BYU head coach Kalani Sitake appears to be like on in the course of the first day of fall camp in Provo on Aug. 4, 2022. BYU Photograph
BYU gamers hit the bottom operating Thursday afternoon in Provo, the place the Cougars ushered within the begin of the 2022 season. BYU Photograph
Kalani Sitake likes vibe. His Tongan roots and genetic chill are matched with the driving beat of the deep base-enhanced music blasting by the loud audio system. It’s Sitake’s manner of declaring that the seventh fall camp below his watch as BYU’s head soccer coach is underway.
Simply helmets, jerseys and shorts for Day 1 with a welcomed mixture of clouds and sunshine and reasonable August temperatures made for the type of day Sitake has been counting right down to for months. It’s again to work and out on the plush, inexperienced, freshly painted observe subject, there are tales in all places about virtually any and every little thing.
I talked with junior quarterback Jaren Corridor, who fortunately declared that everyone on his offense was on the sector right this moment. Then we mentioned his summer season golf dilemma. Like so many people, placing is his nice frustration.
Senior receiver Gunner Romney stated he was excited to be again with this offense. That is his remaining yr to make a case for NFL employment. He’s wholesome and joyful, however largely we talked in regards to the seashore.
Romney loves the seashore and simply wrapped up a coastal go to along with his spouse earlier than camp. He admits it’s all work and no play from right here on out — till he will get to play at South Florida on Sept. 3.
Payton Wilgar has two causes to smile. Not solely is the linebacker again on the sector sporting a helmet for the primary time since November after shoulder surgical procedure, he's additionally a brand new father.
As soon as we mentioned his improved well being, our dialog shortly turned to life with a new child — the primary for he and his spouse Christine. There's a particular mild within the eyes of recent fathers that radiates by the redness that comes from restricted sleep.
Wilgar is aware of this is a vital season for him. He has been on the radar of NFL scouts for some time. A superb junior yr might imply his final at BYU. His tag-team associate, Keenan Pili, one other junior, was additionally on the sector operating round for the primary time since tearing his ACL in opposition to Arizona State final September.
Junior receiver Puka Nacua had loads of zip to his step. He was slowed by a hamstring damage throughout final yr’s camp, which adopted offseason foot surgical procedure that sidelined him for 2021’s spring observe.
These days are behind him. Nacua, like Corridor, Wilgar and a handful of others, is aware of that a good season might launch him into the NFL, whereas the remainder of the Cougars go to the Large 12.
Quarterback Jacob Conover advised me as he got here off the sector that he's “residing the dream!” The extremely touted Arizona prep star will battle the extremely touted Texas prep star Cade Fennegan, each redshirt freshmen, for backup supremacy and to get a leg up on the 2023 competitors.
I used to be most joyful to see Isaac Rex again on the sector for the primary time since tearing up his proper ankle in opposition to USC over Thanksgiving weekend. He had a smile on his face and advised me he did the entire drills right this moment.
Rex nonetheless favors the ankle as he walks and admitted he received’t be totally cleared till the week earlier than the season opener. However the optimism on his face has put a smile on his quarterback’s face, too.
“He’s an enormous goal,” Corridor stated. “We simply want to verify he doesn’t come again too shortly.”
The 6-foot-6 sophomore caught 12 touchdowns in 2020, probably the most amongst freshmen tight ends in faculty soccer. Rex caught three final yr and had one other one in his grasp when he injured the ankle attempting to get a foot down at the back of the top zone at USC. He was carted off the sector and brought to the hospital.
Immediately, 247 days later, Rex returned to observe, which added to Sitake’s good vibe.
Not day by day would be the like this. The temperatures will enhance, each within the environment and on the sector, particularly when the Cougars go to full pads subsequent Thursday. However for now, on opening day, this veteran roster and its head coach are feeling the invigorating vibe that comes from getting again collectively — with massive plans forward.
Dave McCann is a contributor to the Deseret Information and is the studio host of “After Additional Evaluate,” “Countdown to Kickoff,” “The PostGame Present,” and play-by-play announcer for BYUtv. He's additionally co-host of “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com.
BYU gamers hit the bottom operating Thursday afternoon in Provo, the place the Cougars ushered within the begin of the 2022 season.
BYU Photograph