tackles in a 38-31 win at Arkansas and totaled 22 tackles in five games for the Cougars.

"That's unfortunate, because he was starting to play great football," Sitake said.

Wall is the third BYU safety to suffer an extended absence, joining Micah Harper (knee) in training camp and Talan Alfrey (shoulder) in the days leading up to the season.

In his absence, Crew Wakley was listed as the starting free safety, with redshirt freshman Preston Rex, senior Malik Moore and redshirt-freshman Chika Ebunoha in reserve.

Additionally, sophomore Michael Daley is no longer with the program, Sitake confirmed Monday. The former Lone Peak standout had been listed as the primary backup at defensive end behind Isaiah Bagnah, but plans to enter the transfer portal at the next window, Sitake said of the 6-foot-2, 235-pound sophomore who played in five games this season but did not record a tackle.

"Love him. Love his family," Sitake said of Daley, who will be on scholarship until he leaves school. "I appreciate all the hard work he's put in since he's been here, and I wish him the best."

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