One of the dark-horse candidates in the BYU quarterback race is Tom Young, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
Young, the brother of former Cougar quarterbacks Steve and Mike, came to BYU in 1988 from Greenwich, Conn., and played that season for the junior varsity. Then he went on a mission to Toronto, and since his return he's become something of the forgotten man."I like it that way," the sophomore said, smiling broadly. "I'd rather be the surprise guy who comes in one day and plays great."
That, of course, is what happened to his brother, Steve, who came off the bench in a 1981 game against Colorado and had people asking, "Who is this guy?" He went on to finish second in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1983 and now plays for the San Francisco 49ers.
Like Steve, Tom ran an option attack in high school, running the ball more than passing it. He spent the past summer working on his throwing with Steve, and he thinks his improvement there, along with his running ability, make him a good quarterback.
"The coaches here like to see a guy drop back in the pocket and look comfortable, and I'm working on that," he said. "But I'm the kind of quarterback who can make things happen."
Young said his goal this year is just to get noticed. "I'll be looking to surprise some people, open some eyes," he said. "I just want a shot."
Finally, asked to compare his talent to Steve's at the same stage, Tom quickly said, "I'm better. I have the same abilities, I just lack the playing time."
DEPTH CHARTS: Even before practice officially began, the Cougars had made some changes from the depth chart published a month ago in the media guide.
Eric Drage, listed as the first-string split end in the guide, dropped to third team. He was replaced on the first unit by sophomore Bryce Doman, while Nati Valdez moved up to the second team.
Mike Jenkins, the Cougars' jumbo center, slipped from the first team when he reported to camp at 354 pounds, 14 more than what the coaches want to see him packing. Junior Garry Pay, at a svelte 265 pounds, replaces him.
INJURY REPORT: Cornerback Tony Crutchfield underwent exploratory arthroscopy Tuesday after suffering pain in a knee, but no new damage was found and he is expected to practice by late next week. Crutchfield had the knee operated on after last season.
Linebackers Rocky Biegel and Jared Leavitt, who had shoulder and neck surgery, respectively, both say they are healed.
FRESHMAN CLASS: BYU lost another member of its highly touted recruiting class. Shane Werley, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive lineman from Aurora, Colo., reported to camp but left the team for undisclosed reasons and returned home. Earlier, the Cougs learned that defensive back Hassan-Kareem McCullough of Pasadena, Calif., failed to gain admission because of academic reasons.