PROVO — After sophomore quarterback Riley Nelson took snaps with the second-team offense on Friday, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall announced that Nelson is the new backup to starter Max Hall.

While this news didn't come as a great surprise, the way it all happened was certainly unexpected.

On Thursday, senior Brenden Gaskins, who has been the No. 2 quarterback since 2007, asked to meet with Mendenhall and told him that, for the best of the program, Nelson should be backing up Hall. Gaskins said he would be fine with dropping to No. 3 on the depth chart in order to provide Nelson with more snaps and much-needed experience.

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"I had one of the most remarkable conversations I've ever had with a player in my life as Brenden Gaskins came to me," Mendenhall said. "I've never, ever experienced a conversation like that with a young man in my life. I was more impressed with him than maybe any other player I've coached because of that conversation. It wasn't initiated by me or any other coach. He just wants to help our program."

Mendenhall said it's time for Nelson "to get more work. As of today, Riley will be listed as the backup. That doesn't mean that the job is his regardless of how he plays. Our now third-team quarterback, Brenden Gaskins, believes (Nelson) is worth the investment. It's an amazing thing and one of the most humbling and gratifying things since I've coached here. Brenden's thought was, this will happen eventually. Why not help our team more now? Certainly, it was team above self. A lot of people talk about it, but that's the clearest demonstration I've seen."

Nelson completed 7-of-11 passes for 46 yards on Friday.

MORE INJURIES: Freshman offensive lineman Houston Reynolds suffered a torn ACL in his right knee on Friday morning. Reynolds is the third offensive lineman to go down in fall camp, along with older brother Matt Reynolds, the starting left tackle who broke his hand last week. Also last week, left guard Jason Speredon sustained a season-ending torn rotator cuff injury.

Houston Reynolds had been working as second-string right guard.

Meanwhile, starting safety Andrew Rich was carted off the field Friday due to tightness in his groin.

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SCRIMMAGE TODAY: The Cougars will hold their second scrimmage of fall camp today at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mendenhall said he wants his team to get in between 55-70 plays.

NO. 11: Fullback Manase Tonga returned to practice Friday and he wore his familiar No. 11 jersey. A year ago, wide receiver O'Neill Chambers wore No. 11, but switched to No. 4 this season.

"O'Neill was kind enough to let me get it back, knowing that it's my last year," Tonga said. "I have to thank O'Neill for that and take him out to lunch or something."

e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com

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