BYU kicker Will Ferrin makes an attempt a area aim throughout spring observe at BYU’s Indoor Observe Facility in Provo. He's one in all three kickers battling for the starter’s spot this spring. Nate Edwards, BYU Picture
BYU punter Ryan Rehkow, proper, and kicker Will Ferrin are all smiles as they stroll off the sphere throughout observe at BYU’s Indoor Observe Facility in Provo earlier this month. Nate Edwards, BYU Picture
Little question about it, BYU’s soccer staff may have top-of-the-line punters within the nation, maybe the very best, in 6-foot-6, 235-pound blaster Ryan Rehkow.
The Cougars’ kicker in 2023 as they enter the Massive 12?
Barring a turnaround of noteworthy proportions, not a lot.
“As we speak was the primary day we've missed a kick in three days, so very inspired by that. They have been 100% yesterday, 100% the day earlier than. And so it has changed into a extremely good competitors, and I believe we bought three actually good guys which might be competing for the job proper now.” — BYU particular groups coordinator Kelly Poppinga
Sizzling-and-cold kicker Jake Oldroyd — principally sizzling till final season’s travails — has moved on, forgoing his ultimate 12 months of eligibility to both give the NFL a shot or enter the working world, and the battle to be his alternative has, frankly, been a trigger for concern amongst BYU trustworthy who've witnessed nearly all of spring practices.
Though coach Kalani Sitake and particular groups coordinator Kelly Poppinga stated the placekicking has improved considerably the previous few practices, there have been a number of missed area objectives, notably on the finish of chosen practices considered by media members.
At this juncture of the offseason, three guys are within the operating to be Oldroyd’s alternative: returning redshirt sophomore Justen Smith, Boise State switch Will Ferrin and Matthias Dunn, a not too long ago returned missionary from Heber Metropolis’s Wasatch Excessive.
Dunn, carrying No. 97, solely not too long ago was added to BYU’s spring roster; former walk-on kicker Money Peterman, a kickoff specialist in 2022, was eliminated as a result of he’s within the switch portal.
Presumably, Smith, Ferrin and Dunn will get an opportunity to point out what they'll do Friday when BYU conducts an open observe and/or scrimmage at 3 p.m. at LaVell Edwards Stadium, climate allowing. Additionally open to the general public, the annual alumni recreation will comply with at 5 p.m.
Rehkow’s youthful brother Landon, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound freshman, is listed as each a kicker and a punter on the spring roster, however hasn’t tried any area objectives in the course of the media-viewing home windows at camp.
Wednesday, Smith and Ferrin missed end-of-practice area aim makes an attempt, whereas Dunn made his strive from the identical distance.
“As we speak was the primary day we've missed a kick in three days, so very inspired by that,” Poppinga stated Wednesday, after a windy open air observe. “They have been 100% yesterday (throughout a 95-play scrimmage), 100% the day earlier than. And so it has changed into a extremely good competitors, and I believe we bought three actually good guys which might be competing for the job proper now.”
After Saturday’s closed-to-the-media observe/scrimmage contained in the IPF, Sitake stated the kicking “was a lot better than it has been, and it was good to see our kicker in a two-minute state of affairs kick some (game-winning) area objectives immediately, and I believed it was very nice. Sorry you guys didn’t get to see it.”
So there’s hope, apparently.
Requested concerning the kicking shakiness after Wednesday’s observe, Sitake stated the “competitors is admittedly robust” however no one has set himself aside but, apart from Ryan Rehkow. The fifth-year punter’s leg has been so vigorous this spring that he has to take it down a notch so his punts don’t hit the ceiling within the IPF.
“We'll title a starter for the placekicking duties each time they win it out,” Sitake stated.
Nevertheless, moments earlier, Poppinga had stated he gained’t expose the title of the beginning kicker to the media till the week earlier than the season opener Sept. 2 in opposition to Sam Houston.
“I've informed the kickers the identical factor, that the job is open up till the final week,” Poppinga stated. “And that's being honest to these guys. The competitors began the primary day of spring ball; there can be a man main the way in which going into fall camp, however the competitors will proceed during fall camp. The week earlier than the primary recreation we'll title a starter, based mostly upon the numbers.”
Poppinga and Sitake each agreed that one of many three can be up for the job and that they gained’t have to conduct an open tryout or look into the switch portal for an satisfactory alternative for Oldroyd, who completed his profession at BYU because the No. 1 scorer at school historical past with 338 factors. Oldroyd made 50 of 68 area aim makes an attempt (73.5%) and 188 of 192 PATs (97.9%).
BYU would take these numbers from its subsequent kicker in a heartbeat.
Smith, the walk-on from Brighton Excessive, has made 3 of 4 profession FG makes an attempt, with an extended of 40 in 2021 when Oldroyd was both injured or in a hunch.
“Percentages (in observe), for positive,” Poppinga stated when requested concerning the standards for successful the job. “That’s what we'll go off.”
Added Sitake, when pressed concerning the plethora of early-camp misses: “We simply want factors on the board, and I belief Okay-Popp to get that achieved. Thus far, we're seeing a number of nice competitors, a number of enchancment.”
Different phases of BYU soccer’s third section
Concerning BYU’s particular groups as an entire, Poppinga — employed final December to interchange Ed Lamb — stated they're “coming alongside” and wanting to get exterior and work on their craft extra. The Cougars have been out of the IPF for under three of 11 practices up to now.
“It's a work in progress, for positive,” Poppina stated. “However yeah, there's a number of buy-in proper now with the blokes, which is nice. And I really feel like we've some (kickoff and punt) returners that we haven’t had previously.”
The possible punt returner is returnee Hobbs Nyberg, who had a pair of 42-yard punt returns final 12 months in opposition to Notre Dame and Utah Tech.
Poppinga stated operating backs Miles Davis and Hinckley Ropati and freshmen receivers Parker Kingston and Koa Eldredge are candidates to be kickoff returners. On signing day, Poppinga stated he was in search of a dynamic game-changer to return kicks. Has he discovered one?
“Oh yeah, I believe there are a pair actually good guys,” he stated. “I believe Ropati, greater than what folks assume, he could be a fairly dynamic dude. And I've at all times appreciated operating backs again there. In the event you guys assume again to guys like Adam Hine — in all probability the final nice kick returner that we had right here. He was fairly dynamic in what he might do. I kinda have a look at Ropati in the identical method.”
Lengthy-snapper Austin Riggs, a junior, returns to keep up the excellence he has established at that spot.
As for kick protection groups, Poppinga stated they must be athletic and well-prepared to face the excellent velocity that the majority Massive 12 groups possess.
BYU punter Ryan Rehkow, proper, and kicker Will Ferrin are all smiles as they stroll off the sphere throughout observe at BYU’s Indoor Observe Facility in Provo earlier this month.
Nate Edwards, BYU Picture