On Wednesday evening, Brigham Young University (BYU) revealed its roster for the upcoming 2026 Spring Camp, featuring 33 newcomers. Among these additions are nine transfers that had been previously announced, alongside three other transfers who were not disclosed prior to the announcement.
Historically, many unannounced players have entered the program as walk-ons. One of the notable new faces is Micah Beckstead, a former standout at Timpview High School. Initially offered a preferred walk-on position by BYU after high school, Beckstead instead chose to accept a scholarship from Utah State. After completing his mission, he enrolled at BYU in January and now stands at 5″10″ and weighs 238 pounds, a significant increase from his high school weight of 205 pounds. His addition to the roster has been anticipated by Harvey Unga, who has kept an eye on Beckstead for quite some time.
During his high school career, Beckstead amassed over 3,500 rushing yards, including a remarkable senior season where he recorded 1,957 rushing yards and averaged 9.6 yards per carry. He was consistently effective, rushing for over 100 yards in 11 of the 13 games he participated in, averaging 151 rushing yards per game. His arrival enhances a running back group led by LJ Martin, where there will be fierce competition for the backup spots, especially considering the depth concerns at that position. Freshmen like Beckstead and Devaughn Eka may need to step up.
Another addition is Seth Shigg, a California native who initially signed with Army as a quarterback. After spending a year at Army, he transferred to BYU, where he is set to play cornerback. Shigg was a remarkable athlete in high school, clocking a 10.6 in the 100-meter dash and accumulating nearly 4,000 passing yards with 45 touchdowns during his senior year. BYU aims to leverage his athletic abilities defensively, and he also possesses potential as a kick returner. As a redshirt freshman, Shigg has four years to develop his skills at cornerback.
Lastly, Daniel Taumoepeau, a linebacker transfer from Eastern Washington, joins the team. He brings experience and will provide additional depth to the linebacker corps. Notably, he is the older brother of Nusi Taumoepeau, a promising freshman at BYU.
With these new additions, BYU looks to bolster its roster ahead of the spring practices, aiming to enhance competitiveness and depth across various positions.
