PROVO — BYU is still eight practices away from finishing preparation for the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 22 in Sam Boyd Stadium, and head coach Bronco Mendenhall expects expanded involvement from coaches and players — even though it is final exam week.
Last week, almost all coaches were out recruiting, leaving a skeleton crew of coaches to manage light workouts.
"We got in a lot of running last week so now we're ready to go full speed and it isn't that much of a hit for us," said offensive tackle Jake Kuresa.
"We'll have expanded time now with more of the coaches here," Mendenhall said. "It's not a normal game week and it doesn't need to be at this point since we're eight practices away. With each day closer, the practices expand and so do the coaches' hours. We're on track according to the model we have set. At the expense of being on the road recruiting, playing well and winning a football game will override any time we spend on the road."
Mendenhall said he may extend scholarship offers to mid-year recruits by the end of the week, but he is evaluating each of the prospects with more scrutiny under his recruiting model this fall and winter.
Recruits undergo an extensive evaluation by assistant coaches complete with checks with coaches, school officials, parents and clergy. While on campus, each recruit meets with either the dean of student life or a campus chaplain. Mendenhall then interviews the recruit and outlines what is expected as a BYU student athlete. He then compares notes with administrators and even weighs feedback from football players who escorted recruits around campus for their official 48-hour visit.
"I will not give out a scholarship to an athlete based on talent alone," Mendenhall said. "I want to make sure there is a fit. That process is ongoing."
NOTES: The specter of BYU's returned missionary football players will be the focus of a pre-bowl feature in the Contra Costa Times. Tight end Jonny Harline, quarterback John Beck and receiver Zac Collie were interviewed for the story on Monday. Harline served in the Bronx and Harlem in New York City. Collie went to Brazil and Beck served in Portugal. No word if Beck and Collie use audibles in Portuguese . . . BYU had four junior college defensive backs in for official visits over the weekend and may extend an offer to at least two, possibly three by the end of the week. They included Will Rivers from College of the Desert, Tico Pringle from Snow College, Damion Porter from Long Beach City College and Michael McCoy from San Bernadino Junior College. A fifth DB, Justin Tryon from College of the Canyons, could make a trip to Provo this week. This past weekend, recruit player escorts were linebacker Justin Leuttgerodt, quarterback Brock Hansen and tight end Andrew George . . . Half a dozen players stayed after practice working on the passing game. Beck joined Todd Watkins, Matt Allen, Collie and Nathan Meikle in doing patterns a half hour after the one-hour practice on Monday. "My ankle feels good; I'm close to a hundred percent," Collie said. In the Las Vegas Bowl, Collie will be battling against a former high school teammate in the Bears' all-Pac 10 center Marvin Phillips. "I haven't talked to him about the game, but I know we're both anxious to play against one another," Collie said.
E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com