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  • BYU LB Cade Uluave Named To The Preseason Watch List For The Lott IMPACT Trophy

BYU LB Cade Uluave Named To The Preseason Watch List For The Lott IMPACT Trophy

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Football

BYU linebacker Cade Uluave has been named a candidate for the 2026 Lott IMPACT Trophy, presented by Allied Universal, which recognizes the top defensive player nationally who has had the biggest impact on his team both on and off the field.

The Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List was announced at a luncheon held May 20 at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. Uluave is one of nine linebackers recognized on the preseason list, with 17 defensive backs and 16 defensive linemen also making the 42-player watch list.

Named after former NFL Hall of Fame star Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy recognizes the Defensive Player of the Year who demonstrates the greatest IMPACT, which is defined as Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity—all characteristics exhibited by Lott during his illustrious playing career.

The annual winner is selected by a national voter panel, consisting of former winners, members of the media, coaches, and members of the Board of Directors of The IMPACT Foundation. The winner will be announced at a gala black-tie event at The Pacific Club on December 9, 2026.

A 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior from South Jordan, Utah, Uluave is in his first year at BYU after transferring from Cal. A 2025 All-ACC First-Team linebacker, Uluave played in 34 games for the Bears over three seasons, starting 26 games. He led Cal with 100 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 5 quarterback hurries last year while amassing 237 career tackles, 21.5 TFL, 6 sacks, 3 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles in three seasons at Cal.

In addition to earning first-team all-conference honors in 2025, Uluave received All-ACC honorable mention in 2024 and was a first-team Freshman All-American selection (The Athletic, FWAA, College Football News) in 2023, when he was also named the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, Super West Sports Defensive Freshman of the Year and a Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Third Team honoree.

Uluave prepped at Mountain Ridge High School in Herriman, Utah, where he was a two-way player. On defense, he registered 154 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries, returning one for a touchdown. On offense, he rushed for 1,638 yards and 26 touchdowns on 290 carries, and made 20 catches for 164 yards and one touchdown. He also also participated in baseball as well as track and field and earned the Utah Chapter of the National Football Foundation’s Scholar-Athlete Award during his 2021-22 junior academic year.