Ben Bywater
Linebacker 2
Ht/Wt
6'
3"
|
235 lbs.
Class
Junior
Hometown
Salt Lake City, 
Utah
Last School
Olympus High School
Roster Years
2019-2023


BYU Highlights

  • 2023
    • Named to Pro Football Focus and Phil Steele Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team
    • Named to Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team
    • Named to Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list
  • 2022
    • Finishes season as BYU's active career tackles leader (215)
    • Named to Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team 
    • Led BYU in tackles with 98 (31 solo), becoming first to lead the Cougars in tackles in back-to-back seasons since current San Francisco 49er Fred Warner (2016-17)
    • Made first-career pick-six, in game-changing play as BYU beat SMU 24-23 in New Mexico Bowl. 
    • Named New Mexico Bowl Defensive MVP
    • Recorded his fourth-career double-digit tackle outing with 11 stops, including a sack, in BYU's 26-20 (2OT) win over No. 9 Baylor on Sept. 10. 
    • Named one of 42 candidates for the 2022 Lott IMPACT Trophy awarded annually to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year
    • Butkus award watchlist for award honoring nation's top linebacker

 

  • 2021
    • Named Independent Defensive Rookie of the Year by Pro Football Network.
    • Selected to All-Independent First Team Defense by Pro Football Network.
    • Earned 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 First Team honors
    • One of 26 on the team to play in all 13 games
    • One of three defensive players and six players overall to start in all 13 games, starting all 13 games at multiple linebacker positions.
    • Led BYU in tackles with 102 (57 solo, 45 assist).
    • Led BYU in tackles-for-loss with 8.5 for -16 yards.
    • Posted three games with 10 or more tackles and 10 games with five or more. 

 

Personal

  • Major: Finance
  • Missionary Service: Served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guatemala City, Guatemala
  • Fluent in Spanish
  • Parents are Stephanie and David
  • Has three sisters and one brother
  • An Eagle Scout
  • Loves to dirtbike and flyfish

Before BYU

  • Prepped at Olympus High School
  • Selected to the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News 4A All-State First Team as a senior
  • Region 6 MVP in 2016
  • Played both ways in high school as a linebacker and running back 
  • Led the team in rushing and second in total tackles 
  • Totaled 95 tackles as a senior with 10.0 tackles for loss  
  • Rushed for 766 yards and nine touchdowns in 2016 
  • Helped Olympus to region championships in 2015 and 2016 
  • Also played Rugby at Olympus HS   
  • Coached by Aaron Whitehead 
  • Also recruited by Stanford, Washington, Utah, Arizona State and Washington State.

Mission

  • Guatemala City , Guatemala
BYU Hall of Fame

Freshman Year 2021

  • Named Independent Defensive Rookie of the Year by Pro Football Network.
  • Selected to All-Independent First Team Defense by Pro Football Network.
  • Earned 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 First Team honors
  • One of 26 on the team to play in all 13 games
  • One of three defensive players and six players overall to start in all 13 games, starting all 13 games at multiple linebacker positions.
  • Led BYU in tackles with 102 (57 solo, 45 assist).
  • Led BYU in tackles-for-loss with 8.5 for -16 yards.
  • Posted three games with 10 or more tackles and 10 games with five or more. 
  • Notched nine tackles (seven solo, two assist), three tackles for loss and one sack in 34-20 win at Utah State. 
  • Posted a career-high 14 tackles (six solo, eight assist) versus Boise State. 
  • Credited with 13 tackles (four solo) and 0.5 tackle-for-loss in 35-31 win over USC in the LA Coliseum.
Sophmore Year 2022

 

  • Played in all 13 games, started seven
  • Finishes season as BYU's active career tackles leader (215)
  • Named to Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team 
  • Butkus award watchlist for award honoring nation's top linebacker
  • Led BYU in tackles with 98 (31 solo), becoming first to lead the Cougars in tackles in back-to-back seasons since current San Francisco 49er Fred Warner (2016-17)
  • Recorded four tackles-for-loss, one sack, thee interceptions and two pass break-ups
  • Three games with season-best 11 tackles (Baylor, East Carolina, SMU), giving him six double-digit tackles games in his career. 
  • Made first-career pick-six, in game-changing play as BYU beat SMU 24-23 in New Mexico Bowl. 
  • Named New Mexico Bowl Defensive MVP
  • Notched first-career interception in loss at No. 25 Oregon on Sept. 17
  • Recorded second-career interception in 38-26 win over Utah State on Sept. 29. 
  • Recorded his fourth-career double-digit tackle outing with 11 stops, including a sack, in BYU's 26-20 (2OT) win over No. 9 Baylor on Sept. 10. 
  • Named Lott Impact Trophy Week 2 Player of the Week after win over No. 9 Baylor
  • Named one of 42 candidates for the 2022 Lott IMPACT Trophy awarded annually to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year
  • Named to Butkus Award watch list
  • Awarded CSC Academic All-District honors
Junior Year 2023

Senior Year

Graduate Year

Redshirt Year

  • Played in three games
  • Posted eight total tackles
  • Saw action against Idaho State, UMass and Hawai'i
  • Recorded five total tackles against UMass
Medical Redshirt Year

Freshman 2020

  • Played in three games
  • Tallied seven total tackles with four solo stops including four against LA Tech
  • Ben Bywater celebrates TFL against USU

    Ben Bywater celebrates TFL against USU.jpg

  • Ben Bywater against Boise State

    Ben Bywater against Boise State.jpg

  • Ben Bywater wraps up Georgia State RB

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  • BYU linebacker Ben Bywater celebrates a tackle in BYU's 31-28 loss to UAB.

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  • Ben Bywater vs UAB

    Ben Bywater vs UAB

  • Butkus Award Watch List 2022

    Butkus Award Watch List 2022

  • Ben Bywater NM Bowl

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  • 2022 Associated Press All Bowl Team

    2022 Associated Press All Bowl Team

  • Bywater Lott Impact Trophy 2023

    Bywater Lott Impact Trophy 2023

  • Kody Epps, Kedon Slovis and Ben Bywater at 2023 Big 12 Football Media Days

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  • Ben Bywater at 2023 Big 12 Football Media Days

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  • Ben Bywater at 2023 Big 12 Football Media Days

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