BYU broad receiver Puka Nacua hauls in an extended cross forward of South Florida’s Daquan Evans at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. Nacua and the Cougars open the 2022 season in opposition to South Florida in Tampa. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
A case may very well be made that probably the most settled portion of BYU’s offensive depth chart heading into the ultimate few practices of preseason coaching camp is on the three beginning receiver positions.
Fifth-year senior Gunner Romney, Washington switch Puka Nacua (a junior) and fourth-year sophomore Keanu Hill are the clearcut starters, and have been since spring camp wrapped up final March.
Romney and Nacua haven’t completed a lot within the media-viewing elements of the camps, however on Tuesday receivers coach Fesi Sitake stated there’s no cause to stress. The veterans will likely be contemporary, rested and able to go when the Cougars play at South Florida on Sept. 3.
“I'm good. I'm simply resting my physique proper now. … There's a whole lot of hypothesis, a whole lot of rumors flying round, however I'm good, yeah.” — BYU receiver Gunner Romney on his well being
“I'm simply monitoring Gunner and Puka,” Sitake stated. “They're confirmed. So I wish to deliberately allow them to relaxation, be leaders on the sidelines, assist sign in performs, assist the opposite receivers on what to do.”
As for Hill, the big-time prospect from Bedford, Texas, who began to interrupt out final 12 months with 17 catches for 310 yards and two touchdowns, Sitake stated he has “chipped away each single spring and fall” and is a star on the rise.
“He’s a fighter,” Sitake stated. “He went out and earned that (third receiver) spot.”
Gone from final 12 months’s staff are two strong contributors — Samson Nacua and Neil Pau’u, the previous having performed just one season after transferring from Utah and the latter one of many extra unsung receivers in BYU historical past. The massive-framed Pau’u leaves huge sneakers for the 6-foot-4 Hill to fill.
Puka Nacua caught 43 passes for 805 yards and 6 touchdowns final 12 months, whereas Romney had 34 grabs for 594 yards and three TDs.
“I would like their management to proceed to extend,” Sitake stated of his starters. “I don’t should see what they'll do bodily.”
Sitake famous that “within the occasion that (the starters) aren’t prepared, for no matter cause, I've full confidence within the subsequent wave of fellows.”
Romney’s standing for the opener has been in query, however on Tuesday he informed the Deseret Information at a information convention selling BYU’s partnership with NFT-producer Ocavu that he’s advantageous and will play if the sport was this week.
“I'm good,” he stated. “I'm simply resting my physique proper now. … There's a whole lot of hypothesis, a whole lot of rumors flying round, however I'm good, yeah.”
After the primary observe of camp, Romney stated he's as enthusiastic about this group of receivers as he’s been in a very long time.
“I believe we have now one of many deepest rooms that we have now had since I've been right here,” he stated. “I believe you would return seven or eight deep and any a kind of guys may hop on the sector and contribute. That’s one in every of our strengths, for certain.”
So who're the following three?
The 2-deep chart BYU posted in June has fifth-year junior Brayden Cosper backing up Hill and redshirt freshmen Kody Epps and Chase Roberts enjoying behind Romney and Nacua, respectively.
“Brayden Cosper, Chase Roberts and Kody Epps are guys which have actually elevated their sport this fall,” Sitake stated. “They've been getting a whole lot of reps now, as a result of I've been holding Puka and Gunner out. They've actually began to showcase what they'll do. I've been actually happy with these guys.”
Cooper’s battle again from three main surgical procedures was documented by the Deseret Information final spring.
Sitake stated redshirt freshman Terence Fall has completed some spectacular issues in camp, whereas walk-ons like Tanner Wall and Hobbs Nyberg (who doubles as a punt returner) are additionally enhancing as their reps enhance.
Chris Jackson entered the switch portal and dedicated to Hawaii after making simply 10 catches for 61 yards the previous two seasons at BYU. Nonetheless, he opted to return to BYU and is working to rejoin the staff this fall in some unspecified time in the future.
After final Saturday’s first scrimmage of camp, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick stated Roberts and Cosper are within the rotation and can see reps in video games. He additionally praised Wall, a freshman from Arlington, Virginia.
“Tanner Wall is without doubt one of the most improved gamers in our program. When he first acquired right here he was proper off a mission and his nickname is “Elder Wall” as a result of when he acquired off his mission, he was (not in form). The mission wasn’t good to him, let’s put it that approach,” Roderick stated.
“And now he is without doubt one of the most ripped, bodily match guys on the staff. He has made a extremely, actually unimaginable enchancment simply in his athleticism, his bodily form. And he is an efficient participant. He's studying what to do,” Roderick continued. “He's a kind of guys that simply finds a option to present up. I don’t know what he's doing proper now in Fesi’s rotation, however wouldn't be shocked in any respect if he seems to be an excellent participant for us.”
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