BYU quarterback Jaren Corridor warms up earlier than taking over Notre Dame at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information
Weekend fears that BYU may very well be with out two of its prime offensive gamers towards Arkansas on Saturday had been put to relaxation Monday when Cougars coach Kalani Sitake held his weekly press briefing through Zoom.
“We're going to must stress him as a result of I consider he'll choose us aside if we don’t.” — Arkansas coach Sam Pittman on Jaren Corridor
Sitake stated he expects quarterback Jaren Corridor and huge receiver Gunner Romney to play within the 1:30 p.m. MDT recreation at LaVell Edwards Stadium that might be televised by ESPN. The standing of working again Miles Davis stays unclear after the Las Vegas product missed final week’s 28-20 loss to Notre Dame with a shin harm.
Davis continues to be listed as a co-starter on BYU’s depth chart with Chris Brooks and Lopini Katoa, whereas Romney and Corridor are nonetheless listed as starters at their respective positions.
Requested for Corridor’s standing after saying the fifth-year junior QB was not at 100% towards the Irish, Sitake didn’t particularly point out a lot else, saying solely that “he’s received no alternative (however to play). He’s gotta go. That is midseason soccer, so he’s gotta be able to roll.”
Instantly after the sport through which he threw solely 17 passes, a career-low for a recreation he’s completed, Corridor initially stated he was advantageous, however later acknowledged that earlier within the week it was a “totally different story.” He appeared to be favoring his proper shoulder at some moments within the contest.
As for Romney, he apparently suffered some form of harm after making a third-quarter catch. He entered the medical tent on BYU’s sidelines, and was later transported through cart to the locker room. It was later reported by BYUtv that Romney was taken to the hospital.
The senior missed the primary 4 video games of the season with a lacerated kidney.
Sitake stated Monday that Romney, who has caught 5 passes for 59 yards, “received banged-up, and due to his earlier harm, there may be extra warning that occurs so far as the sports activities drugs goes.”
Sitake stated a part of that warning concerned working some checks at a close-by hospital in Las Vegas. He stated Romney didn’t keep in a single day within the hospital, however was launched to his household for transportation dwelling after the workforce had departed on its constitution flight.
“We're wanting ahead to him being prepared for us this week,” Sitake stated.
Particular groups coordinator and assistant head coach Ed Lamb repeated that on his “Coordinators’ Nook” program, saying the coaches “absolutely anticipate” Romney to be out there this week.
“I believe he’s good to go,” Lamb stated.
Defensively, the Cougars performed with out secondary starters Malik Moore and Jakob Robinson and backup defensive lineman Josh Larsen. Defensive lineman Gabe Summers left the sport with a decrease leg harm — Gumby continues to be recovering from a PCL harm suffered within the opener — and didn't return.
The statuses of these defensive gamers weren't addressed by Sitake on Monday.
In the meantime, Arkansas is coping with a little bit little bit of uncertainty at quarterback as nicely. Starter KJ Jefferson didn't play in Saturday’s loss to Mississippi State on account of an obvious head harm he sustained within the earlier week’s loss to Alabama.
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman confirmed that this might be “a traditional week” for the star QB, so which means Jefferson has apparently cleared concussion protocol.
“He can’t get hit at the moment could be that protocol, however he by no means will get hit in apply (anyway), so he can go forward and do his full factor at the moment,” Pittman stated Monday morning.
Pittman known as Corridor “a very good quarterback” and stated the Hogs must attempt to rattle him with some totally different strategies.
“We're going to must stress him as a result of I consider he'll choose us aside if we don’t,” Pittman stated. “We're going to must cease the run after which we’ve received to stress him, as a result of if we don’t I believe he’s actually good and a very correct thrower, and his receivers are large. They're 6-2 (tall) and higher.”
Sitake additionally addressed a number of points which are protecting the Cougars from profitable — the sluggish begins, the issues getting the precise personnel on the sphere, and the kicking state of affairs. Jake Oldroyd did an excellent job kicking off, however wasn’t requested to try any subject targets towards ND after lacking 5 of his final six.
Justen Smith missed his first PAT then made his final two. Oldroyd and Smith are listed as co-starters at place kicker on the depth chart.
“We preserve competing. We might be advantageous,” Sitake stated. “Everyone talks about kickers once they aren’t doing too nicely. However you take a look at the NFL. It's taking place there, too. So it isn't just like the kickers are doing their jobs all over the place. That's a part of the sport.
“We've got had sufficient drama already. We're going to preserve competing, similar to we do at each place and the very best guys will play,” Sitake continued. “That's the solely approach I understand how to do it, is the very best guys will play. By way of competitors we'll determine it out.”
Cougars on the air
Arkansas (3-3)
at No. 16 BYU (4-2)
Saturday, 1:30 p.m. MDT
LaVell Edwards Stadium
Provo, Utah
TV: ESPN
Radio: KSL NewsRadio 102.7 FM/1160 AM