Kalani Sitake and the BYU football program begin fall camp in just five days. Here are the top position battles to watch during fall camp.
This season will feature BYU's most intense quarterback competition since Jake Heaps and Riley Nelson faced off in 2010.
Until a starting quarterback is named, attention will be focused on the quarterback battle. At the start of spring training, Aaron Roderick named two players vying for the starting spot: Jake Retzlaff and Jerry Bohannon. The battle between the two will likely continue through summer training and be resolved in fall training.
At Big 12 media day, Kalani spoke about the four quarterbacks in the mix: Jake Retzlaff, Jerry Bohannon, Treyson Burgett and MacKay Hillstead, who joined the team after spring training as a transfer from Utah State.
Could either Bourguet or Hillsted turn a two-way battle for the starting spot into a three-way battle? Maybe. At this point, it would be a surprise if Retzlaff or Bohannon weren't the Week 1 starter.
Every spot on the quarterback depth chart is up for grabs.
The starting tackle position is open and is likely a two-way battle between Caleb Etienne and Colorado transfer Isaiah Jatta. Etienne has the size and talent to be a great tackle, but 2023 is a big sticking point. A full offseason at BYU and a new offensive line coach in TJ Woods could help get Etienne back on the right track.
Isaiah Jatta is another talented tackle who never found his groove at Colorado. When Jatta entered the transfer portal earlier this year, he chose BYU over USC. If Jatta can get up to speed on the playbook, he has the talent to beat Etienne.
Jacob Robinson is well established as one of BYU's starting cornerbacks. The starting spot opposite Robinson is open. Weber State transfer Marque Collins should be considered the front-runner due to his experience. Mori Bamba started against TCU when BYU had some injuries at cornerback and will likely compete for the position.
Then you have young guys like Marcus McKenzie and Therrian Alexander, two guys who could be the future at cornerback, and if either of those guys proves they can start as early as this year, that would be really great for the future of BYU's defense.
Jonathan Kabeya is a candidate to take the field as a true freshman and has the build to be a college candidate if he can learn the playbook.
No position has a more complicated roster than the safety position, with experienced veterans, talented young players and five or six players in the class of 2023. The list of players competing for both the free safety and strong safety positions is long.
Micah Harper will likely be the starter now that he's healthy. Harper suffered a season-ending knee injury that caused him to miss the entire 2023 season. Taran Alfrey also missed most of the season due to injury, so he's another player to watch.
Ethan Slade, Tanner Wall, Klu Wachley, Raeder Damuni and Preston Rex played the majority of the games in 2023 and will also be competing for a spot. Damuni will look to lose 10 pounds and improve his speed.
Freshman Tomas Prasas will be participating in spring training and hopes to earn a spot on the roster.
Then there's freshman Faletau Satuala. Satuala is shaping up to be one of the most talented players on BYU's roster, and if he can prove he's not going to shy away from big assignments as a freshman, he could be a talent that's hard to keep off the field.
LJ Martin will likely be the starter at running back if healthy, but the backup position is a crowded one that will likely be a three-way battle between Miles Davis, Hinckley Ropati and freshman Pokaia Haunga.
Health is the biggest question mark for everyone in this room.
Injury concerns remain for two linebacker prospects, Ben Bywater and Siale Esera. Both Bywater and Esera missed the second half of the 2023 season with injuries and did not participate in spring training.
If Bywater misses, it leaves one spot open. If Esera misses, it leaves another spot open, but defensive coordinator Jay Hill said he expects Esera to return in fall camp. At linebacker, there are a number of names to consider, including Jack Kelly, Ace Kaufusi, Siale Esera, Harrison Taggart and Cho Bryant-Strother.
Wide receiver converted Keanu Hill has added 25 pounds to compete for the starting tight end spot. He will likely play as a receiving tight end, but it remains to be seen if his blocking will translate to the tight end position.
Two of the top players to watch at camp are two former four-star recruits. Jackson Bowers redshirted in 2023 but this could be the year he joins the rotation. Rainer Swanson, who signed with BYU in December, is enrolled and will attend camp. Swanson is extremely talented and could earn his spot as a true freshman. Swanson is our No. 1 pick as BYU's next freshman phenom.
Mason Whakafua, Ray Paulo, Ethan Erickson and Mataava Tase didn't play much in 2023. They will also be competing for spots on the depth chart.
