BYU offensive lineman, Kingsley Suamataia blocks defensive finish Isaiah Bagnah, because the Cougars apply in Provo on Friday, March 17, 2023. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Coach Kalani Sitake and coordinators Aaron Roderick and Jay Hill are finalizing apply scripts for the opening of fall soccer camp subsequent week as August rolls in. By formalizing the roster, making room for transfers and returning missionaries, casual exercises have been happening for the reason that finish of June when gamers reported to campus. For the primary time in 13 years, a BYU workers is doing in order a member of a convention — the Huge 12.
Cougar Insider predictions
Query of the week: As BYU’s soccer camp opens subsequent week, BYU’s protection shall be beneath scrutiny due to modifications, however the offensive line (returners and additions) is likely to be an intriguing storyline. Predict what spots for competitors may show worthy of curiosity in coming weeks.
Jay Drew: A few high-profile newcomers — Oklahoma State’s Caleb Etienne and Utah’s Paul Maile — have added some much-needed depth to BYU’s offensive line in 2023. That was wanted with the losses of Blake Freeland to the NFL and the Barrington brothers — Clark and Campbell — to Baylor. Harris LaChance and Joe Tukuafu additionally moved on.
Most individuals who comply with personnel carefully are predicting that Etienne and Maile will transfer into beginning roles. We'll see.
BYU’s possible early-round draft decide subsequent April, Kingsley Suamataia, will be penciled in as a starter. Connor Pay has seemingly nailed down the beginning middle spot. Who would be the fifth starter? I’m pondering Utah State switch Weylin Lapuaho has a great probability. Huge Brayden Keim can be within the combine to start out, together with Missouri State switch Ian Fitzgerald. Ought to be some attention-grabbing battles to observe.
Dick Harmon: Darrell Funk will without end be in comparison with Jeff Grimes. Can Funk develop expertise? Can he recruit? Can he coach, can he make in-game modifications, can he hold gamers blissful? Nicely, this previous cycle, he did herald some spectacular expertise like Etienne, Maile, Fitzgerald and Lapuaho. I don’t suppose they transferred to be downgraded. They're anxious to discover a function and make an affect alongside Suamataia and Pay. Keim can have a say within the competitors and shall be pushed as he pushes for a spot.
I believe the depth Funk has assembled for this primary yr within the Huge 12 will show to be one of many essential cornerstones of what BYU will get performed this season. I believe Lapuaho, Etienne and Maile will make a big impact for Funk and Roderick.
It's time for Funk to create his personal shadow. This would be the season.
Cougar tales
There have been just a few surprises and some anticipated departures from BYU’s soccer roster that the athletic division launched previous to Huge 12 media days in Arlington, Texas. Here's a breakdown of roster departures by Jay Drew.
Right here is how BYU’s first hoops season within the Huge 12 will proceed.
From the archives
rom the Twitterverse
How powerful was Huge 12 hoops? (@JonRothstein)
Tyler Allgeier receives excessive reward (@_MLFootball)
Meet the brand new Huge 12 teachers (@SSN_UCF)
Additional factors
10 gamers destined for an enormous yr (Cougs Each day)
Slovis joins distinctive BYU QB roll name (KSL Sports activities)
Holmoe believes BYU shall be higher than eleventh (Salt Lake Tribune)
Fanalyst
Feedback from Deseret Information readers:
That is actually simply the fact of faculty soccer because it now stands.
Alabama has had over 20 gamers enter the portal with 12 of them being scholarship gamers. They, doubtless, are transferring on for a special purpose than gamers for BYU or Utah (they've extra choices as increased recruits) however dropping some gamers just isn't actually a foul factor.
As coach Whit stated, many switch portal entries are mutual choices the place the participant can go someplace that they've a shot of constructing the three-deep
I'm a Utes fan however BYU just isn't in a foul place so far as the portal. That stated, pleasure about being within the prime 25 portal rankings can be being overblown. For those who take a look at the standard of gamers acquired by means of the portal, it mirrors what we see in highschool recruiting rankings. The blue-chip applications get the blue-chip transfers whereas everybody else picks up what's left.
It stays to be seen if it will likely be a internet achieve or internet loss for BYU however that's true for just about everybody.
— PhineasGuage
I like Hans’ YouTube movies the place he breaks down performs that labored or didn’t work and can present you what led to the success or failure. Ought to be a pleasant add to the printed workforce subsequent season. Riley did a pleasant job doing the colour and offered good enter from a QB perspective. Hans will carry us the blue collar within the trenches view of issues.
— Gruncie Ralph
Up subsequent
Aug. 5 | 7 p.m. | Soccer | Blue vs White | Provo
Aug. 10 | 5 p.m. | Soccer | Rutgers | @New Brunswick, New Jersey
Aug 12 | 7 p.m. | Soccer | Idaho State | Provo
Aug. 17 | 7 p.m. | Soccer| St. Louis | Provo