Cougars Learning Roles

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PROVO -- BYU football concluded its final regular practice before a scrimmage on Wednesday wraps up fall camp.

“Every player knowing their role and what might be expected of them,” said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall on the transition from fall camp to regular season practices. “I’m talking mostly about the younger players now. The clearer they are with the role they’re playing, the quicker the chemistry and the quicker our scout work and game preparation come.”

The Cougars ran a shortened 11-on-11 segment on Tuesday, with freshman quarterback Jake Heaps running one drive and junior quarterback Riley Nelson under snap for two.

Heaps completed a short pass to senior wide receiver Luke Ashworth and junior running back J.J. Di Luigi had a two-yard run. On third down, senior linebacker Shane Hunter intercepted a pass to end the drive.

The offense came back to score a touchdown on a 70-yard drive as Nelson went 6-of-6 for 62 yards. After completing passes to junior Spencer Hafoka and freshman Joshua Quezada, Nelson pitched the ball out to freshman Ryan Folsom on an option left for a gain of 10 yards.

Senior B.J. Peterson, Quezada and sophomore Rhen Brown snagged three consecutive completions before a fumbled snap pushed the offense back two yards to the 15-yard line. On the next play, Nelson found junior Matt Marshall down the middle of the field for the touchdown.

On the final possession, Di Luigi and junior Bryan Kariya each had a short run before a pass breakup by freshman defensive back Jordan Johnson ended the session.

The team will scrimmage on Wednesday before beginning preparations on Thursday to play Washington on Saturday, Aug. 4.