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Not fairly three weeks because the disappointing loss to UAB within the Independence Bowl dampened BYU’s in any other case spectacular 2021 soccer season, a little bit little bit of uncertainty nonetheless surrounds the make-up of the 2022 Cougars group.
After all, there may be at all times some attrition. Some gamers resolve to hold it up, for a wide range of causes. Just a few transfers will depart and enter this system, identical to another yr.
At the least one key participant with eligibility remaining, standout receiver Gunner Romney, had but to make his future intentions recognized when the primary day of winter semester arrived Monday (Jan. 3) and this text was penned.
What is for certain, nevertheless, is that BYU coach Kalani Sitake and his workers usually are not rebuilding practically as a lot as they have been at the moment final yr. They might finally lose practically a dozen main 2020 contributors to the NFL or the working world, together with quarterback Zach Wilson, nostril guard Khyiris Tonga (boy, was he missed this previous season within the losses to Baylor and UAB), left deal with Brady Christensen, guard Tristen Hoge, security Zayne Anderson, linebacker Isaiah Kaufusi, cornerback Chris Wilcox, tight finish Matt Bushman and receiver Dax Milne.
The most important losses this yr, clearly, are famous person working again Tyler Allgeier, who introduced final week he's getting into the 2022 NFL draft, and four-year contributors James Empey (OL), Neil Pau’u (WR) and Uriah Leiataua (DL). Backup quarterback Baylor Romney, who went 4-1 as a starter, can also be transferring on and will likely be missed.
None of these departures are main surprises, besides, maybe, Baylor Romney’s resolution. Some individuals have forgotten that Allgeier, Empey and Pau’u have been among the many gamers honored on Senior Day and took half within the senior stroll after the sport.
Defensive lineman Earl Tuioti-Mariner, offensive lineman Joe Tukuafu and working again Lopini Katoa have been additionally honored earlier than the Nov. 6 sport in opposition to Idaho State and walked after the competition, however all three have stated not too long ago they plan to return in 2022.
Gunner Romney additionally walked that day, for what that's value. Sources have advised the Deseret Information that Romney is leaning towards staying, however hasn’t solely made up his thoughts.
Not a lot teaching turnover
It's trying increasingly just like the BYU teaching workers will stay intact in 2022. Sitake signed a brand new contract final month that takes him via 2027 and ensures his assistants will likely be paid extra this yr in an effort to maintain them from bolting for higher-paying jobs. A whole lot of followers want to see former BYU LB Kelly Poppinga, who was on former BYU and Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall’s workers earlier than Mendenhall resigned, return to Provo in some capability. However which may not be doable with no openings obvious within the close to future.
“I simply love being round these guys. These guys imply lots to me,” Sitake stated within the post-bowl information convention. “I really like being round our gamers and coaches lots. And proper now they’re hurting. However that’s OK. My job is to rally them again, and want the fellows which might be transferring on to the NFL good luck.”
Sitake misplaced offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes and offensive line coach Eric Mateos to current Sugar Bowl champion Baylor final January. Aaron Roderick was promoted to OC, Fesi Sitake to passing sport coordinator, and Sitake introduced in offensive line coach Darrell Funk and linebackers coach Kevin Clune to fill the vacancies.
Momentum misplaced?
Sitake was requested if the bowl loss will disrupt the momentum garnered in the course of the common season when the Cougars went 5-0 in opposition to the Pac-12 and 6-1 in opposition to Energy 5 groups two seasons earlier than they may enter the Large 12, and the goodwill created throughout the fan base.
“Provided that we select to,” he stated. “The momentum is (decided) by us. We have now to maintain the momentum rolling. That’s my alternative as the pinnacle coach, and that’s what the remainder of the fellows need to resolve.”
Sitake acknowledged the loss “is a step backwards,” however careworn this system would study from the setback and develop from it.
“Relating to momentum, that each one depends upon how we strategy it,” Sitake stated. “We have now a variety of guys coming again, a variety of actually good expertise, new expertise coming to our program, too. So right this moment simply didn’t work out properly for us. It’s OK, we misplaced the sport, nevertheless it’d be worse if we misplaced the sport and we didn’t study from it. … So I don’t see it altering or see the momentum shifting a lot.”
Schedule will get stronger
One other near-certainty is that the Cougars’ schedule this coming season will likely be harder than final yr’s, even when it contains solely 5 Energy 5 opponents, slightly than seven as in 2021 when BYU completed with a 10-3 file.
As of Monday, with solely the Texas Bowl (Kansas State vs. LSU) and the CFP Nationwide Championship Recreation (Georgia vs. Alabama) but to be performed, BYU’s 2021 schedule ranked as solely the 63rd most-difficult within the nation, in line with the Sagarin Rankings.
Groups that have been alleged to be good — you, Arizona State, Virginia, Washington State, USC and Boise State — didn’t turn into all that good, whereas Baylor and instate foes Utah and Utah State have been higher than virtually anyone anticipated, particularly the Aggies. The tip consequence was that the schedule was way more manageable than anticipated.
Including to the issue of the 2022 schedule is the truth that BYU will play 10 straight weeks with out a bye, simply at it did in 2021. Saturday, East Carolina introduced it is going to play at BYU on Oct. 29 as a substitute of Nov. 12, which now turns into the Cougars’ bye week, barring a scheduling revision.
Protection wants some assist
Enjoying 10 consecutive weeks in opposition to largely P5 opponents in 2021 took its toll on the Cougars and examined their depth, they usually clearly weren’t the identical group that defeated Utah 26-17 on Sept. 11. They limped to the end line, mainly.
