PROVO, Utah\u00a0\u2013 BYU football has talent at cornerback in 2025, but it\u2019s inexperienced.<\/p>\n
No one in BYU\u2019s cornerback unit has consistently been a starter.<\/p>\n
The man to figure out who will be those top cornerbacks is Jernaro Gilford.<\/p>\n
Gilford enters his 10th season as BYU\u2019s cornerbacks coach. This past winter, he was promoted to defensive passing game coordinator.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the most part, I\u2019ll be doing the same thing as far as breaking down the pass game and giving Jay (Hill) any kind of suggestions he might want or need as far as the passing game goes,\u201d Gilford said to KSL Sports in March on his new job title. \u201cI\u2019ll continue to oversee the corners and nickels and help Jay where needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
2025 BYU Football Position Analysis Series<\/p>\n
Running Back<\/a> |<\/p>\n Note: As of this publication, no official settlement has been reached in the House v. NCAA case, so we\u2019re not currently capping personnel at the potential 105-man roster limit.<\/p>\n Personnel Snapshot<\/p>\n BYU will look to replace its top two cornerbacks from last season, Jakob Robinson<\/a> and Marque Collins<\/a>. Those are significant losses, as both players earned professional opportunities and combined for five interceptions last year.<\/p>\n On a positive note, BYU retained nearly everyone else from last year\u2019s cornerback unit. Part of that retention was Mory Bamba, who went through senior day festivities last November, receiving an extra year of eligibility due to a medical redshirt<\/a>.<\/p>\n BYU Football Cornerbacks returning for the 2025 season<\/p>\n Mory Bamba (Redshirt-Senior) Gone from the 2024 roster<\/p>\n Jakob Robinson (NFL UDFA, 49ers) 2025 Newcomers<\/p>\n Cannon DeVries (Returned Missionary) Who steps up as the starting cornerbacks?<\/p>\n Replacing Jakob Robinson and Marque Collins is no easy task. Robinson was one of the best cornerbacks BYU has produced this century. Marque Collins was an instant plug-and-play guy after transferring in from Weber State.<\/p>\n Identifying the top performers at cornerback will be critical before the season kicks off.<\/p>\n During spring practices, Mory Bamba and Therrian \u201cTre\u201d Alexander III were the top two corners.<\/p>\n Alhamdulillah pic.twitter.com\/qCpiMiiiqI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mo (@morybamba3_) February 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Bamba has all the tools to be an NFL draft pick<\/a> with his track and field background paired up with great measurables. He\u2019s come a long way in his development.<\/p>\n Two years ago, Bamba earned his first career start against TCU and struggled, as did the rest of BYU\u2019s defense that day<\/a> in Fort Worth. However, he took a significant leap in his development last year.<\/p>\n Bamba was one of the top performers in fall camp last August before he suffered an injury late in camp that caused him to miss most of the season\u2019s first month. His snaps quietly increased throughout the season. He had a strong showing against Colorado in the Alamo Bowl with two pass deflections and two tackles.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m expecting huge things from him,\u201d BYU Defensive Passing Game Coordinator Jernaro Gilford said about Bamba in March. \u201cA guy who is prototypical, as far as the size, the speed, the body type, strength, and everything like that. So I look forward to him taking huge steps. He made some great plays last year. So I\u2019m looking for him to continue along those lines and \u2018take the throne,\u2019 and try to become the man in my room.\u201d<\/p>\n The other cornerback spot is up for debate. Alexander and redshirt junior Evan Johnson look to be two of the top contenders for that spot.<\/p>\n Year 2 of spring ball \u2705 pic.twitter.com\/7cDx3mBQpO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 \u271e one of one \u271e (@therriannn) March 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Johnson missed the entire spring due to an injury. That allowed Alexander all of the first-team reps in spring ball.<\/p>\n Alexander was a big get on the recruiting trail<\/a> for BYU\u2019s staff, going into Atlanta to land the three-star prospect, who had heavy interest from the hometown Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Big 12 foe West Virginia.