The message spelled out on BYU offensive line coach TJ Woods’ white ball cap is a simple one — No excuses.
Those two words will stand as the mantra for his unit, which faces the daunting challenge of protecting and blocking for an inexperienced quarterback in 2025 after the untimely departure of veteran quarterback Jake Retzlaff, Woods said.
“We’ve taken it upon ourselves to not let the quarterback situation affect us,” Woods said. “Whoever is back there, we got their back, and we’re gonna protect our butts off, and we’re not gonna make excuses. No excuses. That’s our motto for this year.”
Entering the fourth and final week of preseason training camp, indications are strong that BYU’s starting quarterback in the opener against Portland State on Aug. 30 will be freshman Bear Bachmeier, as was reported by the Deseret News last Tuesday.
On Friday, Woods said who is under center or in shotgun formation won’t and shouldn’t matter to his group.
“All that matters is we do our job, and all those (other offensive players) need us to do our job so that they have a chance to do their job,” he said.
Of course, protecting the passer is just one aspect of an offensive lineman’s assignment. He also needs to be an effective run-blocker, and a lot of time was spent in spring camp, and again this month, working on that part of BYU’s offense after the unit took a giant step forward re-establishing BYU’s rushing attack in 2024, Woods’ first year in Provo.
“It’s progressing,” Woods said of that endeavor. “We don’t run just two plays. We do a lot of stuff, so because of that, there’s a lot to learn. They’ve learned a lot, and they are continuing to improve. … Last year, while we were good in the run game, I don’t think there was (enough). We left a lot out on the field, too, at times. There were some details that we didn’t quite execute through. And so that is really the challenge this year.”
“All that matters is we do our job, and all those (other offensive players) need us to do our job so that they have a chance to do their job.”
— BYU offensive line coach TJ Woods
All while offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick breaks in a new quarterback, and Woods attempts to replace center Connor Pay and starting tackles Caleb Etienne and Brayden Keim in the starting lineup. Starting guards Weylin Lapuaho (left) and Austin Leausa (right) are back, along with part-time starters Bruce Mitchell (center), Isaiah Jatta (left tackle) and utility man Sonny Makasini.
“I would say the ability of that group is definitely there. It’s a matter of playing together,” Roderick said. “There are some new guys, and they have to be in sync, man. … You throw in a couple of new guys, it takes time to get that execution down.”
They say a good running game is a quarterback’s best friend, and that will be especially true this year, even if and when McCae Hillstead or Treyson Bourguet is running the show. After the first scrimmage, Roderick said he’s confident the Cougars will be able to run the ball effectively this year, with LJ Martin and Sione Moa the primary running backs.
“I have been on some really good rushing offenses in my career, and the way you run the ball well is through consistency. It’s that slow burn, if you will, of 5, 4, 3, 10 yards at a time. It is not 70 yards and a couple TFLs, and things like that,” Woods said. “That falls on the offensive line. We have really good runners. Our job is to get those guys to the safeties on a consistent basis, and then they get a feel for how they’re going to win their one-on-one matchup.”
Michigan transfer Andrew Gentry, a former four-star recruit out of Colorado, is the top addition to the unit, and expected to be the starting right tackle, with the aforementioned Jatta moving to the left side. Southern Utah transfer Kyle Sfarcioc “is very much in the picture” to get one of the starting guard spots, Woods said.
Roderick said last week that they have eight or nine offensive linemen who could be starters in 2025.
“We have a good group there,” Roderick said. “There is some really good competition going on for those five spots.”
Said Gentry, who started at tackle against Illinois and Michigan State in 2024 for the Wolverines, and was part of Michigan’s 2023 national championship team: “I think we have an outstanding offensive line here, I really do. I played on some really good offensive lines. Won the Joe Moore Award (most outstanding offensive line unit) my freshman year and we were semifinalists my sophomore year. I’ve seen some really dang good offensive lines, and I firmly believe that we can compete with anybody in the country.”
Gentry said the group “has all the talent in the world” and a “great coach” in Woods, but needs to develop chemistry and cohesion. Woods said Gentry, who missed spring camp while recovering from a lisfranc foot injury, is off to an “encouraging” start in Provo and quickly becoming a team leader.
“Our evaluation (of Gentry) was pretty close to what we’re seeing. He’s made a lot of improvements to his game. He’s refined a lot of his skill sets, and he’s really focused on some of his areas of growth,” Woods said. “At the end of the day, that’s what the offensive line is. Nobody’s perfect out here. Everybody’s got something to work on. Gentry has done a really good job for us.”
Woods said they are still tinkering with starting lineups and that nothing is set in stone, no job has been secured for the entire season.
“Everything is earned out here,” he said. “If you’re comfortable, you’re wrong. That’s the way we operate.”
And with no excuses, as Woods’ cap clearly says.
