2026 DL Nehemiah Kolone commits to BYU

Stillwater (Okla.) three-star defensive lineman Nehemiah Kolone has committed to BYU, he announced on Monday evening.

He chose the Cougars over hometown Oklahoma State and Michigan State.

Kolone is the No. 873 overall prospect and No. 82 DL in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 17 player in Oklahoma.

Head coach Kalani Sitake and the Cougars have landed their second pledge of the day, as Kolone’s decision comes less than an hour after Rogers (Ark.) three-star athlete Braxton Lindsey joined the class. Kolone brings BYU to 18 commits this cycle.

The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder logged multiple trips to Provo throughout his process — including an official visit on the weekend of June 20 — and is now ready to lock in with the Big 12 program. He plays for one of the top high school football programs in Oklahoma, as Stillwater is coming off a nine-win season in 2024. The Pioneers finished as the No. 15 team in the state, per the Rivals Composite Rankings.

Cougars looking to build around 5-star commitment this cycle

Sitake and Co. landed a monumental pledge on June 24 from Folsom (Calif.) five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons. The nation’s No. 17 overall prospect and No. 5 QB has the chance to be a game-changer upon his arrival in Provo — which won’t come until the spring of 2027 due to an LDS Mission trip.

“BYU has been on me from the start,” Lyons told Rivals’ Chad Simmons ahead of his official visit to Provo. “I have been there so many times. I know a lot about the program, I have a lot of good relationships there and they have made me feel like a top guy from the very beginning.”

Lyons is the jewel of the class and the Cougars are now looking to build a big class around the gunslinger. Lindsey and Kolone are the two latest additions to a class that ranks inside the top 40 of the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Kolone becomes the second listed defensive line pledge in the BYU class, joining Davis (Utah) three-star Junior Moala. Other top commits in the class include: Saint George (Utah) Pine View four-star tight end Brock Harris, American Fork (Utah) Lone View four-star interior offensive lineman Bott Mulitalo, Englewood (Colo.) Cherry Creek three-star TE Ty Goettsche and Orem (Utah) three-star wide receiver Kaue Akana.