“We will at all times enhance (in) a variety of totally different areas, and depth is certainly one of them,” Sitake acknowledged. “One of the best ways for us to enhance is simply to make it possible for second- and third-stringers are able to roll.”
Showing on BYUtv’s “Cougar Sports activities Nation” program on Monday, ESPN analyst Trevor Matich, a former Cougar nice, stated that depth must get higher, and shortly.
“They're going to need to get their depth squared away once more, proper?” Matich stated. “This yr their depth was completely examined, and I believe they obtained a sense for what that's like, taking part in that sort of a schedule, that relentlessly, and what it means to have a subsequent man up.
“You get your self prepared as if you're the starter since you might be at a essential second at any level,” Matich continued. “A whole lot of BYU gamers, younger gamers, discovered that firsthand this yr.”
A harder take a look at
BYU isn’t scheduled to play Utah, which completed 10-4 after dropping 48-45 in heartbreaking trend to No. 6 Ohio State within the Rose Bowl, in 2022 or 2023, however will host Utah State on Sept. 30 in Provo in what must be an attention-grabbing and intense showdown at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
In all, BYU will play 5 Energy 5 colleges — Baylor, at Oregon, vs. Notre Dame in Las Vegas, Arkansas and at Stanford.
All these colleges besides Stanford have been within the CFP rankings high 25 when bowl season started.
The opener at quickly bettering South Florida, a Sept. 24 sport in opposition to bowl winner Wyoming, an Oct. 22 contest at harmful Liberty, and a Nov. 5 journey to Boise State must also take a look at the Cougars of their quest to win 10 or extra video games for a third-straight yr.
Assistance on the best way
BYU hasn’t introduced but which returning missionaries will be a part of this system in 2022, however a few of the prospects are linebackers Michael Daley of the 2019 signing class and Logan Pili, Tate Romney and Bodie Schoonover of the 2020 signing class.
5-star offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia, a switch from Oregon, will bolster an offensive line that loses Empey however returns Tukuafu, All-America guard Clark Barrington and beginning tackles Harris LaChance and Blake Freeland.
Losses to Baylor and UAB and the near-loss to USC confirmed the Cougars need assistance on the defensive position. The excellent news is that a few four-star recruits, Weber Excessive’s Aisea Moa and Timpview’s Logan Fano, are already enrolled in courses and will take part in spring ball, which begins in early March.
Fano signed in 2021 and has been again from a church mission for a few months; Moa was a part of the category that signed final month however doesn't have mission plans. Each will push for rapid taking part in time subsequent fall.
Restoration from severe harm is at all times difficult and varies participant to participant, however the Cougars are hoping that linebackers Payton Wilgar and Keenan Pili, defensive lineman Lorenzo Fauatea, cornerbacks Keenan Ellis and Micah Harper and tight finish Isaac Rex return from accidents that reduce quick 2021 seasons, or ended them altogether, in Harper’s case.
Who’s again on offense?
Beginning quarterback Jaren Corridor missed the bowl sport with an ankle harm, however there wasn’t a lot doubt that the fourth-year participant from Mapleton would return in 2022, and he made that clear on New 12 months’s Eve when he stated on Instagram that 2021 was good to him and it was “time to run it again” in 2022. Behind Corridor are former four-star QB recruit Jacob Conover, Boise State switch Cade Fennegan, Utah switch Nick Billoups and Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters.
✌ 2021 you’ve been good to us. Time to run it again https://t.co/4vlx0PPAmP
— Jaren Corridor (@jarenhall3) January 1, 2022
Changing Allgeier, who set the college file for many speeding yards in a season final month, is not going to be straightforward. He had 1,606 yards and 23 touchdowns on 276 carries, main the nation in TDs and inserting third in complete yards.
Katoa stated earlier than the bowl sport that he's coming again, and can be a part of Jackson McChesney, Hinckley Ropati and Miles Davis in giving the Cougars a good crew of ballcarriers, however none who give them what Allgeier did.
Washington switch Puka Nacua proved to be pretty much as good as marketed in 2021 and must be the go-to man in 2022, particularly if Gunner Romney doesn’t come again. Different returning receivers and tight ends to regulate embrace Keanu Hill, Kody Epps, Chris Jackson, Dallin Holker and Masen Wake.
Who’s again on protection?
Protection turned the Cougars’ greatest weak spot because the season wore on, they usually seemingly want some fast assist to get again on monitor in 2022 — particularly if the likes of Wilgar, Keenan Pili and Harper don’t return 100% from accidents.
Defensive finish Tyler Batty is a rising star and has some NFL potential if he continues on the identical trajectory. Tuioti-Mariner introduced he’s coming again, which ought to assist the defensive position’s depth. Linebackers Ben Bywater and Max Tooley are stable, however not flashy. Defensive backs Jakob Robinson, Kaleb Hayes, Malik Moore, D’Angelo Mandell and Chaz Ah You, if he can keep wholesome, kind a good nucleus.
The Cougars might actually use a Kyle Van Noy-like playmaker on protection, however these clearly don’t develop on bushes.
Who’s again on particular groups?
Kicker Jake Olrdoyd says he’s again for another yr, in order that’s excellent news. Punter Ryan Rehkow additionally returns, so the Cougars are set there.
Hobbs Nyberg is a dependable punt returner. Caleb Christensen has proven some explosiveness as a kickoff returner, however must work on his decision-making.