Receivers, Mathews praised as Cougars begin second week of spring practices

The second week of spring football practices got underway Tuesday with the team’s fourth practice session thus far. In all, the Cougars will practice 15 times before finishing spring drills on April 3.

As a reminder for fans wanting to get a spring glimpse of the team, the annual Spring Scrimmage will be open to the public at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Friday night, March 27. The “Friday Night Lights” event is free and starts at 5 p.m. with a Kids Clinic conducted by members of the team for schoolchildren up to the eighth grade. The team practice and scrimmage will follow at 6 p.m.

On Tuesday the team took to the outdoor practice field for the first time after three practices last week in the Indoor Practice Facility. The Cougars took part in the usual position-specific drills, fine-tuning speed, agility, strength, awareness and effort. Practice highlights included Taysom Hill's long touchdown pass to Nick Kurtz and a fingertip grab from Hill to receiver Travis Frey. Also highlighting the receiving corps were Colby Pearson's catch and Mitchell Juergens' receptions. Defensive backs Garrett Juergens and Grant Jones had consecutive pass breakups with the defense pinned back against the end zone.

The team recently added several walk-ons to the spring roster in wide receivers Anthony Armstrong, Connor Humphrey and Elliot Knox, offensive linemen Jordan Franks and Zack Hofheins, running back Jake Hougaard, defensive lineman Chad Cather and kicker Austin Brasher.  BYU has also announced that deep snapper Matt Foley out of California and outside linebacker Scott Huntsman and quarterback Koy Detmer Jr., both from Texas, have signed an offer of admission and will join the team this fall. Detmer is the son of former NFL quarterback Koy Detmer and the nephew of former BYU and NFL quarterback Ty Detmer.

BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall addressed the first practice outside and indicated he is pleased with what the team has been able to do thus far in spring.

“It was cold this morning, ice on the field when we started, but about halfway through it was sunny and nice,” Mendenhall said. “I think (practices) have been productive. We are getting a lot done on the field.”

Mendenhall praised the efforts of senior wide receiver Mitch Mathews not only during spring but also his previous work during conditioning workouts in January and February.

“Mitch is having a great spring so far,” Mendenhall explained. “And I think he won every drill in the offseason conditioning, every sprint, I don’t think he finished second one time. He’s done a nice job.”

Quarterback Taysom Hill also expressed high accolades for Mathews as he assessed the team and his return after a season-ending injury during the 2014 season.

“Our receiving corps is extremely good,” Hill said. “I think a guy like Mitch is one of the best in the country. I honestly believe that, and I think he’ll continue to show that. And I don’t think Nick Kurtz is far behind.”

“This is probably the best, most competitive spring practice I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Mathews acknowledged. “With guys being healthy, guys being on the field and guys wanting to compete for a spot. It’s been very organized, very competitive and I really appreciate that as a player. Being a leader, it’s really refreshing to see that. I think things are going really well.”

Hill also discussed his style of play as a dual-threat quarterback and approach to leading the team against a 2015 schedule of opponents that is considered among the most challenging in school history.

“At the end of the day, I know me, and I’m going to do whatever it takes (for the team) to win,” Hill said. “I realize there’s a balance and that I’m more of a help to the team healthy than I am hurt, so I’m also trying to balance that and factor that in. But it’s not an easy thing, and, come game time, I’m going to do what it takes to win.”

Mendenhall addressed Hill’s ability to help the team both as runner and passer and the importance of his role as a team leader.

“(Our offense) is going to look very similar other than we will have less truly designed quarterback runs,” Mendenhall said. “Our hope is that we won’t call as many designed Taysom-specific run plays, and if there are those, the sliding and running out of bounds is preferred after getting a first down.”

The team will conduct its fifth practice of spring on Thursday morning.

QUOTES
Bronco Mendenhall

On the leadership:

That's probably the biggest positive or takeaway so far, is the senior class. We have holdover captains. We have Taysom and Remington, so there's already an existing learning curve that we didn't have to go through because they both were captains a year ago. I think we've made significant strides in terms of player leadership already.

On using referees in practice:

It's not necessarily injuries nor does it necessarily mean you're going to play better...it doesn't always mean better play, but there are a few types of penalties that we need to clean up and those are the ones before and after the whistle.

On development of receivers:

They're doing a nice job so far. Mitch as I already mentioned is doing really well. Devon Blackmon has really come along nicely, and then Nick Kurtz is back. If you say just the playmaking ability and dynamic guys that can do it, there's that level. Then when you add Terenn Houk to the mix, and then you add Colby Pearson to the mix, and then you add Mitch Juergens to the mix, there are six targets at least before you even consider other depth players.

QB Taysom Hill

I feel like if I was to play—if we had to play a game on Saturday—I feel like I could do it. I don’t think I would be nearly as explosive as I will be in about a month or two, but I think I could play at a high enough level to be successful.

Mitch (Mathews) and I got here at the same time, got home from missions at the same time. We were good friends right from the beginning and we started throwing together ever since January of 2012, so that chemistry, that connection—whatever you want to call it—has been really good and through the injury there’s been no breakdown.

WR Mitch Mathews

Between Taysom and me personally, I think it’s one of those things where we always want to do better in everything we do. We’ll go play PIG on a basketball court or go play golf and we’re always competing. He knows I want to play at the next level. He knows I want to play and win every single game this year, so he’s keeping me accountable in every single part of my game: drop the ball or run a wrong route, he’s keeping me accountable and knows I’m not going to get offended by anything he says, and vice versa. It’s that relationship we’ve built since we got home off our missions and it’s worked really well.

I think we have the right leaders right now. Our best players are our best leaders. I played in the 2009 season with Dennis Pita, Max Hall and those guys when we went 11-2 and finished 12th in the country. Those were some of the best leaders I’ve ever played with, and I have that same feeling about the guys we have now. Our best players are our best leaders and are very competitive guys. From me to Taysom to Bronson to all the other seniors: we’re competitive guys and we don’t let anything slide. I think it’s the right leader in the right place at the right time that makes everything competitive.