Tight ends and receivers look to prove themselves during fall camp

PROVO, Utah – The BYU football team finished it final regular practice of fall camp Wednesday afternoon before Thursday's last scrimmage.

A Look at the Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
New wide receiver coach Fesi Sitake is looking to take another step forward with the wide receivers as some emerge as playmakers.

In spring, junior Micah Simon took on the leadership role for the wide receivers becoming one of the top targets. Aleva Hifo, who had the top marks from the 2017 crew also returns for his junior season.

Other returning juniors include Talon Shumway and Akile Davis, who are looking to find playing time as well as returning sophomore Neil Pau’u. A familiar face to BYU, senior Dylan Collie returns as a graduate transfer after playing at Hawai’i. The Cougars also add freshmen Gunner Romney, Brayden Cosper and Dax Milne.

Steve Clark continues to coach the tight ends in 2018 and is hoping to add more pieces to complement Freshman All-American Matt Bushman. Bushman led all FBS freshman tight ends with 49 receptions, 520 yards and three touchdowns last season. Also returning is converted offensive lineman JJ Nwigwe, a senior who took reps last year as a tight end, as well as junior Moroni Laulu-Pututau, who missed the 2017 season after being injured in fall camp last year. Junior Addison Pulsipher has also made the transition from O-line to tight end during fall camp.

Freshman Dallin Holker has turned heads during BYU’s 2018 fall camp and is competing for playing time. Holker is joined by fellow freshmen Hank Tuipulotu and Benjamin Ward.

The following quotes are from Wednesday post-practice media avalibility.

Head coach Kalani Sitake
On the starting quarterback
“It’s about to the time when we are going to make that decision so we can move on to preparation for the first game and get the right guys the reps. I think we’ll get that nailed down along with all the other positions on the team.”

Thoughts on special teams
“I think Skyler Southam has done a great job with placekicking duties and Rhett Almond has done some really good things punting. We have a good group of kick returners. I think Michael Shelton, Aleva Hifo, Dylan Collie and Dayan Ghanwoloku can all do it. It will just be a matter of who will be punt returner and who will be the kick returners. We’re going to have more than one guy who can do it.” 

Thoughts on the newcomers to the team
“I’m really excited about the young guys, you could name them all. I just think of the four freshmen defensive backs we have. The corners are going to be something. They’re just young guys, but they’ve got so much potential.” 

“I like the young offensive line and I’m really pleased with Dallin Holker. He’s going to be a really good player and he’s done that all fall camp. Gunner Romney has some really good potential and we forget that Zach Wilson, Jaren Hall and Tyler Allgeier are all freshmen. The young guys have stepped in and taken advantage of the summer bridge program. I think I’ve left some of them out, but these freshmen are ready to play more than other freshmen we’ve had at this point.”

Quarterback coach Aaron Roderick
On offensive progression
"I think we’re making good progress. We’re not game-ready yet but we’re getting close. We’re on schedule. I think we have a good team. The team practices with a lot of attention to detail. They’ve practiced with a chip on their shoulder. We have a group of guys that’s hungry and wants to prove something. It’s fun to coach guys like that. Our practices have been very competitive because they want to win."

On expectations for quarterbacks in scrimmage
"Just play a clean game and take care of the ball. I expect them to operate efficiently and move the chains. We ask a lot of our quarterbacks. It’s not just throwing touchdown passes, it’s running the team and managing situations. Tomorrow is going to be a lot of situation football. It’s about doing all the right things that give you a chance to win. We want to be a smart team that always gives ourselves a chance."

On development of Jaren Hall
"Jaren came home from his mission in great shape. You rarely see a returned missionary that’s in that good of physical condition right away. He was ready to play right when he got home, at least physically. He’s a smart guy, he has a fast release and he’s accurate. He’s caught up quickly and he’s fighting to be in the mix out here. He has a bright future. Baylor Romney is a great player as well. Sometimes we have to make tough decisions because there aren’t enough reps to give everybody a chance every day. The gap from our top guy to a little more down the list is pretty narrow. These guys are good players and it’s fun to coach them." 

On impact of scrimmage on determining the starting quarterback
"It’s a factor. The whole body of work leading up to this has played into it as well and tomorrow is just another day of information that we gather to decide what we’re going to do. We’re really close to naming a guy. I’m just about there. Coach Grimes and Sitake and I will decide soon. I think we have a good plan and it’s just about there." 

On how the receivers have progressed through fall camp
"They’re getting better every day. They’re probably the group that has the biggest chip on their shoulder. They understand that they have a lot to prove and I think they’re good players. They’re getting better all the time. I think there’s some depth there but we have to prove it. I keep reminding them that every day and so does Fesi Sitake but it doesn’t mean anything until we do it in a game."

Tight end Dallin Holker
On his experience so far at BYU
"It’s been good getting to know the offense and being able to learn from everybody and all the seniors. They all help me out a lot. It’s good to learn from JJ Nwigwe, Matt Bushman and Moroni Laulu-Pututau. All of the older guys, they’re all helping me."

On his preparation at Lehi High School
"The coaches at Lehi got me really prepared. They ran a pretty hard offense over there, but it’s nothing like a college offense, but it got me pretty prepared to try and know everything."

Linebacker Butch Pau’u
Thoughts on going into practice the week before a game
"We look good, I think we look great right now as a defense—speaking form a defensive perspective. Offense looks great, they did really well against us the first scrimmage and we did well the second scrimmage. We’re just continuing to compete. Monday we did well, Tuesday we did well, so it’s good to see both sides are doing well and we’re continuing to get each other better and ready for Arizona and for the rest of the season."

On the putting pressure on the offense
"I think what’s stepped up is the defensive line. A lot of guys don’t give our defensive line enough credit. I mean we have Khyiris Tonga, Corbin Kaufusi, Merrill Taliauli and guys who have been here for a while. They just know how to get to the quarterback. When it comes to blitzes, because our offensive line has to take on those four guys, it creates space for our linebackers to hit home and get to the quarterback."

On the chemistry between the linebackers
"We get along really well. Zayne’s a guy who not very many people know about just because he’s not very vocal, but when he’s in the classroom and when he’s just around in the locker room, Zayne’s a pretty funny guy. Everyone loves Sione, I mean, he’s the loud one out of the linebacker group. We all just mesh well together."

Quarterback Jaren Hall
On quarterback battle and fall camp
"It’s enjoyable being here with the team and getting back into football.  It’s been a good learning experience to be behind guys like Tanner Mangum and Joe Critchlow. They’ve had experience, done well and been very successful. For a young guy like myself to come in and learn from them, it’s been fun. I’ve learned a lot about the game in the few months that I’ve been here so far."

On family helping him adjust to BYU
"My brother KJ Hall is like another coach. He knows the offense as well as the quarterbacks so he’s been really big help on the side. My family has talked to me about BYU before I got here. They’ve always prepared me for it. It’s a wonderful academic school and that’s the first priority. It’s tough and it’s a grind but they helped and prepared me for that."

On personal progression since returning from mission
"I’ve progressed pretty well in just understanding the offense much better. Coach Roderick does a great job of keeping things simple for us and really just making football a simple game. College is a lot faster pace but it’s still football."