The BYU Cougars will kick off the 2026 season in 21 days against Utah Tech. As we count down the days until kickoff, today we will profile the player who wears No. 21 - freshman wide receiver Jaron Pula.
Jaron Pula's background
This year‘s incoming freshman class is arguably the best in BYU football recruiting history. Freshman wide receiver Jaron Pula is one of the big reasons why. Playing his high school ball at Utah prep power house Loan Peak, he was a four-star talent with a 91 rating at 247 Sports. He was a top 250 national recruit. He was the No. 9 prospect in the state of Utah in what was an absolutely loaded class of talent coming out of the Beehive State.
Among the 26 listed offers he reeled in, Pula chose BYU over the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Miami, Oregon, and Tennessee. He could’ve played in any conference and in just about any program in the nation. He chose Kalani Sitake and the BYU Cougars.
But his path to Provo was a winding one. He and his twin brother Keenan, a four-star prospect himself and the number 11 prospect in the state of Utah, both originally committed to the university of Utah. But as the recruiting cycle played itself out, both brothers decommitted from Utah and decided to bring their talents to Provo.
Jaron Pula’s 2026 outlook
It’s rare for freshmen to make an immediate impact at wide receiver at BYU. Despite Pula’s impressive recruiting profile, he is still just a freshman who will need to adjust to Aaron Roderick’s offense, find his rhythm with quarterback Bear Bachmeier, and be physically prepared to go up against Power Four competition every week.
This process usually takes a season or two.
But there could be a path for Jaron to see the field this year. BYU's wide receiver room is going through a lot of churn right now. Long time starter Chase Roberts is now chasing his NFL future. Presumed No. 1 wide receiver Parker Kingston is no longer with the program. Emerging receiver Cody Hagen unexpectedly retired from football due to medical reasons.
The door is wide open for a talented freshman like Jaron Kula to work his way up the depth chart.
Now, nothing is going to be handed to him, regardless of his high school pedigree. There are a number of veteran wide receivers with multiple years in Aaron Roderick’s system against whom he will be competing for snaps. They have more experience and Power Four readiness when compared to a true freshman, even a talented one like Jaron.
There have been few seasons in recent BYU history where there is this much opportunity for a young wide receiver to break out, and there have been even fewer four-star wide receivers who have made their way to Provo. Jaron Pula could make his mark at BYU sooner rather than later.
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