The departure of a major coaching presence can shake the very foundation of a football team. It's happened countless times in the past: as a face and commander of the team, stepping away from the program that a coach or coordinator helped build can be devastating to the composition of the squad. As BYU defensive coordinator, Jay Hill, took off for a bigger opportunity in Ann Arbor, a great shadow loomed over his former program.
While Kalani Sitake and the Cougars are still far from safety, they can breathe a little bit easier today with the announcement that star linebacker Isaiah Glasker will be returning in royal blue for the 2026 season.
🔂🔂🔂 pic.twitter.com/0a7D7Id7LE
— Isaiah Glasker (@isaiahglasker) January 6, 2026
Look, winning the Pop-Tarts Bowl can accomplish wonders for the immediate well-being of a football program. We know this.
Jay Hill constructed one of the strongest defenses in the Big 12 Conference last season, with a unit capable of keeping the Cougars in contention nearly every contest -- even when the other side of the football failed to post enough points to deserve it.
Led by a veteran linebacking core, a dynamic secondary of defensive backs, and a stout defensive front, BYU football rode the wave of their defense to its second consecutive 11-win season as a Power Four member, and will once again finish in the top 13 of the final AP Poll (barring some serious shenanigans from the voters post-CFP).
Glasker, now a redshirt senior from South Jordan, Utah, had a tremendous selection of options as far as next steps in his journey. Following the 2025 season with BYU, Glasker could have followed Jay Hill to the Big 10 and Michigan, potentially boosting his exposure and stock in the NFL Draft, or just taken the leap to the pros this year by submitting his name into the draft.
An honorable mention All-American, All-Big 12 First Teamer (per College Football Network), Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP, Glasker has built an impressive resume during his time at BYU.
Electing to remain with the Cougars is a vote of confidence in the house built by Coach Kalani Sitake. A vote of confidence that these past two seasons have been no fluke, but rather a pattern suggesting future gridiron glory in Provo, Utah.