BYU quarterback Jaren Corridor (3) practices on the indoor observe facility at BYU in Provo on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Corridor is again to guide a BYU offense that returns 80% of its manufacturing from final season. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
BYU heads into its remaining yr competing as an unbiased in soccer with some already excessive expectations, with the Cougars coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons.
The Cougars have completed every of the previous two seasons ranked within the remaining Related Press rankings, and a few nationwide specialists see them as a top-25 program subsequent season.
Might BYU not solely match the hype, however exceed it as effectively?
ESPN’s Ryan McGee recognized BYU as a group that might exceed expectations in 2022 in a roundtable dialogue concerning a number of totally different subjects concerning the upcoming season.
Right here’s why that prediction could or will not be too far off-base.
How a lot returning expertise does BYU soccer deliver again?
Final yr, the Cougars had been final within the nation in returning manufacturing, based on ESPN’s Invoice Connelly, after watching gamers like Zach Wilson, Brady Christensen, Dax Milne, Khyiris Tonga and Chris Wilcox head to the NFL.
This yr, although, it’s the alternative for BYU.
The Cougars are No. 2 within the nation, returning 88% of their manufacturing, based on Connelly. BYU leads the nation in defensive returning manufacturing (97%) and is twenty eighth on offense (80%).
The largest query mark concerning BYU’s departed expertise is who will substitute Tyler Allgeier at working again, although early indications are Cal switch Chris Brooks might fill the lead again function.
Is BYU set at quarterback?
The brief reply? Sure.
Junior Jaren Corridor goes into this season because the unquestioned chief of the BYU offense after profitable the quarterback battle final yr and throwing for two,583 yards, 20 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in 10 begins. He additionally ran for 307 yards and three touchdowns.
The higher query is whether or not Corridor can keep wholesome — he missed three video games final yr as a result of damage, together with the group’s Independence Bowl loss.
Jacob Conover, Cade Fennegan and Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters are all into consideration to be Corridor’s backup if he will get injured once more, with former backup Baylor Romney leaving this system.
Why might BYU soccer exceed expectations?
McGee laid out why he feels BYU may very well be one in every of faculty soccer’s greatest candidates to exceed expectations as soon as once more in its remaining season earlier than becoming a member of the Huge 12.
“BYU’s final stand as an unbiased will journey on the arm (and legs) of QB Jaren Corridor, however with a gaggle of receivers, the whole protection returning (although it wants work) and a schedule made for getting consideration (Stanford, Arkansas, Baylor, Oregon, Notre Dame, Boise State), the Cougars may very well be rolling into the Huge 12 subsequent season with some actual momentum,” McGee wrote.
BYU faces 4 groups from Energy 5 conferences this yr, in addition to fellow unbiased Notre Dame. Final yr, the Cougars went 6-1 in opposition to Energy 5 groups, together with 5-0 in opposition to the Pac-12.
What stands in BYU’s approach?
One impediment that might hinder BYU is that if it struggles to exchange guys like Allgeier, who set this system file final yr for single-season speeding yards, significantly early within the season.
In most years as an unbiased, the Cougars have misplaced to a number of Energy 5 groups early within the season, derailing the group’s probability to make a giant nationwide splash.
The Cougars face two Energy 5 colleges early within the yr — Baylor and Oregon — and Notre Dame in Week 6. A handful of early losses might stunt BYU’s hopes of ending the yr ranked within the prime 25 for the third straight season.
BYU may also want to enhance defensively, after that aspect of the ball piled up accidents and wore down because the season continued final season.