BYU football coach Kalani Sitake was very clear about one aspect of Saturday's live scrimmage, which more or less marked the halfway point of the Cougars' 2024 spring football camp.
In other cases, not so much.
After a 76-play live performance that was not viewed by members of the media, Shitake said the offense was the best player in the defense after the unit went “back and forth” in the first seven practices since the start of camp on Feb. 29. It was reported that it exceeded the This is surprising considering the offensive line is full of veterans and experienced players, and there aren't that many players missing spring practice due to injury or illness.
“I'm really happy with today's practice,” Sitake said. “…I thought our offense did a pretty good job today, scoring a lot of points and making a lot of plays. Our defense had some chances, but I think the offense overall had the upper hand today. … Our players ran the ball really well and protected the ball really well.”
Six quarterbacks qualified, but only two competing to be starters on Opening Day, Jake Retzlaff and Jerry Bohannon, wore green jerseys and were prohibited from making contact.
Was it returner Retzlaff or transfer portal addition Bohannon who took the lead in the starting QB derby?
Shitake won't go there, saying it's still a draw.
“Those two guys have done a great job. They keep getting better and better. One gets better and the other catches up. The other gets better and the other catches up. “They came and went,'' Shitake said. “That's what we want from the competition, and as long as the competition continues to improve, that's all we care about. Right now, in a situation where we want to pull one away and take the starting spot, that's all we care about. do not have.
But they are definitely two people who can do it. ”
Coach Sitake said on Feb. 29 that he wants to identify a starter as soon as possible, but most officials believe a starter won't be named until preseason training camp in August at the earliest. If they draft a starter or QB3 at this point in the offseason, one or two quarterbacks on the outside could be on the move.
The Cougars have already lost one of their 10 quarterbacks. KSLSports.com reported Tuesday that walk-on Nick Billups will enter the transfer portal when it opens in May.
In addition to Retzlaff and Bohannon, a fourth player earned international duty on Saturday, Sitake said. They are Cade Fennegan, Ryder Burton, Western Michigan transfer Treyson Bourguet and early enrollee freshman Noah Lugo.
“There's a fight and competition for the No. 3 (quarterback) spot, and there's quality players there as well,” Sitake said. “We were able to get some reps with the young guys. … Ryder Burton did some really good things and so did Cade Fennegan. So there's competition everywhere. Part 3 There is still a lot of competition for the top spots. …Therefore, there will be four people for third place and two for the starting spots.”
Regarding Sitake saying the offense was dominant Saturday, junior safety Taran Alfrey argued for the defense, saying he felt the offense was “pretty balanced” after getting started quickly.
“We started off a little slow, but then we gradually picked up our game and started playing,” Alfrey said. “Overall, our defense played well. We still have a lot of things to improve on. … We have to trust each other and work to the best of our ability, so our The defense is going to be really good.”
Sitake said safety Tommy Prasas, an early enrollee from Chandler, Ariz., returns with a very solid safety team that includes Micah Harper, Alfrey, Ethan Slade, Crew Wakley and Radar Damuni. He mentioned that he was attracting attention in the room. experience.
“I can tell you Tommy Prasas is going to be a really good player. He's a true freshman who graduated early to get here,” Sitake said. “From what I saw, what he did today, he had all the qualities of a great free safety. So let's not put too much pressure on him right now, but he… I'm learning quite a bit from all of them. Chika (Ebunoha) did a great job there as well.”
It's no secret that BYU needs to run the ball better in 2024 than it did in 2023 if it is to have any luck in the Big 12. Sitake said it's still early, but he likes what he's seen through seven practices and scrimmages.
“We were able to play really physical football, smashmouth football,” Sitake said. “When the other quarterbacks played at their best, they were able to extend their drives and make plays and get first downs. That's what we need.”
Center Connor Paye, one of four experienced offensive linemen to return and now under new offensive line coach TJ Woods, is already seeing results from his focus on improving the running game. He said he is doing so.
“Today was our first scrimmage-style day of spring training, and I'm happy with how we played,” Paye said. “I thought we were able to play physical and establish our run game, but obviously we made quite a few mistakes and we're going to have to correct them. But overall it was a pretty solid day. I think so.”
