BYUCougars head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates the win as he's lifted into the air by followers after BYU defeated Utah in a soccer recreation at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. BYU gained 26-17, ending a nine-game shedding streak to the Utes. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
BYU’s Kedon Slovis runs the ball in the course of the annual Blue vs. White scrimmage at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, March 31, 2023. Ryan Solar, Deseret Information
Even earlier than the Large 12’s 2023 preseason soccer ballot got here out final week and the BYU Cougars have been picked to complete eleventh within the 14-team convention, head coach Kalani Sitake and his gamers weren’t accepting the low expectations.
“I feel we improved fairly a bit in our depth. I used to be actually pleased with the way in which the recruiting has gone. … I feel each coach goes to say they're pleased (in June), however wanting on the roster, wanting on the issues that we've added, taking a look at how our staff is working, man, I really feel actually good.” — BYU coach Kalani Sitake
They have been anticipating them, maybe, however on no account have been they fazed by them.
“I'm not actually frightened about what everyone is predicting,” Sitake mentioned at a soccer program-sponsored golf occasion on June 26. “It’s OK. Let’s fly beneath the radar and determine what we are able to do to make some individuals mistaken.
However proving them mistaken isn't our motivation,” he continued. “Our motivation is to show ourselves proper in how we really feel and the way we consider. However I've a very good feeling that we're in a great spot.”
Media representatives picked Texas to win the league within the Longhorns’ final season within the Large 12 earlier than transferring on to the SEC with Oklahoma, which is picked third. Solely fellow newcomers Houston and Cincinnati, and West Virginia (which went 3-6 within the Large 12 final 12 months) are picked to complete decrease than BYU.
“What's the charge of success in predicting all of it?” Sitake requested rhetorically. “I'll be sure you inform the staff (that expectations are low). We're going to be enthusiastic about our alternatives. … I've been teaching for a very long time now and I've been teaching right here going into my eighth 12 months, and I really feel actually good about this staff, about our guys.”
A kind of guys is beginning quarterback Kedon Slovis, who is aware of a factor or two about expectations and the competitors stage in Energy 5 conferences after having performed for USC of the Pac-12 and Pitt of the ACC earlier than transferring to BYU for his ultimate season of faculty soccer.
“You possibly can play either side of the cardboard. Typically the excessive expectations are (not good). Like (Alabama coach) Nick Saban will name it rat poison. Some individuals like low expectations,” Slovis mentioned. “On the finish of the day, we've our personal expectations of the place we predict we must be as a staff. We simply need to play constantly and the most effective soccer we are able to, day in time out, week in, week out. If we are able to do this, we're going to be pleased with the place we stand on the finish of the 12 months.”
On the identical golf occasion in late June — after ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index (FPI) gave BYU, West Virginia and Kansas a zero p.c likelihood of profitable the Large 12 in 2023 — receiver Kody Epps and offensive lineman Connor Pay mentioned they not often pay any consideration to preseason predictions.
“In order for you me to maintain it utterly sincere with you, man, I haven’t checked out any of that stuff,” mentioned Epps, a rising sophomore (in eligibility) who briefly entered the switch portal earlier than deciding to return to BYU for his fourth 12 months in this system. “We haven’t talked as soon as about what video games we're going to win, not going to win, all that. We discuss exercises, getting higher, golf, issues of that nature.”
Added Pay, who in April after BYU wrapped up spring practices mentioned among the gamers stopped believing in themselves in 2022 after 4 straight losses in October: “Nothing coming from the skin issues to us this 12 months. Completely nothing.”
In plenty of methods, this BYU is completely completely different than the 2022 staff, with an (virtually) new defensive teaching employees led by new defensive coordinator Jay Hill. Defensive schemes have undergone a serious overhaul, as has BYU’s strategy to power and conditioning, as has been well-documented.
Throw in additional than 20 additions from the switch portal, greater than 20 departures to different squads, a handful of medical retirements and the same old slew of returned missionaries re-entering this system, and a few are projecting the ultimate 2023 roster may embrace as many as 50 new faces.
Identify tags could be wanted when preseason coaching camp opens in early August.
“Constructing chemistry and camaraderie goes to be a giant factor for this staff, and I really feel like we're on target with that,” Slovis mentioned. “We're excited for the chance to show ourselves. We'll have a look at predictions and all that stuff on the finish of the 12 months. We have now a protracted methods to go, however like I mentioned, I just like the course we're headed.”
