Shortly after news came out on May 21 that projected starting quarterback Jake Retzlaff’s future at BYU was in serious jeopardy, BYU football coaches spoke to their respective position groups privately and reiterated the need for the team to stick together, and for leaders to emerge.
The fear that sparked those behind-the-scenes chats came to fruition last weekend, as Retzlaff acknowledged to several teammates that he is transferring instead of submitting to a seven-game suspension for violating the school’s honor code.
“I just like the mindset of the team. I like that they are still hungry and they are showing a lot of humility with how they approach the game.”
— BYU coach Kalani Sitake
At last week’s BYU Football Media Golf Classic, which sort of doubles as a football media day exclusively for BYU, head coach Kalani Sitake said that much-needed leadership continues to emerge. Several of those leaders will represent BYU at next week’s Big 12 football media days in Frisco, Texas: linebackers Jack Kelly and Isaiah Glasker, receiver Chase Roberts, running back LJ Martin and defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa.
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“Every team is different. Every team develops its own identity,” Sitake said. “Teams take after their leaders, and you are starting to see our leaders emerge.”
Sitake said the leaders aren’t necessarily guys who have been in the program for a long time.
For instance, Utah transfer Tanuvasa “was a leader from Day 1,” Sitake said, noting that the 6-foot-4, 300-pound redshirt junior from Mission Viejo, California, “only knows one way, and that is to be a leader.”
At the same event last week, Roberts said any of the three QBs now vying to be the…
Source link : https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/07/01/byu-football-sitake-kalani-retzlaff-loss-quarterbacks-situation-leaders/
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Publish date : 2025-07-02 03:00:00
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