BYU signs veteran linebacker AJ Vongphachanh

PROVO, Utah – BYU football announced Tuesday the addition of Utah State transfer linebacker AJ Vongphachanh (VONG-puh-chawn) to the program ahead of the 2023 season.

Vongphachanh, the Aggies' leading tackler in 2022 comes to BYU with 33 starts and 40 games played over four seasons with Utah State. He has compiled 223 tackles, including 88 solo stops, 21.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks in his career before joining the Cougars. 

The Pasco, Washington, product, posted 101 total tackles last season while starting all 13 games, including 2.0 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. Vongphachanh also had three pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles in 2022. 

A four-time Academic All-Mountain West honoree, Vongphachanh started 14 games in 2021, posting 55 total tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks with one fumble recovery. 

In 2020, Vongphachanh earned an All-Mountain West honorable mention when he led the Aggies with 50 tackles over six games in the shortened Covid-19 season. He added 3.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble, one safety and a quarterback hurry. 

As a true freshman in 2019, the Chiawana High School alum played in seven games with one start at Utah State. Vongphachanh was an all-state player as a senior at Chiawana after posting 113 tackles in 2018. 

BYU previously signed 11 transfers for the 2023 season, in addition to its high school recruiting class. Read more on the previous signees.