Fresh Start to Spring Ball

PROVO -- Spring ball officially got underway in Provo as the BYU football team held its first practice of the 2010 season on Monday afternoon. After spending the past few months conditioning and working indoors, it was a nice change of pace to get outside.

“It’s fun to be back out here,” said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall. “There are a lot of new faces and they’re all eager to be outside. There’s a freshness to this team.”

Losing 11 starters, four offensive and seven defensive, since the conclusion of the 2009 season due to graduation and missionary service, the Cougar coaching staff will spend the next few weeks evaluating a new crop of young players.

Three of those young players are quarterbacks Riley Nelson, James Lark and Jake Heaps. All three are hoping for an opportunity to fill the shoes left behind by departed senior Max Hall. Monday was their first chance to showcase their skills.

“All three of those young men are very skilled,” said Mendenhall. “It’s difficult to access their performances after one day, but they all have the skills necessary to lead this team.”

During 11-on-11 drills Nelson completed 5-of-7 passes for 33 yards. His longest pass of the day was a 13-yard completion to tight end Mike Muehlmann during blue zone work.

Heaps was 4-for-8 for 25 yards, including a 16-yard pass to Marcus Mathews. Lark was 0-for-3 on the day, and was hampered by an offensive line false start penalty and interception by sophomore defensive back Robbie Buckner.

The defense successfully held the offense out of the endzone on five of eight attempts, with pass breakups from senior defensive backs Brandon Bradley and Brian Logan. Defensive lineman Vic So'oto’s pressure on third-down forced an out-of-bounds pass to end one series.

The running backs was responsible for both touchdowns scored on the day. The first was a two-yard run by redshirt freshman Malosi Te'o off a hand-off from Heaps. The second score was a 36-yard run along the outside by Joshua Quezada. The true freshman led all rushers with 53 yards on three attempts.

Sophomore Riley Stephenson successfully converted a 29-yard field goal during blue zone work.

The team will resume practice on Tuesday. It is closed to the public.