BYU Defense Targets Run Stopping | Salt Lake City News

Salt Lake City News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 23, 2026 · 1m

BYU’s new defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga is laser-focused on shutting down the run in 2026, targeting under three yards per carry as the cornerstone of a winning defense. Building on the previous coordinator’s success, Poppinga believes controlling the ground game trumps sacks or turnovers—and he’s got a loaded defensive line to make it happen. With experienced seniors anchoring the interior and a coaching staff that fosters relentless energy, Poppinga plans to rotate players aggressively to keep pressure constant. If BYU can dominate the line of scrimmage and stop the run, they’re…