The BYU Cougars will kick off the 2026 season in 22 days against Utah Tech. As we count down the days until kickoff, today we will profile the player who wears No. 22 - redshirt sophomore defensive back Tommy Prassas.
Tommy Prassas' background
Tommy Prassas played his high school ball in Chandler Arizona. He was a solid three-star high school prospect with an 84 rating at 247 Sports, but he didn't rise to the level of a national recruit in the class of 2024. He was the No. 35 prospect in Arizona that year and as such didn't garner much interest from big-time programs. Offers came in from the likes of Air Force, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, and New Mexico State, but BYU was his only Power Four offer.
He wisely said "yes" to then-defensive coordinator Jay Hill, Kalani Sitake, and the BYU Cougars.
Prassas' past and present with the Cougars
Not much was expected of Tommy Prassas during his 2024 freshman season. While 247 Sports ratings aren't the be-all, end-all when it comes to evaluating how high school production will translate at the college level, there usually is a correlation. With an 84 rating, Prassas was one of the "lower profile" recruits (for lack of a better term) in a BYU class that featured guys like Faletau Satuala (94), Ryner Swanson (90), Ephraim Asiata (88), and a host of other big-time national recruits.
All Tommy Prassas did as a freshman safety in 2024 was contribute right away for a Cougars team that went 11-2 and finished ranked No. 13. As a freshman he appeared in all 13 games with 20 tackles, one interception, and a wonderfully memorable scoop-and-score in BYU's coming out party against Kansas State. The legend of "Touchdown" Tommy Prassas was born:
Tommy was named Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year Honorable Mention for his solid first season in Provo.
But rather than seeing his role increase last year, it both changed and decreased. Because of BYU's depth at safety and need to bolster the corner position, he was moved to slot corner last year and, as one would expect, needed time to adjust to his new role. Going from safety to slot corner is a big, big change.
In a Daily Herald article coach Jenaro Gilford noted, "He’ll be making similar plays that he did in the past. The difference really is that he’ll just be playing closer to the line of scrimmage and he’ll probably blitz a little more. He’ll definitely be covering man-on-man more. That’s the biggest difference, but he’s up to it."
In the end, Prassas appeared in six games last year with nine tackles. While his role and his impact weren't as prominent as they were during his 2024 freshman campaign, he learned additional man coverage technique and gained both skills and perspective that he wouldn't have honed at safety.
Now coming into his redshirt sophomore season, Tommy Prassas is both experienced and versatile. His most natural role is at safety, and it's likely he'll move back to that position this year. He will make an impact this year in the right packages and situations, and if pressed into starter duties due to injury, "Touchdown" Tommy Prassas has already proved to be a solid safety for the Cougars.
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