Sitake and his employees have principally been on trip the previous few weeks — interrupted for the pinnacle coach by Wednesday’s Large 12 soccer media day in Arlington, Texas — however felt good in late June about what that they had completed within the offseason.
“It has been a bunch of recruiting, after which simply getting the roster in place,” Sitake mentioned of the employees’s exercise since mid-April. “I'm pleased with what the coordinators did when it comes to getting the appropriate guys right here, and dealing with the appropriate guys, going into the portal and ensuring we get the appropriate guys that match.”
Sitake mentioned the coordinators and assistant coaches gave suggestions to returning gamers and allow them to know the place they stood, or stand, in this system.
“I feel we improved fairly a bit in our depth,” Sitake mentioned. “I used to be actually pleased with the way in which the recruiting has gone. … I feel each coach goes to say they're pleased (in June), however wanting on the roster, wanting on the issues that we've added, taking a look at how our staff is working, man, I really feel actually good.”
Right here’s a fast have a look at how the Cougars’ offense, protection and particular groups will look in 2023, with the opener at Lavell Edwards Stadium in opposition to Sam Houston on Sept. 2 simply seven weeks away from this Saturday away:
Offensive strategy is working
With extremely profitable offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick once more pulling the strings, BYU’s offensive schemes, formations and performs gained’t change a lot, however the personnel actually will.
Gone are stars resembling Jaren Corridor, Chris Brooks, Puka Nacua, Gunner Romney and Blake Freeland; In are Slovis, new working again Aidan Robbins of Louisville/UNLV, Paul Maile of Utah and proper sort out Caleb Etienne, who has plenty of Large 12 familiarity as a result of he began in 13 video games for Oklahoma State final 12 months.
“We have now a protracted strategy to go. We have now to get so much higher,” Roderick mentioned after spring camp. “However we made some good progress, too.”
The Cougars averaged 426.3 yards per recreation final 12 months, which ranked them No. 36 within the nation in that class. Staying wholesome might be a problem for the returning offensive weapons, as Epps and fellow receivers Chase Roberts and Keanu Hill missed time final 12 months with accidents.
“Receiving corps is wanting good, robust and wholesome,” Epps mentioned in June. “We're going to be simply positive there.”
The Cougars snagged receivers Darius Lassiter (Japanese Michigan) and Keelan Marion (UConn) out of the switch portal, shoring up a place that wanted extra depth and expertise.
Different offensive newcomers embrace linemen Jake Eichorn (Weber State), Ian Fitzgerald (Missouri State) and Weylin Lapuaho (Utah State), inflicting Slovis to comment in June that the offensive line depth “might be the most effective (offensive) line depth I've ever been round.”
Protection did plenty of retooling
The numbers don’t paint a fairly image for BYU’s protection in 2022, because the Cougars completed the 8-5 marketing campaign with arguably its worst stats within the Sitake period. BYU was No. 97 in scoring protection (29.46 factors per recreation) and No. 94 in whole protection, giving up 408.1 yards per recreation.
An overhaul was wanted, and that’s what occurred, as Sitake changed longtime pal Ilaisa Tuiaki with Hill and Hill introduced in his guys, veterans resembling Justin Ena (linebackers), Sione Po’uha (line of defense) and Kelly Poppinga (edge rushers, particular groups).
“It's virtually a night-and-day distinction,” mentioned returning linebacker Ben Bywater of the protection’s new, aggressive type.
There have been additionally personnel adjustments, as contributors resembling George Udo (Cincinnati), Keenan Pili (Tennessee) and Gave Jeudy-Lally (Tennessee) hit the switch portal and have been changed with the likes of linebackers AJ Vongphachanh (Utah State) and Harrison Taggart (Oregon), cornerback Eddie Heckard (Weber State) and Boise State edge rusher Isaiah Bagnah.
Hill acknowledged that the protection wanted a expertise improve, along with extra work within the weight room. How his slew of adjustments will work stays to be seen.
“I feel simply this final 12 months, everybody anticipated us to take action nicely, and we additionally had excessive expectations for ourselves,” mentioned returning security Malik Moore, a staff chief. “And when it appeared like all the pieces was out of attain, I simply assume some issues simply kinda bought out of whack. It wasn’t the coaches’ fault. It was the gamers who have been on the sphere.”
A strong punter leads particular groups
There’s a cause BYU would be the solely faculty that brings its punter to the Large 12 soccer media days at AT&T Stadium this week. BYU punter Ryan Rehkow could be very, superb.
And it doesn’t harm that, as a result of Rehkow is 6-foot-6 and 235 kilos, he seems like a soccer participant.
