BYU football boasts one of the most dynamic, ball-hawking secondaries in the entire Big 12 Conference, led in no small part by veteran cornerback Evan Johnson. Johnson, now approaching his senior season with the Cougars under a new defensive coordinator in Kelly Poppinga, was named a preseason All-Big 12 teamer in the days leading up to the Big 12 Media Days.
He pairs alongside some more aces in the Cougars' heavily-armed no fly zone like Therrian Alexander III, Faletau Satuala, Raider Damuni, and many more waiting on the wings. Take into account BYU football securing what may be their strongest cornerback recruiting season of all time in the class of 2027, and it's clear that the foundation set by player like Johnson is one built to last in Provo.
Looking back on his career with the Cougars, Johnson was reminded of a breakout performance at Wyoming several years back, in which he had a massive interception. Looking back, he views that pick through traffic as a turning point in his career and has ridden a wave of hard work and confidence ever since.
"Just my confidence overall," Johnson shared in an interview with Spencer Linton. "I feel like that game [at Wyoming] is really what clicked it for me. It's crazy to think back on it, because it feels so long ago. That game definitely made it click for me, and I got comfortable after that. I started to really believe in myself, and then I got the summer and just trained. Like, I just put everything into football these last two years. I've been home like twice these last two years, it's just been head-down grinding for the last two years. It's just paid off."
"It's just crazy where I'm at now."
"It's just crazy where I'm at now."@__Evxn talks on his development in his time at BYU pic.twitter.com/F7UWllqA2K
— BYUtv Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) July 8, 2026
Johnson and the BYU defense will need to be stout again this season, even without defensive coordinator Jay Hill leading the unit. To reach the College Football Playoff, this team's ultimate goal, they'll need to give the offense room to breath and control the game through the rushing attack. Johnson's response gives me confidence, in turn, that BYU football is in a great position this year.
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