The BYU Cougars kick off the 2025 season in 16 days against Portland State. As we continue counting down the days until kickoff, today we will profile the player who wears No. 16 - redshirt junior linebacker Isaiah Glasker - by providing three interesting, fun facts:
Fun fact No. 1 - He racked up several honors last year
As a redshirt sophomore last year, Glasker led BYU with 70 tackles while also pacing the Cougars defense with an impressive 15 tackles for loss. He was nothing short of dominant for long stretches last season as BYU went 11-2 and finished the season ranked No. 13 in the country, thanks in large part to having the best defense in the Big 12.
For all of Glasker's accomplishments last year he was named All-Big 12 First Team by College Football Network and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention by the coaches. Most impressive, Sports Illustrated named him All-American Honorable Mention in 2024.
Fun fact No. 2 - This could be his last season before the NFL
As a redshirt junior the 6-foot-5, 240-pound linebacker still has one more season of college eligibility following this upcoming year. But it's unlikely he'll be donning the royal blue in 2026. Instead, he'll most likely be playing in the NFL.
Glasker enters this season on the Butkus Award Preseason Watch List, meaning he's already recognized as one of the best linebackers in the country. He has the potential to land on All-America teams this year, putting a button on a stellar BYU career before heading to the NFL.
GLASKER, KELLY SELECTED TO BUTKUS AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST@isaiahglasker 🤝 @jack_kelly1717 pic.twitter.com/NrW7PLOjqN
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) July 30, 2025
Fun fact No. 3 - He's a returned missionary
According to his player profile at BYU's team website, Glasker served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Montevideo, Uruguay. His missionary service could also prompt him to declare for the NFL Draft following this season as returned missionaries are already considered "old" by some NFL front offices, especially those who play through a redshirt senior season which would be the case for Isaiah if he returned to Provo next year.