Raider Damuni, the BYU Cougars’ standout safety, will miss several weeks after suffering a lower leg injury in the 2026 season opener against Utah Tech, a setback that was confirmed by defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga. The injury, which sidelines the senior who posted a career‑best 43 tackles and an interception in 2025, pushes the Cougars into a transitional phase early in the year.
Depth Chart Shifts
With Damuni out, redshirt sophomore Tommy Prassas has been promoted to the starting safety position for Week 2, bringing his 29 career tackles and a solitary interception to the role. Complementing him, freshman Jarinn Kalama, who has recorded only five tackles to date, will share the responsibilities, forming a youthful tandem that must step up against the league’s most potent passing attacks.
The Cougars’ upcoming schedule presents a gauntlet of challenges, beginning with a home game against Colorado State before they travel to face TCU, Iowa State, and a marquee road contest at Notre Dame in mid‑October, where Damuni hopes to return. Adding to the difficulty, they will encounter Arizona’s standout quarterback Noah Fifta, one of the Big 12’s top signal callers, in a early-season showdown that will test the revamped secondary.
Coach Poppinga emphasized that while the loss of an experienced playmaker is a setback, the increased playing time for younger players could accelerate their development and strengthen the defense in the long run, provided they remain healthy and consistent throughout the rigorous slate.