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BYU head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates an interception during the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Kalani Sitake and his BYU football coaching staff have several priorities in mind as the Cougars begin the first of 15 spring practices later this week.
“Last year, there was a chip on our shoulder because nobody thought we were any good. We are not sneaking up on anyone this time. We will have a target on our backs.”
BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick
Namely, the staff wants to develop its young players, especially those who will be expected to play roles on the team when it lines up for real on Aug. 30 against Portland State.
In the words of offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick, “priority No. 2 is sorting out the backup quarterback situation,” although the OC stresses that QB1 Jake Retzlaff is the unquestioned starter going into the 2025 season, after the rising senior led the Cougars to an 11-2 record and Alamo Bowl win over Colorado last year.
Identifying the candidates to become Retzlaff’s backup is easy, because only two other guys will be in camp: redshirt sophomore McCae Hillstead and junior Treyson Bourguet, transfers from Utah State and Western Michigan, respectively.
Roderick said because of the new roster limitation rules, BYU will carry only three QBs this spring, then add Bountiful High’s Emerson Geilman in the fall. Among those on the roster last fall, Gerry Bohanon ran out of eligibility, Noah Lugo transferred to UTSA, and walk-on Cole Hagen will shelve his pads but remain in school at BYU.
“He is going to graduate and move on,” Roderick said of the brother of scholarship receiver Cody Hagen.
More on the quarterback situation later, including the lofty expectations Roderick has for Retzlaff.
Another priority, and perhaps the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/byu-football-spring-camp-preview-200751392.html
Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2025-02-25 20:07:00
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