(Photo Credit: BYU Photo)
Key Players Returning:
WR Kody Epps, WR Keanu Hill, WR Chase Roberts, TE Isaac Rex, OC Connor Pay, OT Kingsley Suamataia, DE Tyler Batty, DT John Nelson, NT Caden Haws, LB Ben Bywater, LB Max Tooley, CB Jakob Robinson, KR/PR Hobbs Nyberg and PT Ryan Renkow.
Key Players Departing:
QB Jaren Hall, RB Christopher Brooks, WR Brayden Cosper, WR Puca Nacua, OG Harris LaChance, OG Joe Tukuafu, OT Blake Freeland, DE Alden Tofa, DT Lorenzo Fauatea, LB Keenan Pili, LB Pepe Tanuvasa, LB Payton Wilgar, CB Kaleb Hayes, CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, FS Talan Alfrey, SS Micah Harper and PK Jake Oldroyd.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: RB Aidan Robbins (UNLV Transfer), CB Eddie Heckard (Weber State transfer), TE Jackson Bowers (Mesa, Arizona) and EDGE Siale Esera (Provo, Utah).
3 Star Recruits: DL Isaiah Bagnah (Boise State transfer), RB LJ Martin (El Paso, Texas), OL Paul Maile (Utah transfer), OT Ethan Thomason (Ft. Collins, Colorado), DL Jackson Cravens (Boise State transfer) and WR Josiah Phillips (Chatsworth, California).
2022 Results:
G01 @ South Florida W 50-21
G02 #9 BAYLOR W | 2OT 26-20
G03 @ #25 Oregon L 20-41
G04 WYOMING W 38-24
G05 UTAH STATE W 38-26
G06 vs. Notre Dame L 20-28
G07 ARKANSAS L 35-52
G08 @ Liberty L 14-41
G09 EAST CAROLINA L 24-27
G10 @ BOISE STATE W 31-28
G11 UTAH TECH W 52-26
G12 @ Stanford W 35-26
BOWL vs. SMU W 24-23
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 8-5 (3rd in FBS Independents)
Home: 4-2
Away: 3-2
Neutral: 1-1
Head Coach: Kalani Sitake
BYU: 56-34
Career: 56-34
Bowls: 4-2
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Chase Roberts (1-1, 22 yards, 100%, 22.0 avg., 1 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing: Miles Davis (40 car., 225 yards, 5.6 avg., 0 TD)
Receiving: Kody Epps (39 rec., 459 yards, 11.8 avg., 6 TD)
TD’s Scored: Keanu Hill (7)
Sacks: John Nelson (3)
Tackles: Ben Bywater (98)
Interceptions: Ben Bywater/Max Tooley (3)
Pass Deflections: Jakob Robinson (5)
Tackles For Loss: Tyler Batty (7)
Forced Fumbles: Micah Harper (2)
Kick Returns: Hobbs Nyberg (17 ret., 388 yards, 22.8 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Hobbs Nyberg (9 ret., 115 yards, 12.8 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Justen Smith (1-1 fg/fga., 100%, 3-5 xp/xpa., 6 pts.)
Punting: Ryan Rehkow (40 punts, 1847 yards, 46.2 avg., 16 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 10 Kedon Slovis (SR/TR)
RB: 3 Aidan Robbins (RS SR/TR)
WR: 0 Kody Epps (RS JR)
WR: 2 Chase Roberts (RS SO)
WR: 1 Keanu Hill (RS SR)
TE: 83 Isaac Rex (RS SR)
LT: 78 Kingsley Suamataia (RS SO/TR)
LG: 61 Weylin Lapuaho (SO/TR)
OC: 54 Paul Maile (RS SR/TR)
RG: 70 Connor Pay (SR)
RT: 76 Caleb Etienne (RS SR/TR)
KR: 23 Hobbs Nyberg (SR)
PK: 44 Will Ferrin (RS SO/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 92 Tyer Batty (RS JR)
DT: 62 Atunaisa Mahe (RS SR)
NT: 91 Jackson Cravens (RS SR/TR)
DE: 13 Isaiah Bagnah (RS SR/TR)
LB: 10 AJ Vongphachanh (SR/TR)
LB: 2 Ben Bywater (RS JR)
LB: 31 Max Tooley (RS SR)
CB: 00 Jakob Robinson (JR/TR)
CB: 5 Eddie Heckard (RS SR/TR)
FS: 12 Malik Moore (RS SR)
SS: 26 Ethan Slade (RS SO)
PR: 23 Hobbs Nyberg (SR)
PT: 24 Ryan Rehkow (SR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: C
Punters: A
Schedule:
09/02 SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS | BYU leads the series 3-0. The Cougars won (43-26) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
09/09 SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERIRDS | BYU won (37-7) the only prior meeting between schools in 2016.
09/16 @ Arkansas Razorbacks | Last season’s 35-52 loss was the first meeting between schools.
09/23 @ Kansas Jayhawks | BYU lost (20-23) the only prior meeting between schools in 1992.
09/29 CINCINNATI BEARCATS | BYU leads the series 2-0. The Cougars won (20-3) the last meeting between schools in 2016.
10/14 @ TCU Horned Frogs | BYU trails the series 5-6. The Cougars last (28-38) the last meeting between schools in 2011.
10/21 TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS | BYU lost (20-21) the only prior meeting between schools in 1940.
10/28 @ Texas Longhorns | BYU leads the series 4-1. The Cougars won (41-7) the last meeting between schools in 2014.
11/04 @ West Virginia Mountaineers | BYU lost (32-35) the only prior meeting between schools in 2016.
11/11 IOWA STATE CYCLONES | BYU trails the series 0-4. The Cougars lost (7-34) the last meeting between schools in 1974.
11/18 OKLAHOMA SOONERS | BYU leads the series 2-0. The Cougars won (14-13) the last meeting between schools in 2009.
11/25 @ Oklahoma State Cowboys | BYU trails the series 0-2. The Cougars lost (21-49) the last meeting between schools in 1976.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Away: 4-2
Neutral: 0-0
B12: 6-3
Non-B12: 3-0
Overall: 9-3 (5th in Big XII)
gridironpredictions.net 