
Big, physical BYU linebacker with long-term upside
Pierson Watson enters BYU’s 2026 linebacker mix as a 6-foot-3, 230-pound sophomore with the frame and high-school production to grow into a useful Big 12 defender; BYU listed him among the returning linebackers for 2026, while recruiting outlets tagged him a three-star prospect and ESPN lists him as an active freshman/sophomore-era player. In high school, he piled up 56 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in 2022, which fits the profile of a downhill, disruptive tackler who brings edge and physicality. The appeal here is clear: size, effort, and versatility. The question is not talent—it’s how fast that toolkit turns into snaps.





