Don't sleep on BYU football's wide receiver corps this year, could be top in Big 12

BYU football once invented the Air Raid offense through LaVell Edwards and Norm Chow, two offensive masterminds who put their heads together and realized that throwing the ball tends to pick up more yards at a time than simply running it. In 2025, however, it was the Cougars' ground attack, led by Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin in the backfield and freshman quarterback donning a big "47" on his jersey, Bear Bachmeier, that punished their opponents via the run, rather than through the pass.

If the Air Raid is a delicate and graceful ballet, last year's BYU football team was hamboning, the art of creating music while dancing and smacking one's own skin. Is it beautiful? Not in the same traditional way. Was it effective? Why don't you ask the Cougars' 12-2 record and runner-up finish in the Big 12 Conference?

But this year's team and Aaron Roderick's offensive system is primed to be a force through the passing game once again, with a fascinating collection of wide receiver talent and tight ends stuffing the barracks.

Losing veteran wide-out Chase Roberts and bruising tight end Carsen Ryan to the NFL are major blows for Kalani Sitake's program, but not all is lost for BYU football during this time of transition.

Reggie Frischknecht, a receiver hoping to break out in an increased role with the team this year, outlined the stars that could revive BYU's passing game into an elite force in 2026.

"Our receiver room is going to be great this year," Frischknecht began during an interview with CougConnect. "From what I saw in spring ball, we have JoJo [Phillips] returning -- amazing guy, amazing player, he knows the concepts inside and out. We got a transfer, Kyler Kasper, from Oregon. Amazing player. He's still figuring out the playbook a little bit, but he's getting there, and I saw a ton of improvement during spring. And he's a big guy.

"When I first got here I was like 'Okay, this guy's big [for] jump balls like I was saying', but he moves [really well]!"

Reggie continued listing players like Cody Hagen, Tei Nacua, and himself as players who enjoyed very positive spring practices. This team is stuffed with athletes in the passing game, and it'll be fascinating to see how a sophomore Bear Bachmeier (with more than just one summer to learn the offense) will illustrate through the air in 2026.

Especially with rival Texas Tech's passing game suddenly becoming a major question mark without starting quarterback Brendan Sorsby, BYU could be in a prime position to leapfrog the Red Raiders the second time around.

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