Updated Projections for BYU's Depth Chart at Linebacker

BYU has added two impact transfers at linebacker in the last few months

On Saturday, BYU added a former four-star recruit from the transfer portal in linebacker Harrison Taggart. Taggart comes to Provo with four years of eligibility remaining and the talent to be a key part of BYU's future plans on defense. With Taggart in the fold, let's take a look at the BYU linebacker depth chart for the 2023 season.

Four scholarship linebackers will join the program in time for Fall camp:

1. AJ Vongphachanh
2. Harrison Taggart
3. Siale Esera
4. Miles Hall (could end up at a different position)

They will enter a BYU linebacker room that includes veterans Max Tooley, Ben Bywater, and Chaz Ah You. Those three veterans are joined by a handful of young scholarship players like Isaiah Glasker, Ace Kaufusi, and Maika Kaufusi. 

Linebacker Depth Chart

Outside

1. Max Tooley OR Harrison Taggart
2. Isaiah Glasker 

Mike

1. Ben Bywater
2. Siale Esera OR Ace Kaufusi

Outside
1. AJ Vongphachanh OR Chaz Ah You
2. Maika Kaufusi OR Ammon Hannemann

AJ Vongphachanh will be one of the most experienced players on BYU's defense next season - he is expected to earn a starting role right away. Harrison Taggart doesn't have much experience in terms of FBS snaps, but he will be the fastest linebacker on the team. His skillset is unique enough to see the field right away, even if it's situational while he learns the full playbook. 

Ben Bywater and Max Tooley will be mainstays of the BYU defense in 2023, that's no surprise. We named Harrison Taggart a co-starter alongside Max Tooley mostly because we ran out of starting spots. We expect a 4-3 defense from BYU, meaning three linebackers will start. Regardless of alignment, Tooley will be on the field as long as he stays healthy. 

Chaz Ah You is a wildcard here. If he is fully healthy, he is undoubtedly one of the best 11 players on defense. His playmaking ability will fit nicely into Jay Hill's complex scheme. The problem for Ah You has been his health. He has suffered multiple injuries over the past several seasons that have kept him out of the lineup.

Multiple freshman will factor into this group and create a lot of competition during Fall camp. The Kaufusi cousins were consistently mentioned as standouts during Spring camp along with Isaiah Glasker. They ran with the first-team defense while the three veterans were sidelined with injuries this Spring.

2023 signee Siale Esera is as talented as any player in the room. Even as a true freshman, don't be surprised to see his name on the two-deep in week one. Because of the experience ahead of him, Esera probably won't be asked to start right away. Regardless, he is a key member of a young linebacking core with a very bright future in Provo.

BYU kicks off the 2023 season in 13 weeks against Sam Houston.

A young core emerging

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