Cade Uluave joins BYU football at an incredibly timely moment. Despite losing veteran linebacker Jack Kelly to the NFL, Kelly Poppinga managed to retain practically every other foundational member of his defense in the wake of Jay Hill's exodus to Ann Arbor. With the offense likewise returning star running back LJ Martin and breakout quarterback Bear Bachmeier, the Big 12 title window is right now in Provo.
That's why Uluave's arrival is so critical. Filling the void left by Kelly is an All-ACC senior linebacker -- much more than a half-done quick fix.
ESPN highlighted Uluave's significance in a recent article, where they listed him as the third-best newcomer at his position in the nation. In his first season in Kalani Sitake's program, Uluave's skill set may be exactly what the team needed to finally breach the College Football Playoff in 2026.
"Uluave is a very talented linebacker who plays with relentless effort. He does a very good job anticipating, diagnosing, and attacking. Uluave takes good angles and his short area quickness to close on the ball carrier allows him to make plays in the backfield. At the point of attack, he has the strength to engage with linemen and take on blocks. He is also adequate in coverage. Uluave is a well-rounded linebacker who steps in on day one and makes a difference."
Paired alongside Isaiah Glasker, a potential All-American caliber talent at his position, Uluave will not have to learn the team's systems by himself. As both an experienced veteran and a newcomer to BYU, Uluave brings valuable experience and a fresh perspective.
I can't go into enough detail about how impressive of a job the Cougars have done to hold their football program together. After enough headline news to rip just about any program down to its studs, BYU football is still poised to compete for the Big 12 Championship -- if not flat-out leading the charge.
Kalani Sitake very nearly left for Penn State. Jay Hill, the mastermind of BYU's exceptional defense, joined Kyle Whittingham at Michigan. Yet Kelly Poppinga's defense remains intact as a virtual mirror image of last year's squad.
A lesser program would have crumbled. Heck, greater programs have crumbled under such pressure. But the culture instilled by Sitake and the track record of defensive excellence installed during the Hill years lingers into the 2026 campaign, reloaded with talent like Uluave and ready to take a shot at the title.
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