0324fbccougars.spt_232.jpg — Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake watches the team scrimmage during BYU’s Spring Game at the former Provo High School football field in Provo on Saturday, March 23, 2019.

BYU football: What each position group looks like heading into spring camp

Contributors: Jay Drew

PROVO — Spring ball is here for the BYU football team, with the Cougars’ opening practice Monday afternoon.

The Deseret News took a look at each position group for BYU heading into spring camp and what personnel the Cougars have coming back, as well as what important pieces from 2019 they will need to replace.

9 Total Updates Since
January 08, 2020 01:30 PM

Follow this stream

March 1, 2020 6 p.m. MST

‘Wide-open competition’ at QB isn’t only storyline as BYU opens spring camp Monday

By Jay Drew

Cougars are dealing with other issues as well, believe it or not, including a need to create more havoc on defense and rediscovering a sense of urgency that served them well last year in wins over USC, Tennessee and Boise State
Feb 28, 2020 2:07 p.m. MST

BYU’s defensive secondary should be deeper in 2020, but lacks proven playmakers

By Jay Drew

Cougars will try to replace departed standouts Dayan Ghanwoloku and Austin Lee with some exciting newcomers, experienced players who missed 2019 season with injuries
Feb 21, 2020 3:07 p.m. MST

BYU has some talented running backs lined up in 2020, but who’s going to coach them?

By Jay Drew

Former BYU star Harvey Unga is among the candidates to replace RBs coach AJ Steward, who left for a similar role at Arizona
Feb 14, 2020 10:21 a.m. MST

BYU football coaches promise ‘wide-open competition’ for starting quarterback spot in spring ball

By Jay Drew

In about two weeks, Zach Wilson, Jaren Hall and Baylor Romney will be given plenty of opportunities to show what they can do with the first-team offense when spring camp begins in Provo
Feb 11, 2020 12:25 p.m. MST

BYU coaches are ‘comfortable’ with their lineup of receivers in 2020, but still looking for a ‘game-changer’ in transfer portal

By Jay Drew

With three senior receivers from the 2019 team moving on, the Cougars’ offense has some holes to fill, and hope to accomplish that by bringing in some fleet wideouts from the high school and junior college ranks.
Feb 6, 2020 11:33 a.m. MST

‘We will get better,’ returning nose tackle Khyiris Tonga says of BYU’s defensive line in 2020

By Jay Drew

Cougars struggled to stop the run early in 2019 season and only recorded 17 sacks in 13 games, but most of their top defensive linemen are back and spirits are high with the return of Tonga, who flirted with the idea of entering April’s NFL draft
Jan 23, 2020 1:53 p.m. MST

All-America candidate Matt Bushman’s return saves BYU from being totally inexperienced at tight end position in 2020

By Jay Drew

Cougars have some talented freshmen and sophomores waiting in the wings, but only two — Carter Wheat and Isaac Rex — have caught passes at the college level and a third highly touted prospect, Hank Tuipulotu, is coming off two major knee injuries
Jan 15, 2020 4:20 p.m. MST

Expectations soar for BYU’s veteran offensive line in 2020 after solid, injury-plagued season

By Jay Drew

Every starter returns along the OL, most notably All-America candidates James Empey at center and Brady Christensen at left tackle, prompting Pro Football Focus to call it the 12th best OL in the country; Only backup tackle Thomas Shoaf is moving on
Jan 8, 2020 1:30 p.m. MST

BYU’s young linebackers took their lumps in 2019, should be strength of team in 2020

By Jay Drew

Only one contributing linebacker from the team that went 7-6 and lost to Hawaii in the bowl game, Austin Kafentzis, graduates this spring, meaning the Cougars have 9-10 experienced players returning at linebacker, most notably Isaiah Kaufusi, Kavika Fonua, Max Tooley and Payton Wilgar