As Poppinga takes over BYU’s particular groups, Rehkow will change into a safety blanket in 2023, fairly presumably the Veradale, Washington, native’s final 12 months in this system.
The remainder of the group has some query marks. BYU will look to interchange all-time main scorer Jake Oldroyd with both Justen Smith, Will Ferrin or Matthias Dunn at kicker.
Good luck with that. Neither was spectacular in spring camp, though Sitake refused to fret a lot about it when he was questioned about all of the misses.
“I'm not attempting to look fairly in follow,” Sitake mentioned.
Poppinga has mentioned he desires some game-changers for his kick returners, however fairly doubtless may use the identical guys that Ed Lamb used final 12 months: Hobbs Nyberg, Hinckley Ropati and Talmage Gunther, to call a number of.
2022 file: 8-5 (4-2 house, 3-2 away, 1-1 impartial)
Native ties:
- LB Chaz Ah You (Westlake HS).
- DE Tyler Batty (Payson HS).
- DB Jacob Boren (Highland HS).:
- S Ty Burke (Syracuse HS).
- QB Ryder Burton (Springville HS).
- LB Ben Bywater (Olympus HS).
- OL Kaden Chidester (Richfield HS).
- CB Caleb Christensen (Sky View HS).
- DT Jackson Cravens (Timpview HS).
- DE Michael Daley (Lone Peak HS).
- S Raider Damuni (Timpview HS).
- OL Sam Dawe (Spanish Fork HS).
- DT Wyatt Dawe (Nice Grove HS).
- WR Devin Downing (American Fork HS).
- Okay Matthias Dunn (Wasatch HS).
- FB Mason Fakahua (Cedar Metropolis HS).
- OL Peter Falaniko (Pine View HS).
- Okay Will Ferrin (Davis HS).
- LB Fortunate Finau (Alta HS).
- LB Isaiah Glasker (Bingham HS).
- WR Talmage Gunther (Lone Peak HS).
- QB Cole Hagen (Nook Canyon HS).
- WR Kyson Corridor (Maple Mountain HS).
- LB Ammon Hannemann (Lone Peak HS).
- RB Helu Nukuluve (Tooele HS).
- WR Tanner Holden (American Fork HS).
- RB Chase Hopkins (Olympus HS).
- LB Fisher Jackson (Herriman HS).
- LB Maika Kaufusi (Alta HS).
- OL Brayden Keim (Alta HS).
- WR Parker Kingston (Roy HS).
- OL Weylin Lapuaho (Bingham HS).
- DT Josh Larsen (Woods Cross HS).
- LB Logan Lutui (Hunter HS).
- DT Atunaisa Mahe (West Jordan HS).
- OL Paul Maile (East HS).
- OL Sonny Makasini (Timpview HS).
- DE Blake Mangelson (Juan HS).
- CB Marcus McKenzie (Pine View HS).
- DL Bruce Mitchell (South Summit HS).
- DE Aisea Moa (Weber HS).
- WR Kade Moore (Lehi HS).
- DL John Nelson (Salem Hills HS).
- WR Hobbs Nyberg (Dixie HS).
- TE Anthony Olsen (Olympus HS).
- OL Trevin Ostler (Bountiful HS).
- OL Connor Pay (Lone Peak HS).
- WR Chase Roberts (American Fork HS).
- DB Jakob Robinson (Orem HS).
- DE Physique Schoonover (American Fork HS).
- DE Nuuletau Sellesin (Woods Cross HS).
- DT Joshua Singh (Orem HS).
- S Ethan Slade (Orem HS).
- Okay Justen Smith (Brighton HS).
- OL Kingsley Suamataia (Orem HS).
- LB Max Tooley (Bountiful HS).
- FB Masen Wake (Lone Peak HS).
- S Crew Wakley (Jordan HS).
2023 schedule
Sept. 2 — Sam Houston.
Sept. 9 — Southern Utah.
Sept. 16 — at Arkansas.
Sept. 23 — at Kansas.
Sept. 29 — Cincinnati.
Oct. 14 — TCU.
Oct. 21 — Texas Tech.
Oct. 28 — at Texas.
Nov. 4 — at West Virginia.
Nov. 11 — Iowa State.
Nov. 18 — Oklahoma.
Nov. 25 — at Oklahoma State.
BYU’s Kedon Slovis runs the ball in the course of the annual Blue vs. White scrimmage at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, March 31, 2023.
Ryan Solar, Deseret Information