Has Jake Retzlaff taken the lead in the BYU starting quarterback derby?

BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff gestures to his teammates during a practice on the SAB outdoor practice fields at the start of spring camp in Provo on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024.

Reporters have only been able to watch bits and pieces from a couple of BYU’s 14 spring football practices to date.

In those sessions, neither incumbent Jake Retzlaff nor newcomer Gerry Bohanon have seemed to have the upper hand. They are quite different, with Retzlaff having his distinct sidearm passing style and Bohanon being far more willing to tuck the ball and run.

“They are really neck-and-neck. (Retzlaff) is more familiar with the guys who are coaching him, and the scheme. He has been here longer. So he’s definitely a little bit more comfortable. But Gerry is starting to make more improvement. You can see the comfort level he has with the offense.”

BYU coach Kalani Sitake

Truth be told, there is probably more separation in the four-way battle to be the third-string quarterback, a battle that Western Michigan transfer Treyson Bourguet appears to be leading.

But that’s the race to be QB3, which isn’t exactly a big deal — at least for the time being.

The race to be the starting QB at BYU is always a big deal — even in the spring, some five months before the 2024 season opener against Southern Illinois at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Neither head coach Kalani Sitake nor offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick have said much recently about the QB derby, but Sitake did tip his hand a little bit before last week’s Alumni Game, when he acknowledged that Retzlaff has a better handle on the offense.

“Jake, he knows the offense way better than what Gerry (does),” Sitake said. “He’s a lot more comfortable with the way that (Roderick) calls it. And (Roderick) coaches that position. He is further ahead, but you can see the ability in both…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jake-retzlaff-taken-lead-byu-194607823.html

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2024-03-28 19:46:07

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