Final Practice Showcases Younger Cougars

PROVO -- The BYU football team wrapped up its final practice of the spring with a short scrimmage outdoors on Friday, highlighting the Cougars’ younger players.

“Today was fun,” said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall. “We had a chance to put in a lot of younger players who didn’t have a lot of opportunities this spring. It’s exciting for them and for their families.”

Coming into spring practice the team had several goals, including solidifying the depth chart and developing the program’s younger players. According to Mendenhall, those goal were met.

“I’m encouraged by what I’ve seen over the past few weeks,” he said. “Every position was up for grabs coming in. Other than the four members of the secondary who will join us later this fall, we now know our two-deep. If history serves, five or six true freshman will play and contribute this fall.”

The offense scored two touchdowns during 7-on-7 drills, including scoring passes to wide receivers McKay Jacobson and Tyler Kozlowski. Sophomore Matthew Edwards also caught a long pass of over 25 yards.

Starting on their own 20-yard line, senior quarterback Max Hall and the first-team offense led the opening series of the scrimmage. Hall threw a deep 33-yard ball to junior Luke Ashworth for the first play of the day. Running back Harvey Unga caught a short two-yard pass and sophomore J.J. Di Luigi ran for a five-yard gain before getting brought down by junior defensive back Andrew Rich. An incompletion on third-down sent kicker Mitch Payne in to attempt a 48-yard field goal—which was ruled good.

The second-team defense stepped in on the following drive, with linebacker Jeff Bell recording a sack on the first play. Quarterback Brenden Gaskins completed back-to-back passes to Rex Morgan and Jonathan McCullough for a combined 16 yards, but could not convert on third-and-eight. In to punt was sophomore Tyler Holt. During the scrimmage both Steven Thomas and Ashworth saw practice at punt returns.

Freshman tight end Mike Muehlmann caught an eight-yard pass from Hall to start the next series. Hall also found Unga for another short pass, which the runner turned into an 18-yard gain, thanks in part to good blocking from the offensive line. On the following play Di Luigi carried the ball, with Hall clearing a path in front. While the play was stopped short, as to not incur injury on Hall, the senior recorded big hits on several defensive players, including Rich.

“I told Andrew [Rich] later that I’ve been lifting all season for that,” joked Hall. “I don’t think I was supposed to do that, but it was fun.”

The only touchdown of the day was made on the next play as Hall connected with sophomore Matt Marshall for a 40-yard score.

“Our team is a lot more enthusiastic on the field this spring,” said Hall. “I think we can be as good as we want to be if we keep working hard.”

The defense forced several third-and-outs on the next few series against the second- and third-team offenses. Ryan Love, Shane Hunter and Bell all recorded tackles during that stretch. Younger players, like running backs Tucker Lamb and Malosi Te'o, saw more reps out of the backfield.

Gaskins led the offense down the field for a 26-yard field goal on the final drive of the day. The march downfield was aided by a 44-yard completion to Jacobson.

During the scrimmage Hall completed 5-of-6 passes for 104 yards and one touchdown. Gaskins was 9-of-15 for 98 yards. Payne was a perfect 2-of-2 on field goal attempts and converted one PAT.

Several former Cougars were on hand to watch the final scrimmage, including wide receiver Nathan Meikle, safety Kellen Fowler and linebackers Kelly Poppinga and David Nixon.

Looking ahead to the spring and summer months, the Cougars will be on their own in terms of conditioning and preparing for the 2009 season until they report to fall camp in August. It’s during these next few months Mendenhall says the players learn more about each other and really come together as a team.

“Almost all of our players will be around during the spring and summer months,” he said. “It is a discretionary and voluntary time when they get a chance to gel and work together on their own, without any coaches. It’s just about them.”

Though there will be no official team practices or workouts, the 2009 Cougars are eager to prepare for the upcoming season and are self-motivated and willing to get started.

“I like the demeanor and desire of this team,” said Mendenhall. “They are fun to be around and that’s why I like coaching—because it’s fun. This team is perhaps the most fun of any to be around.”