​BYU offensive lineman Bruce Mitchell (63) barks out assignments during game against Arizona, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz.
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Rick Scuteri, Associated Press
BYU offensive lineman Bruce Mitchell has had a front-row seat watching his wife, former BYU track star Sadie Sargent Mitchell, live out her dream of becoming a professional athlete.Next year, it will be his turn. Up to 10 members of the 2026 BYU football team, including Mitchell, are seeing their names pop up on 2027 NFL draft projections.For now, however, the 6-foot-4, 305-pound senior from the tiny town of Oakley, Utah, is determined to help the Cougars get to where they just missed getting the past two seasons — the College Football Playoff.“I’ve got some lofty goals,” Mitchell said at Big 12 football media days in Frisco, Texas. “But I am going to keep them to myself, because I am superstitious, and also because I don’t want to take anything away from the team goals, which is to go further than we’ve ever gone.”Last year, in his first full season playing center after having played defensive tackle his first two seasons at BYU, Mitchell was a first-team All-Big 12 selection. Not surprisingly, the product of Kamas’ South Summit High is a preseason All-Big 12 pick this year.He could not care less about those accolades, he said, if they are not accompanied by more team success in 2026. In 2025, BYU’s offensive line ranked No. 13 nationally in fewest sacks allowed, and also helped the offense average 31.4 points per game.“I am not worried about any (numbers) except wins,” he said. “I just want to go out and play good football and hopefully the accolades will follow that. But mostly I don’t pay any attention to those things.”After getting exactly one scholarship offer out of his small, 2A-level high school, Mitchell accepted the offer from BYU and then served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For a short bit, he was companions with recently graduated BYU basketball superstar Richie Saunders.So he’s accustomed to being around greatness, making it easy for him to support his wife, who attended rival North Summit High. The couple got married in January 2022.A steeplechaser and distance runner for BYU, Sadie graduated in 2023 and turned pro. She currently runs professionally for Nike.“She is my accountability buddy,” Mitchell said in April after BYU wrapped up spring camp. “She makes sure I am eating the right things, getting my eight hours of sleep.”However, Mitchell said Sadie’s biggest contribution to his career is the support she provides as another high-level athlete.“She understands the grind, and all that,” h