Following the 2025 campaign, Carsen Ryan, the starting tight end for BYU, graduated. Additionally, the Cougars entered Spring Camp with the goal of finding replacements for their two best wide receivers, Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston, in 2025. Which one would take its place? One of the main topics leading up to Spring Camp was the reception of production.
The Cougars signed two tight ends from the Big Ten in December—USC transfer Walker Lyons and Oregon transfer Roger Saleapaga—to help meet some of the demands of BYU’s roster. Additionally, they acquired Oregon wide receiver transfer Kyler Kasper.
The two transfer tight ends have been exceptional during the first half of Spring Camp. Not only do they appear ready to take a lot of snaps for the BYU offense, but they also seem capable of filling Carsen Ryan’s shoes.
Bear Bachmeier has focused his efforts on Lyons and Saleapaga. The offensive coordinator at BYU said earlier this week that they are two of the best players on our squad.
Walker is amazing, Roderick said. He is a very well-rounded athlete. I would say. He blocks well. He is a fantastic receiver. He is intelligent. You can see that he has been properly coached and has played a lot of excellent football. He will be a crucial component of our offense, as will Roger. Without a doubt, those two are two of the top athletes on our squad.
Lyons Walker
Lyons was expected to fit right into the starting lineup after joining BYU as a four-star transfer from USC. So far, Lyons has lived up to expectations during Spring Camp. Lyons is quicker than people give him credit for, and he can use his body to block defenders and set up throwing routes for Bear Bachmeier.
Finally, Walker Lyons scores the touchdown in the end zone thanks to Bear Bachmeier.
The ideal position beat Evan Johnson provided excellent coverage.
Lyons has the potential to put up the same kind of numbers as Carsen Ryan did in 2025, with 620 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Roger Saleapaga
Although it was simple to see how Walker Lyons would fit into BYU’s offense, it was less obvious how Roger Saleapaga would fit into BYU’s strategy. At Oregon, Saleapaga was employed primarily as a run blocker. He was primarily a receiving tight end when he left high school.
Saleapaga has been running with the first-team offense alongside Walker Lyons at BYU thus far. Additionally, he has resembled the pass-catching danger he posed in Orem High School.
The emergence of the two new tight ends may help address some of BYU’s wide receiver uncertainties.
