(RB LJ Martin – BYU Photo)
Key Players Returning:
RB LJ Martin, WR Darius Lassiter, WR Chase Roberts, OC Connor Pay, OG Weylin Lapuaho, OT Brayden Keim, DE Tyler Batty, LB Ben Bywater, CB Jakob Robinson, FS Ethan Slade, SS Crew Wakley, KR Parker Kingston, PR Keelan Marion, and PK Will Ferrin.
Key Players Departing:
QB Kedon Slovis, RB Aidan Robbins, TE Isaac Rex, OG Paul Maile, OT Kingsley Suamataia (Chiefs R2), DT Jackson Cravens, LB Max Tooley, LB AJ Vongphachanh, CB Kamden Garrett, CB Eddie Heckard, PR Hobbs Nyberg, and PT Ryan Renkow.
(DS Faletau Satuala – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: DS Faletau Satuala (Bountiful, Utah), EDGE Jack Kelly (Weber State transfer), and TE Ryner Swanson (Laguna Beach, California).
3 Star Recruits: DT Danny Salil (Hutchinson, Kansas), LB Ephraim Asiata (Herriman, Utah), QB Treyson Bourguet (Western Michigan transfer), CB Therrian Alexander III (Decatur, Georgia), LB Naki Tuskol (Oakland, California), EDGE Kinilau Fonohema (Springville, Utah), and EDGE Devoux Tuataga (Eagle Mountain, Utah).
2023 Results:
G01 SAM HOUSTON W 14-0
G02 SOUTHERN UTAH W 41-16
G03 @ Arkansas W 38-31
G04 @ Kansas L 27-38
G05 CINCINNATI W 35-27
G06 @ TCU L 11-44
G07 TEXAS TECH W 27-14
G08 @ #7 Texas L 6-35
G09 @ West Virginia L 7-37
G10 IOWA STATE L 13-45
G11 #14 OKLAHOMA L 24-31
G12 @ #20 Oklahoma State L (2OT) 34-40
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 5-7 (12th in Big XII)
Home: 4-2
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 1-1
B12: 2-7
Non-B12: 3-0
Head Coach: Kalani Sitake
BYU: 61-41 0
Career: 61-41
Bowls: 4-2
(WR Chase Roberts – Deseret News)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Jake Retzlaff (63-125, 648 yards, 50.4%, 5.2 avg., 3 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing: LJ Martin (109 car., 518 yards, 4.8 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: Chase Roberts (42 rec., 573 yards, 13.6 avg., 5 TD)
TD’s Scored: LJ Martin/Chase Roberts (5)
Sacks: Tyler Batty (5.5)
Tackles: Ethan Slade (60)
Interceptions: Jacob Robinson (4)
Pass Deflections: Jakob Robinson (7)
Tackles For Loss: Tyler Batty (9)
Forced Fumbles: Tyler Batty (2)
Kick Returns: Keelan Marion (19 ret., 393 yards, 20.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Parker Kingston (11 ret., 51 yards, 4.6 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Will Ferrin (11-14 fg/fga., 79%, 32-33 xp/xpa., 65 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 12 Jake Retzlaff (SR/TR)
RB: 27 LJ Martin (SO)
WR: 5 Darius Lassiter ((RS SR/TR)
WR: 2 Chase Roberts (RS JR)
WR: 0 Kody Epps (RS JR)
TE: 1 Keanu Hill (RS SR)
LT: 64 Brayden Keim (RS SR)
LG: 61 Waylin Lapuaho (JR/TR)
OC: 70 Connor Pay (SR)
RG: 51 Sonny Makasini (RS SO)
RT: 76 Caleb Etienne (RS SR/TR)
KR: 82 Parker Kingston (RS SO)
PK: 44 Will Ferrin (RS JR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 92 Tyer Batty (SR)
DT: 94 John Nelson (SR)
NT: 99 Joshua Singh (RS JR)
DE: 13 Isaiah Bagnah (RS SR/TR)
LB: 17 Jack Kelly (RS JR/TR)
LB: 2 Ben Bywater (RS SR)
LB: 16 Isaiah Glasker (RS SO)
CB: 4 Marque Collins (RS SR/TR)
CB: 0 Jakob Robinson (SR/TR)
FS: 3 Raider Damuni (SO)
SS: 25 Talan Affrey (RS JR)
PR: 92 Parker Kingston (RS SO)
PT: 31 Sam Van Der Haar (RS SO/TR)
(DE Tyler Batty – Getty Images)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: D
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/31 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SALUKIS | First meeting between schools.
09/06 @ SMU Mustangs | BYU leads the series 4-0. The Cougars won (24-23) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
09/14 @ Wyoming Cowboys | BYU leads the series 46-30-3. The Cougars won (38-24) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
09/21 KANSAS STATE WILDCATS | The series is tied 4-4. The Cougars won (19-15) the last meeting between schools in 1996.
09/28 @ Baylor Bears | The series is tied 2-2. The Cougars won (26-20) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
10/12 ARIZONA WILDCATS | The series is tied 12-12-1. The Cougars won (24-16) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
10/18 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS | BYU trails the series 0-3. Last season’s 34-40 loss was the first meeting between schools since 1976.
10/26 @ UCF Knights | BYU leads the series 2-1. The Cougars won (49-23) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
11/09 @ Utah Utes | BYU trails the series 32-59-4. The Cougars won (26-17) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/16 KANSAS JAYHAWKS | BYU trails the series 0-2. Last season’s 27-38 loss was the first meeting between schools since 1992
11/23 @ Arizona State Sun Devils | BYU trails the series 8-20. The Cougars won (27-17) 27-17 the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/30 HOUSTON COUGARS | BYU leads the series 3-0. The Cougars won (43-26) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
Predictions:
Home: 2-4
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
B12: 1-8
Non-B12: 2-1
Overall: 3-9 (16th in Big XII)
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