BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff vs. Oklahoma on November 18, 2023 (Courtesy of BYU Photo)
The Cougars start fall camp just about a month from today. BYU Football looks to begin its revenge tour for its second season in the Big 12. The Cougars will start fall camp with plenty of questions that will need to be answered before August 31st against Southern Illinois. In this article, there will be position battles, what to expect from the Cougars, and information about the new coaches.
BYU Football Expectations
Offense
This is going to be a group that is on the up trend for the Cougars. With a new quarterback, a group of running backs who are ready to show what they are made of. The Tight ends are out for revenge after not seeing the field much last season and the offensive line is solid behind a new coach and Connor Pay. BYU has to have a solid offense to win games. The Cougars want to come out strong and not give up that is where they hurt themselves last season. They would get in a groove and think they had the win but then loosen up which gave the other team more fuel to their fire.
Defense
The defense was solid until injuries occurred and then it fell apart. It hurt to be down leaders who did try and lead from the sideline. This year they will come out with vengeance to win games. Ben Bywater and Tyler Batty are ready to lead this defense and keep BYU in games. They did that last year but didn’t have the offense to back them up and keep them off the field.
Special Teams
This part of the team has always been solid and will remain that whoever is on the team. BYU does have a punter to figure out because their professional field flipper has moved onto the NFL. The return game has to step it up and give the offense a better field position.
Overall
This team could be dangerous if they can work as one on and off the field. They have to come in strong and not let up. They also can’t get behind and work back to come back it isn’t their strong suit. The Cougars could win 7 or 8 games if they stick to the game plan and have a solid one for the offense.
Record
The Cougars will go 8-5. Look for an article later on the schedule prediction for this season.
Position Battles
Quarterback Battle
This battle is really between Retzlaff and Bohanon. These two showed last season at South Florida and BYU what they are made of. For the Cougar’s sake, it’s time they pick one who isn’t a transfer and stay in the house. The transfer portal has only hurt BYU when it has come to quarterbacks who are there for a year or two. It’s time to start Retzlaff let him continue to work with the wide receivers and build up a repour with the offense line. BYU should start him so that they can build a Big 12-level team.
Running Backs
The running backs have been in a shamble since the Cougars brought in a ton of transfers who don’t know or trust each other. BYU again needs to stay loyal to the ones they recruited in high school. These normally don’t transfer know what BYU does and are ready to outwork anyone. For the running backs the Cougars need to turn to Miles Davis and LJ Martin. These two have been tremendous in the past and are ready to fight again for the blue.
Tight End
The Tight Ends are a revolving door of who used to be wide receivers or who could be great. The only problem is that they aren’t used because it looks like Aaron Roderick doesn’t trust them. This is a problem for winning games in college nowadays you have to use your tight ends. This season the Cougars will need to turn to Keanu Hill, Jackson Bowers, and Ryner Swanson.
BYU Photo
Coaching intros
TJ Woods OL/ run game coordinator
TJ Woods has been coaching since 2003. He started his playing career at Citrus Junior College where he played in 1999 and then he transferred to Iowa State to play a season he then finished his playing years at Azusa Pacific from 2001-2002.
- Azusa Pacific GA 2003, TE 2004-2005
- Citrus College OL/ Run game coordinator 2006
- New Mexico GA OL 2007-2008
- Utah State TE, ST 2009-2010, OL 2011-2012, OL 2019
- Wisconsin OL 2013-2014
- Oregon State OL 2015, OL/TE Co-OC 2016, OL/ Run game coordinator 2017
- Western Kentucky OL 2018
- UNLV OL 2021, Co-OC/ OL 2022
- Georgia Southern OL and Run game coordinator 2023
- BYU Football OL and Run game coordinator 2024-present
Kevin Gilbride TE
Kevin Gilbride has been coaching since 2003. He started his playing career at BYU in 1998 and then transferred to Hawaii for Football and Baseball from 1999-2003.
- Syracuse GA 2003-2005
- Georgetown TE, ST 2006
- Temple WR 2007-2009
- New York Giants Offensive quality control 2010, Offensive Assistant 2011, WR 2012-2013, TE 2014-2017
- Bears TE 2018-2019
- Panthers Defensive Analyst 2021, TE 2022
- Charlotte Offensive Analyst 2023
- BYU TE 2024-present
