BYU lands 6 preseason All-Big 12 honors, led by returning RB LJ Martin

PROVO — LJ Martin is ready for an encore.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior tailback from BYU was named the Big 12 preseason offensive player of the year Monday in a vote of media members that cover the league's 16 institutions.

Martin, who won Big 12 offensive player of the year honors a year ago after piling up 1,305 yards en route to the Cougars' 12-2 campaign and a spot in the Big 12 championship game, was one of six Cougars selected to the All-Big 12 preseason team.

The senior from El Paso, Texas, who was injured before the end-of-year Pop-Tarts Bowl was joined by center Bruce Mitchell, the 6-foot-4, 305-pound lineman who was a Rimington Trophy candidate last year in his first season as a full-time starter — as well as four defensive players.

Senior cornerback Evan Johnson and junior safety Faletau Satuala were honored a year after helping the BYU defensive to a top-10 mark in interceptions with 17 and defensive touchdowns with three.

Senior defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa and linebacker Cade Uluave rounded out BYU's preseason haul. Tanuvasa was a team captain who started all 14 games a year ago at BYU en route to All-Big 12 honorable mention honors, while Uluave — a 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior from Mountain Ridge High School — earned All-ACC first-team honors a year ago after totaling 237 tackles, six sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles in three seasons at Cal.

Utah returner Mana Carvalho also earned All-Big 12 preseason honors as a punt/kick returner. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound sophomore from Laie, Hawaii, was second in the Big 12 last year with 212 punt return yards and one fo three Big 12 returners with a touchdown en route to all-conference honorable mention honors.

Texas Tech defensive lineman A.J. Holmes was named All-Big 12 preseason defensive player of the year, and Drew Mestemaker took preseason newcomer of the year honors after the redshirt-sophomore quarterback transferred to Oklahoma State from North Texas.

Here's the complete list of honorees:

2026 Preseason All-Big 12 Team

Offense

• Quarterback: Noah Fifita, QB, Arizona, RS-Sr.
• Running Back: Cam Cook, RB, West Virginia, Sr.
• Running Back: LJ Martin, RB, BYU, Sr.
• Fullback: Kayden Luke, FB, West Virginia, Jr.
• Wide Receiver: Omarion Miller, WR, Arizona State, Sr.
• Wide Receiver: Amare Thomas, WR, Houston, Sr.
• Wide Receiver: Wyatt Young, WR, Oklahoma State, Jr.
• Tight End: Terrance Carter Jr., TE, Texas Tech, Sr.
• Offensive Line: Joe Cotton, OL, Cincinnati, RS-Sr.
• Offensive Line: Shadre Hurst, OL, Houston, Sr.
• Offensive Line: Bruce Mitchell, OL, BYU, RS-Sr.
• Offensive Line: John Pastore, OL, Kansas State, Sr.
• Offensive Line: Evan Tengesdahl, OL, Cincinnati, RS-Jr.

Defense

• Defensive Line: C.J. Fite, DL, Arizona State, Sr.
• Defensive Line: Wendell Gregory, DL, Kansas State, So.
• Defensive Line: A.J. Holmes Jr., DL, Texas Tech, Sr.
• Defensive Line: Keanu Tanuvasa, DL, BYU, RS-Sr.
• Defensive Line: Adam Trick, DL, Texas Tech, Sr.
• Linebacker: Ben Roberts, LB, Texas Tech, Sr.
• Linebacker: Austin Romaine, LB, Texas Tech, Sr.
• Linebacker: Cade Uluave, LB, BYU, Sr.
• Defensive Back: Will James, DB, Houston, Jr.
• Defensive Back: Evan Johnson, DB, BYU, RS-Sr.
• Defensive Back: Jamel Johnson, DB, TCU, Sr.
• Defensive Back: Brice Pollock, DB, Texas Tech, Sr.
• Defensive Back: Faletau Satuala, DB, BYU, Jr.

Specialists

• Kicker: Stone Harrington, PK, Texas Tech, Sr.
• Punt/Kick Returner: Mana Carvalho, PR/KR, Utah, So.
• Punter: Palmer Williams, P, Baylor, Sr.

Related topics