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BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff (12) gives the play to the offense as BYU and Oklahoma play at LaVell Edwards stadium in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. The Cougars are preparing for Year 2 in the Big 12. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
The 2024 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team and individual awards were announced Tuesday, chosen by media members who cover the league.
To no one’s surprise, no BYU players made the first team on offense; BYU senior defensive lineman Tyler Batty was named to the 14-member all-defense team, which wasn’t a surprise considering Batty also made the Athlon Sports and Phil Steele all-Big 12 defense teams.
Also Tuesday, BYU was picked to finish 13th in the expanded, 16-team league in the Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll. That was also not a surprise — several media members, including yours truly, predicted that the Cougars would be in the bottom two or three.
Simply put, the BYU offense in 2024 will lack superstars and an experienced quarterback, and superstars and solid returning quarterbacks are what drive teams to the top of preseason polls.
“We don’t have a Puka Nacua,” BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said at the BYU Media Appreciation Golf Tournament last week, referring to the former Cougar and current Los Angeles Rams star receiver. “But we have solid depth across the board, solid depth at every (offensive) position.”
Roderick said that includes depth at tight end, receiver, running back and quarterback.
“And I feel good about our (offensive) line depth,” he said. “I was a little nervous about it a year ago.”
Quarterback Jake Retzlaff, receiver Kody Epps and offensive lineman Connor Pay also spoke to the Deseret News last week and repeated the same mantra: BYU will rely on continuity, consistency and chemistry in its second season in the Big 12 to…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/don-t-puka-nacua-byu-030000650.html
Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2024-07-07 03:00:00
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