LAS VEGAS — BYU's football program has been through a similar situation before.
Going into the 2007 season, the Cougars had to replace offensive stars at quarterback, running back and tight end. Despite breaking in new players, BYU responded by posting an 11-2 record.
Going into the 2010 campaign, the Cougars must replace their all-time winningest quarterback (Max Hall), all-time leading rusher (Harvey Unga) and all-time leader in receptions (Dennis Pitta).
Coach Bronco Mendenhall doesn't want to draw too many parallels to the '07 team, but Tuesday during Mountain West Conference Football Media Day at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, he said compensating for the loss of Hall, Unga and Pitta will require a team effort.
"The best teams that we've had at BYU, and the ones I've enjoyed the most, it was about the collective, not the individual," Mendenhall said. "The idea is, I have such trust and belief in the kids who come and their abilities, I think it will end up working itself out. Even though it looks like, 'Who's going to throw it? Who's going to run it? Who's going to catch it?' I think as long as they're focusing on the collective and BYU football, that's what ends up letting them having the success they need. That's what my focus will be on — our team and our goals collectively. That kind of helps defuse any pressure on one given spot."
Naturally, the spot that all eyes are on is at quarterback. Four players — junior Riley Nelson, true freshman Jake Heaps, sophomore James Lark and redshirt freshman Jason Munns — will vie for the starting job when fall camp opens Aug. 7.
Mendenhall said he would like to name a starter by the end of fall camp, but he acknowledged that it might not play out that way.
"It might be all the way up to game week, it might be after week two. I'd love to have a starter named before the season, but I won't be held to that if it's not clear yet. It might take a couple of games into the year. I'm going to leave every option open I can and name one as soon as there becomes a clear starter. I'd rather wait a week too long than name one a week too early to make sure there's been enough time and reps to show who really is the starter. ... In this particular case, for this team, it would be wise to wait too long than too short to make sure it's the right player with the team support."
The Cougars could play two quarterbacks this season, Mendenhall said.
Heaps, regarded by Scout.com as the No. 1 high school QB in the country last year, has garnered plenty of attention. But to Mendenhall, he's simply a freshman.
"I haven't treated him any different than anyone else," he said. "Every freshman struggles going through the (offseason) workouts. It's not specific to him. He's a freshman. All freshman go through it. He'll be treated exactly like (a freshman), and he'll earn any role that he gets through his behavior on and off the field."
"Jake's a great kid, a great player," said offensive lineman Matt Reynolds. "He's starting to earn the respect of his teammates and his coaches, which is something that you're going to need if you want to succeed as a freshman in any program — especially at BYU, with the tradition being as it is for quarterbacks. Guys are realizing that he has a shot at this."
Mendenhall indicated that the QB race is wide open, even though Nelson and Heaps edged ahead of Lark in the spring.
"I want the best player and the best leader," he said.
e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com