No. 42- BYU Cougars, Head Coach Bronco Mendenhal, Mountain West Conference, Odds to win a National Championship 150/1. There are three things they really like to do at Brigham Young University; play football, beat Utah in anything and pray a lot. And right now Cougar fans are praying they can find an effective quarterback to replace the departed John Beck. Arizona State transfer Max Hall, whom had to sit out 2006 due to transfer requirements, is expected to be under center for the first snap against Arizona in the season opener. Hall will be challenged in Fall camp by junior college transfer Brenden Gaskins.
Fui Vakapuna and Manase Tonga will carry most of the load in the running game. Also Harvey Unga should be fully healed from a late season injury in 2006 and redshirt sophomore Wayne Latu will be healthy and ready to go after sitting out last year. The running game is a solid unit and the depth provides coaches a good rotation option therefore keeping the players fresh.
The new quarterback should have an easy transition aided by a strong wide-receiver corps led by Michael Reed and Matt Allen. True freshman Ryan Kessman is expected to add solid depth in the rotation. The tight end position suffered with the departure of All-American Jon Harline but there is plenty of depth available to fill the gap. Vic So’oto, Dennis Pita and Andrew George will compete for the premier playing time.
A quarterback’s best friend is his offensive line and Hall’s prayers are answered. Center Sete Aulai, the most dominating snapper in the Mountain West will anchor a group joined by returnees David Oswald, Travis Bright and Dallas Reynolds.
The defense returns a surprisingly dominating group from last year. Freshman All-American Jan Jorgensen is the top returning talent joined by Tialavea and Ian Dulan. Dulan is expected to be 100% recovered from knee issues.
The biggest obstacles for opponents in the BYU front seven is the line backers. Two senior linebackers, Bryan Kehl and Kelly Poppinga., are fast and strong. Poppinga is also switching from outside to inside to give some experience and size in the middle and he should make that transition fairly easily. Junior David Nixon is also a returning starter and was a big contributor all over the field last year recording 37 solo tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.
Returning free safety Quinn Gooch will be the most experienced returning defender and will lead a talented but otherwise green unit made up of corners Ben Criddle and Kyle Buchanan.
BYU has plenty of young talent filling big shoes but the pieces are there to form another sold team. The Cougars will make some noise within the Mountain West but its unlikely they will crack any top-25 list.
