BYU head coach Kalani Sitake isn’t holding back when it comes to his belief in linebacker Siale Esera. After months of buzz around Esera’s rapid development and growing leadership on the defensive side of the ball, Sitake made it clear this week that the talented LB’s time has arrived — but the next step is entirely up to him.
“This is his moment — now he just needs to finish the job,” Sitake said after a recent team workout in Provo. “Siale’s got all the tools. He’s got the size, the speed, the instincts — and now it’s about putting it all together when the lights come on.”
Esera, who came to BYU as a highly-touted recruit out of Utah, has steadily worked his way up the depth chart over the past two seasons. Known for his aggressive tackling and nose for the ball, he’s turned heads during spring ball and summer camp with his improved reads and commanding presence in the linebacker room.
Teammates say Esera has emerged as one of the most vocal leaders on defense — a unit that’s eager to bounce back and make a statement in the Cougars’ Big 12 battles ahead.
“He’s the guy we trust to make a play when we need it most,” said fellow linebacker Ben Bywater. “He knows it’s his time, and we’re all backing him.”
For Esera, the expectations are clear: become the anchor for BYU’s defense and live up to the faith Sitake and the coaching staff have placed in him. If he does, Cougar Nation could be watching the rise of the next great BYU linebacker — and a difference-maker who helps push the program to new heights this season.
For Esera, the challenge is simple: no more waiting — it’s time to deliver.
