Image
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.jpg
Ben Bywater against Boise State.jpg
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Ben Bywater vs UAB
Butkus Award Watch List 2022
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2022 Associated Press All Bowl Team
Bywater Lott Impact Trophy 2023
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- Football | Dec, 17
New Mexico Bowl - BYU vs. SMU Postgame Notes
- ImageFootball | May, 20
Bywater named to 2022 Lott Trophy watch list