PROVO — Since spring ball back in March, BYU's quarterbacks have been engaged in a spirited competition.
Coach Bronco Mendenhall said he could name the starting quarterback for the season-opener on Sept. 4 against Washington by Monday.
"I'd like to do it as soon as possible. It might even happen by Monday," Mendenhall said Thursday when asked the timetable for naming a starter. "But we're trying to go as long as possible to see how the players are handling everything about what our team is doing."
Still, the coach doesn't consider it a big deal whether junior Riley Nelson or freshman Jake Heaps is designated as the starter for the opening game.
"As of today, I still plan on playing both of them," Mendenhall said. "There's not a clear delineation of one or the other. I don't think it'll be an earth-shattering announcement when I say we'll probably end up playing both quarterbacks. Who takes the first snap or not won't be as relevant to me as just knowing that both will probably end up playing. ... Everyone else might make some big deal about it, but it won't be a bump on the pulse meter of our team. We'll just keep going."
Nelson said he and the rest of the quarterbacks aren't fixated on who will start in the opener.
"We don't even talk about it," he said. "Right now, we're focused on Washington. Everything will work itself out. We don't worry much about it."
FIRST LOOK AT WASHINGTON: With fall camp having ended Wednesday, the Cougars spent Thursday holding their first practice geared toward preparing for Washington.
The practice was light and was held in the indoor practice facility, similar to a Monday practice on a game week.
"It's a first exposure to (Washington's) schemes," Mendenhall said. "There was a lot of teaching, explaining, trying to present what they're doing and why. It was like a scouting report on the field."
"Practice went well. We've got a lot of work to do," said senior safety Andrew Rich. "Washington's an explosive offensive team. They've got a lot of weapons. We're going to have to bust our butts, here at practice and in the film room, to be able to beat them."
CAPTAINS NAMED: Rich and offensive tackle Matt Reynolds have been selected as team captains for this season, Mendenhall announced Thursday.
"Andrew and Matt are both fantastic representatives of our program and outstanding football players," Mendenhall said. "Both have demonstrated they are capable of leading our team on and off the field."
Said Rich, "I feel honored that my peers would elect me."
REDSHIRT CANDIDATES: Twenty-three Cougar players will not participate in games this season and are considered redshirt candidates: freshmen offensive linemen Jordan Black, Matt Jensen, Cole Jones, Quinn Lawlor, Manu Mulitalo and Blair Tushaus; freshmen running backs Algernon Brown, A.J. Moore and Drew Phillips; freshman wide receiver D.J. Doman; freshman tight end Bryan Sampson; senior linebacker Jordan Atkinson; freshmen linebackers Cole Herrmann, Collin Keoshian, Alani Fua, Sae Tautu and Peter Welsh; junior linebacker Uona Kaveinga; freshmen defensive backs Jordan Johnson and Kori Gaines; junior defensive back DeQuan Everett; sophomore defensive lineman Josh Marquardt; and freshman defensive lineman Travis Tuiloma.
"The main point to emphasize is, these are redshirt candidates," Mendenhall said. "That means based on how they handle this year will determine whether they redshirt or not. If they don't try hard enough in the weight room or if they don't work hard enough in practice or if they squander this opportunity, it would be a wasted year."
BRYSON SUSPENDED: Redshirt freshman defensive end Thomas Bryson will not play in the season-opener due to a violation of team rules, Mendenhall said. Bryson will participate in practices on the scout team next week.
In Bryson's absence, true freshman Graham Rowley will be part of the Cougars' D-line rotation, Mendenhall said.
e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com