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Johnson, a former 10.4 100-meter athlete who didn\u2019t play on the defensive side of the ball in high school, was one of the most improved players in the program last year with two interceptions.<\/p>\n Alexander plays with a lot of confidence on the field. During spring, he showed smooth skills at the cornerback spot and looks ready to contend for a bigger role in his sophomore season.<\/p>\n Buy stock in Jonathan Kabeya<\/p>\n During Jay Hill\u2019s first year as BYU\u2019s defensive coordinator in 2023, he landed a commitment from Weber State transfer Eddie Heckard.<\/p>\n Heckard was a plug-and-play nickel in Jay Hill\u2019s scheme, having known it from his time with Hill in Ogden. He became a star in his one season at BYU, earning Honorable Mention All-Big 12 recognition.<\/p>\n What made Heckard special was his playmaking ability. He was a hard-hitter, excellent at making tackles in the open field, and could generate takeaways.<\/p>\n Spring ball \u2705 #GoCougs<\/a> \ud83e\udd19\ud83c\udffe pic.twitter.com\/iA0owy1CqE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jonathan Kabeya (@iamjonathann_2) March 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Last year, Jakob Robinson was in that role.<\/p>\n Who is it in 2025?<\/p>\n The guy to watch is sophomore Jonathan Kabeya.<\/p>\n When BYU\u2019s staff was recruiting Kabeya out of Euless, Texas<\/a>, they showed him highlights of Heckard.<\/p>\n Kabeya has good bloodlines, three of his brothers playing college football, and a cousin at Oklahoma State.<\/p>\n During spring practices, he was a consistent standout performer, highlighted by defensive coordinator Jay Hill to the media.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been an adjustment for Kabeya as an inside cornerback, but he looks ready to make an impact this fall.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget about these guys<\/p>\n Two players that might have slipped the minds of Cougar fans last year were Marcus McKenzie and Jayden Dunlap.<\/p>\n McKenzie, the son of former BYU running back Brian McKenzie, was a standout performer on special teams as a gunner during his freshman season, before being limited by injuries. He ended up redshirting last season.<\/p>\n During McKenzie\u2019s freshman campaign, Jay Hill said that the former Pine View High star had the potential to be an \u201call-time great\u201d at cornerback for BYU. He was back in action during the spring.<\/p>\n Jayden Dunlap, a former JUCO transfer, had a productive spring last year before suffering a shoulder injury at camp that put him behind the unit in the fall. He enters his redshirt senior season.<\/p>\n Tidbits on the rest of the cornerback unit<\/p>\n Kevin Doe:\u00a0State champion in the 100M and 200M at East High School. Signed with BYU as a walk-on wide receiver, before switching over to cornerback. Entering his third year in the program.<\/p>\n Cannon DeVries:\u00a0Returned Missionary from Weber High School. DeVries greyshirted last year. He primarily played safety in high school, where he was clocked at a 4.47 40-yard dash. He participated in spring practices for the first time at BYU and lined up at corner.<\/p>\n Jordyn Criss:\u00a0BYU landed a commitment from Criss during the traditional February signing period. The three-star prospect out of Arlington, Texas, has the length BYU loves in cornerback prospects at 6-foot-2.<\/p>\n Corey Johnson:\u00a0BYU track & field athlete who joined the football program this past winter. The younger brother of former BYU player Batchlor Johnson IV.<\/p>\n Projected depth chart at CB for BYU football in 2025<\/p>\n Starters: Mory Bamba \/ Evan Johnson -OR- Therrian \u201cTre\u201d Alexander III \/ Jonathan Kabeya (Nickel)<\/p>\n Top backups: Marcus McKenzie \/ Jayden Dunlap<\/p>\n Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE<\/a>) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12\u20133 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch\u2019s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X<\/a>: @Mitch_Harper.<\/p>\n Want more coverage of BYU sports? Take us with you wherever you go.<\/p>\n
\nJayden Dunlap (RS-Senior)
\nEvan Johnson (RS-Junior)
\nMarcus McKenzie (RS-Sophomore)
\nKevin Doe (RS-Sophomore)
\nTherrian \u201cTre\u201d Alexander III (Sophomore)
\nJonathan Kabeya (Sophomore)<\/p>\n
\nMarque Collins (CFL, Winnipeg Bombers)
\nChika Ebunoha (Transfer Portal, Utah State)<\/p>\n
\nJordyn Criss (2025 signee)
\nCorey Johnson (BYU Track & Field)<\/p>\n