Football gets started with first practice of fall camp

PROVO, Utah - The BYU football team officially got back to work on the field for the 2017 season with the first fall camp practice on Thursday afternoon.

After reporting on Wednesday, members of the 2017 team went through a full camp schedule Thursday with team meetings, position meetings and a full practice in the late afternoon. 

Players participated in their usual warmup and conditioning work, individual skill drills, position drills along with 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 team sessions. 

BYU will practice for the next few weeks in camp before turning its attention to the season opener against Portland State at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, August 26. 

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The following quotes are from Thursday's post-practice media availabiity.

Head coach Kalani Sitake | Video
“Opening day and the first day of practice is always a lot of fun. There was a lot of excitement and we’re just going to keep it going. I was really pleased with what I saw today from the team and just really anxious to get to the next one now.”

“Our guys did a great job in the offseason preparing themselves and we’re really looking forward to this year. I think there’s a lot of guys who haven’t been on the field for a while so they’re antsy to get there. I think it’s a different feel than spring ball because you know the season’s right around the corner."

“I think the foundation’s been set. That’s what all of last year was about and the two spring balls that we have had. I feel really comfortable with now focusing on what our identity’s going to be in 2017.”

“For the most part I thought we worked really well and I’ve been really pleased with how our guys look and how they got really big and a lot more athletic and better as a team.”

“We are lot more familiar [compared to last year] with the players and we’ve developed a great relationship with all of them. It’s just a lot more comfortable for all of us so now we can focus on some other things now that we have the foundation set. Let’s get this thing going.”

“Our team is focused on getting our team ready and playing that first game. Out of respect for our first opponent we’re going to take it game by game. I know that’s an old cliché but that’s how we have to do it in this profession and as a football team.”

Offensive coordinator Ty Detmer | Video
"Overall, the guys are enthusiastic. The recall has been great, they have been working hard all summer with their own player run practices, so I think we are ahead of the game and we can progress a lot quicker than we did last year."

"Tanner’s leadership has really come through this offseason. You can see it out there, the confidence in the huddle that he has being the guy and that this his team, so it’s night and day difference."

We are working on executing and getting sharper. The guys understand the little things and their athleticism can flow. We have a lot of athletic guys, we just need them to understand it so they can go play and not overthink things."

"I feel like we have a good scheme. Football is a copy cat game, there is no great new play that somebody is running that no one has ever seen before, there’s a new wrinkle here or there but overall it’s guys playing with technique, understating it and executing it. The teams that do that the best and take care of the football usually win the game, so for us its just getting shaper and getting different looks."

Linebacker Fred Warner
“Things are moving a lot smoother, a lot quicker, which is great to see. We’re just flying around and having a good time.”

“The biggest thing that I worked on is my strength and just being a physical player. The biggest feedback I got this offseason was to be more physical, especially in the box. So now I’m just trying to run hard every play, trying to get to the ball and get in on as many plays that I can.”

“Words to describe our defense I would say relentless and speed. We’re all trying to get to the ball. We’re just trying to have some fun and you’re having fun when you’re making plays.

"It was a lot of fun today with guys flying around and making plays. Our job is to make the offense’s job hard. Sometimes it may look like the offense isn’t doing that well, but that just means that we are doing our job well."

Quarterback Tanner Mangum
“It feels good. It’s good to be back and I think there’s a lot of excitement and a little bit of nerves you know the new guys, it’s their first fall camp, first time coming out here. It could’ve been a little bit sharper but you know it’s first day so we’ve got to learn from the good things that we did and see what we can do better and come back and try to sharpen it up a knob but overall it’s a good feeling. It’s a beautiful day and it’s good to be out here playing football.”

“Being in the second year now with Coach Kalani, it just gets better and better. I feel like as each week, month goes by we’re gelling more as a team, we’re gelling more as a group and he sets a great example of loving everyone up and making sure that we’re all taken care of. He loves us and we love him and the whole coaching staff so we’re feeling comfortable, we’re feeling confident.”

“For the first few days, we’re giving everyone (all of the QB’s) equal reps just making sure those new guys are getting some opportunities to play to show what they can do and get them comfortable with the offense. And then obviously as we inch closer to game time, we’ll start narrowing down to the ones and two just making sure that we’re getting to where we need to be for Portland State.”

“The main thing is just ball control and ball security. I want to make sure I have a high completion percentage and then a turnover ratio, I want to keep that very low. I just want to make sure to take what the defense gives me, not trying to force things. You can’t go broke making a profit and I just want to work on that making sure I’m completing the ball.”

Defensive lineman Sione Takitaki
"My goal is to help my team in any way that I can. I'll be helping the D-line but we have a great group of guys that are still here. We have Corbin Kaufusi who has another year of working out and he is going to be great for us and so is Trajan Pili, Rhett Sandlin, we have a bunch of dudes. I am really excited for the D-line and for the season."

"I feel like I can [pick up where I left off]. We have the best weight and conditioning staff with Coach Nu'u and AJ. I've been working with them since January and I feel really good. I feel like I am ready. My body is telling me I am ready. It's going to be a great season."

My role is to try and do whatever I can to help the team. I feel like I will probably be rushing the quarterback, drop a little bit, but whatever I can do to help the team I am willing to do."