ZERO DISCIPLINE: BYU Coach Kalani Sitake Suspends 3 Key Players After Explosive Training Outburst—A Stark Message Sent Across Cougar Nation
Provo, Utah – June 25, 2025
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the BYU football program, Head Coach Kalani Sitake has suspended three key players indefinitely following what team officials are calling an “explosive and unacceptable outburst” during a closed-door training session Tuesday morning.
The incident, which occurred at the Cougars’ state-of-the-art Student Athlete Building (SAB) facility, reportedly began as a heated disagreement during team drills but quickly escalated into shouting, physical altercations, and open defiance of coaching staff. Sources close to the program confirmed that tensions had been simmering for several weeks over internal competition, leadership issues, and mounting pressure ahead of the 2025 season opener against USC.
Coach Sitake, who has led the program since 2016 and is known for his strong player relationships and culture-first approach, acted swiftly and decisively.
“These suspensions are not about punishment—they’re about accountability,” Sitake said during a hastily called press conference Wednesday morning. “No one player is bigger than the team. We represent something greater than ourselves when we put on that BYU jersey. That standard will never change.”
The suspended players include:
Jayden Katoa, junior linebacker and expected defensive captain, who had been on preseason All-Big 12 watch lists.
Micah Roberts, sophomore wide receiver and breakout spring star, who was projected to start in Week 1.
Eli Manase, redshirt freshman offensive lineman, viewed as a rising anchor on the line.
Sources say Katoa and Roberts were involved in the most intense part of the outburst, with Manase reportedly stepping in and escalating the situation rather than helping to defuse it. Coaches intervened and immediately removed the trio from the session.
Team leaders, including senior quarterback Kaleb DeGraff and veteran safety Noah Vae, were present during the altercation and have reportedly met privately with Coach Sitake and the team’s leadership council to “reset the locker room.”
“We’re a family, and sometimes families fight,” DeGraff said. “But this isn’t how we lead. Coach Kalani did what had to be done.”
Athletic Director Tom Holmoe issued a brief statement in support of Sitake’s decision, adding that BYU remains committed to the values of discipline, respect, and teamwork that define the program.
The suspensions come at a crucial time, with fall camp less than six weeks away and BYU entering its second full season in the Big 12 Conference. Sitake would not comment on whether the suspensions would extend into the season, saying only, “They’ll have to earn their way back—not with words, but with actions.”
Analysts are already questioning how this shakeup could impact BYU’s depth chart and early-season performance, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Still, many believe the move reinforces Sitake’s long-standing reputation for putting culture before wins.
In a world of NIL chaos and constant roster churn, BYU’s message is clear: without discipline, there is no team. And without team, there is no triumph.
