When BYU linebacker Ben Bywater took a hard hit on his right shoulder during the third quarter at Kansas last year, he realized he was in serious trouble but didn’t anticipate it would end his career.
On Wednesday, Bywater announced his retirement from football.
After 36 games and 24 starts, Bywater’s playing days have come to a close, with his final appearance being his sole Big 12 game.
“I hit the guy and it felt like a 50-caliber shot right through my (right) shoulder,” Bywater told the “Y’s Guys” podcast in January. “It just popped.”
The injury required surgery to repair a torn labrum, just months after Bywater had undergone surgery on his left shoulder. His body had reached its limit.
BYU loses its leader in career tackles (247), but not before Bywater made a significant impact. An injury to star linebacker Keenan Pili in 2021 increased Bywater’s role, and he led the Cougars with 102 tackles.
The following year, with Payton Wilgar and Max Tooley also sidelined, Bywater stepped up again, finishing with 98 tackles and three interceptions, including a 76-yard pick-six against SMU in the New Mexico Bowl.
Before the collision at Kansas last September, Bywater, who had served a mission in Guatemala and was majoring in finance, was charging towards his NFL dreams. The Big 12 season was meant to showcase his skills to scouts, but after just 32 tackles in 2023, he was sidelined.
Although his last game ended with a painful thud, Bywater’s remarkable journey and unforgettable moments remain.
Among his 36 games, he experienced playing in mostly empty stadiums during the pandemic i Zach Wilsonn 2020 and was part of the Cougars’ 11-1 season that led to quarterback being drafted No. 2 overall.
In 2021, he played against rival Utah on the day BYU was invited to join the Big 12, celebrating a 26-17 victory with fans who stormed the field.
Bywater played a crucial role in BYU’s Pac-12 victories over Arizona, Utah, Arizona State, Washington State, and USC.
In 2022, he made 11 tackles in a double-overtime win against No. 9 Baylor and capped the season with a four-game winning streak, including another 11 tackles and a pick-six in the New Mexico Bowl.
Last year, Bywater led BYU to a stunning 38-31 win over Arkansas and into their historic Big 12 opener at Kansas, where his career ended.
Bywater will undoubtedly be missed and hard to replace, but his storied career and the adventures within it will surely be cherished and recounted by his family for years to come.
