Fit and trim: Kirkland hoping to end strong after shedding significant weight during the offseason
By Brandon Gurney – | Aug 24, 2026
BYU defensive lineman Justin Kirkland is greeted by cornerbacks coach Lewis Walker prior to a practice session. August 21, 2026
He’s slim, trim (relatively, at least), and ready to provide the high level of play most were anticipating last season
His name is Justin Kirkland, and while some of us were filling our offseason months eating empty calories with little to no thought of our overall physique, he was resolute in dropping a full 40 pounds in preparation for his final collegiate season
“last year I was weighing about 345, and this year I’m at 305,” Kirkland informed the media gathered around him following a fall camp practice session. ” … Shout out to my wife. she’s been making chicken, avocado, (and) really healthy stuff the whole time. I quit going to get ice cream, you know? I was on a no-fun food diet, but it worked.”
Indeed the weight loss is very apparent whenever Kirkland has taken the field this August with the hope that his weight loss translates to better and consistent play in helping boost the overall quality of depth along BYU’s defensive interior
Last season saw Kirkland transfer in from Oklahoma State just prior to the season, and despite being taxed with heavy expectations, the former Roy High standout found himself severely limited due to injury before coaches ultimately decided to shelve him with the hope he’d return for one final season
“I tore my meniscus. So, I (was kind) of battling back through that one,” Kirkland explained. ” … And that defensive line room already had some good veteran guys: JT (John Taumoepeau, Keanu (Tanuvasa), and then our young guys really stepped up really well. So, it just kind of made more sense for me to get back to 100 percent with my knee , and then come back for the senior year.”
Kirkland’s loss of almost the entirety of last season could prove one of this coming season’s biggest gains as Kirkland has regained a lot of his pre-injury form and then some
“He’s at a great physique now, which allows him to play faster, but it’s also being in the system for an extra year that’s helping him,” said BYU defensive line coach Sione Po’uha. “He’s taken over the technique that’s required for the position he plays, and he understands it now. So that’s when you play fast and most effective. That’s what we’re working toward with all of our linemen.”
Indeed it’s not just Kirkland whose addition is likely to be felt this season along BYU’s defensive interior
Other names being looked at to contribute big include veterans Keanu Tanuvasa and Anisi Purcell, who played much of last season with a broken hand
“We call Anisi ‘Rambo,’ and we call him that for a reason,” Coach Po’uha said. “And then with Keanu … I think he’s really digested the concept, the scheme, and more importantly, just the technique and made it his own. So you can really see when someone takes ownership and really possesses the technique and the fundamentals, and Keanu has done that well.”
As for other contributors, two sort of hybrid tackles Coach Po’uha will use frequently include senior Bodie Schoonover and his son, Viliami Po’uha, both of whom can be employed at either defensive end or at tackle
“We can line those two up anywhere from the five technique (outside the offensive tackle) to the two technique (across from the opposition’s offensive guard.),” Po’uha said. “So that’s going to allow us to be variable with our fronts and to put our best personnel out there … that gives us the opportunity to be able to kind of reach into that toolkit and get the right tools for the job. And when another play comes, we got a tool bucket that we can reach in and be able to utilize all the players that we have.”
And it’s not just the players who saw at least some experience last season. Through practice sessions, Coach Po’uha has witnessed a lot of progression from both his freshmen and sophomore players
“I really feel like if you watch all our practice and then evaluate the film that all 11 of our defensive tackles look like guys who can play this year,” Coach Po’uha said. “So I’ve been very pleased with the progress of guys like Kelepi (Latu-Finau) and Ulavai (Fetuli) and not just those two. All of them have made big progress.”
As for Kirkland, he’s observed much of the same within his position group and is focused on ending his career in the strongest way imaginable while confident in his slimmer physique
“I feel like I can run forever. So, it’s been a lot of fun just to be in this defense in general,” Kirkland concluded
