Camp Cougar, Day 1


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PROVO — The opening day of BYU training camp saw starting running back Jamaal Williams unusually relegated to the second-string.

After a two-hour, late-afternoon practice in the scorching heat, Williams explained that the demotion was part of a punishment that will include suspension for the season opener at Connecticut.

Williams acknowledged violation of the school's honor code, and without getting into details, said that a "combination" of events led to the discipline--punishment that head coach Bronco Mendenhall did not intend to announce.

"Most definitely I am (suspended)," said Williams of the opening game at UConn, "but after that I come back for the Texas game."

Williams said the punishment was understandable and that the situation "is all my doing; I chose to come here. They told me the rules before I even stepped foot on here...they told me I'm going to have to follow the rules just like everybody else. (I) just wasn't listening."

"Now it's just a growing experience. People make dumb mistakes but I'm more mature, I'll learn from it and it just ain't gonna happen again."

Williams said the coaches "care for me...just to still have me here and just give me a one-game suspension. It's life, mistakes happen you've just got to overcome them, you can't let them get you down--you've got to keep working harder, actually."

The junior back and Doak Walker Award candidate said this should be the last time he has to address a disciplinary issue at BYU.

"Jamaal is going (to) do what he needs to get done," said Williams. "Enjoy these last two years and do it with a bang, but just follow the honor code."

"I've got other things to do, I've already started doing new hobbies; (if) you ever see me on the weekends, you'll find me at Classic Skating. You may laugh but I'm pretty good now you'll see me doing nothing but Classic Skating, Netflix, hanging out with friends and teammates, and going to other sports games that's pretty much it."

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Mendenhall wasn't planning to address the Williams suspension on Friday, noting that "my intention wasn't to announce anything. I'd much prefer these matters, when possible, be handled internally, and we keep it that way."

"I work with young people all the time on ways to grow and develop; sometimes it involves discipline like that, sometimes it doesn't, but Jamaal's handling it really well, and I look forward to helping him do that."

Asked about the possibility of punishments for additional players before the opener, Mendenhall said "I won't confirm any of that. Any other players that need development, I'll handle internally and I'll act appropriately. Any issues that we have, not only now but in the past, I know it will be to the players' benefit. I'm anxious to move forward."

Williams' teammates were publicly supportive after Friday's practice; quarterback Taysom Hill said "I'm extremely bummed for Jamaal but he has to take care of some business."

"I think it could be a distraction," said Hill, "but I think Jamaal has handled the situation extremely well and we'll fully support him and he's been out making us better and still has established himself as a leader in the running back room; other guys will step up and we'll be okay."

"We lose a lot," said receiver Mitch Mathews of the Williams suspension. "Jamaal is a good player. That says nothing about his backups because they're just as dangerous on the field, but it'll be a loss. If the outside receivers need to take more of a load that first game, that's what we'll do."

"I sent (Jamaal) a text telling him how much I cared about him and (that) I'd do anything for him. He doesn't walk about the locker room with his head held low, he just does his thing and we're going to welcome him with open arms and he knows that."

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Reflecting on the first session of August camp, four weeks to the day from his team's season opener, Mendenhall said "first days are always fun; all kinds of energy and excitement. Our team is really anxious to play. I think our team is hungry. I thin they have a chip on their shoulder, I think they feel like they have a lot to prove. I was impressed today."

Mendenhall said "I thought we actually went a little bit too much," talking about the day-one workload on an extremely hot day in Provo, "but (the players) handled it well. I didn't intend to push them quite that hard until four, five or six days from now, but as usual, coaches get a little overexcited. We asked a lot from them, but they handled it well."

Mendenhall noted that the first day of camp featured more downfield passing success than has been observed in some time at BYU; he called the productive pass attack one of the main positive impressions from day one. Highlights were Taysom Hill finding Mitch Mathews, Jordan Leslie and Nick Kurtz for long touchdown strikes.

"We had more balls going downfield in the first practice today than maybe I've seen all spring," said Mendenhall. "(We have) more weapons, more depth, more athleticism, more speed, more ball skills. Now, the consistency, the diligence, the character, the maturity to handle BYU and the workload to go with it--that will play out over time. But in terms of the the athletic ability, that's certainly there."

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Opening day of camp saw former Utah running back Harvey Langi return to the playing field as a BYU linebacker. The former Bingham High School star transferred to BYU following his recently-completed LDS mission, and has made the decision to switch sides of the ball.

"That's where he chose to play," said Mendenhall of the move to linebacker, "and I'm very impressed--not only with him as a person, but as a football player, just in one practice. We're right at the beginning of his career, but I'm impressed with him."

Asked if a redshirt season might be in store for Langi in 2014, Mendenhall appeared to downplay that possibility, saying that "I think we all want him to play right now." Langi is eligible to suit up immediately for BYU, if he is asked to do so.

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Among players absent from the opening-day practice was running back Algernon Brown, who is injured and watched the session in casual clothes. Word is he could be out for most of camp.

Linebacker Manoa Pikula sat out on Friday; defensive coordinator Nick Howell said Pikula is dealing with academic issues and should be back at practice by Monday.

An early-week return is forecast for linebacker Bronson Kaufusi, who tweaked a hamstring in pre-camp conditioning and was held out of most practice work today.

Linebacker Sae Tautu was practicing in a no-contact red jersey; WR Ross Apo was also in the red jersey after offseason shoulder surgery.

Mendenhall said the college careers of linebacker Kevan Bills, defensive back Drew Reilly and receiver/tight end have all ended due to medical issues.

Not seen on day one were two incoming freshmen expected to be in camp: defensive lineman Steven Richards and kicker Corey Edwards.

Michael Davis was in a blue jersey as a wide receiver. Davis played both receiver and cornerback in 2013.

The first group of punt/kick returners we saw included Trey Dye, Devon Blackmon, Jordan Leslie, Keanu Nelson, Mitchell Juergens and Micheal Shelton.

Corbin Kaufusi is not on the 105-man camp roster, because he is now planning to play for the BYU men's basketball team--and play basketball only in 2014-15. Kaufusi was projected to take a spot on the offensive line upon his return from a mission, but experienced a mission growth spurt and now checks in at 6'10". Kaufusi's brother Bronson did double duty in 2013-13, playing both football and basketball for the Cougars. The younger Kaufusi has been practicing with Dave Rose's players in recent weeks.

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Mendenhall credited the defensive line with a solid opening-day performance, saying "of all the positions today, I saw more defensive linemen than I thought (I would), in terms of players I think will contribute. I didn't expect to see that today, but I think my main takeaway, besides the athleticism on the perimeter and downfield at the receiver (spot), was the defensive line."

Freshman Trey Dye was signed as a receiver, but showed up on the roster and on the field as a running back on Friday. The son of former BYU wideout and return specialist James Dye looked good on the first day of camp.

"I like Trey Dye a lot," said Mendenhall. "That was one of the surprises to me; not that I didn't anticipate he'd be a good player...but his ball skills, his ability to manage the pace, and look confident in his first college practice. He did a nice job."

With his team's opening game four weeks away, Mendenhall reiterated his belief that training camp is too long, with too much time remaining ahead of the opener.

"I still think college football in general could shave a week off of fall camp and still be ready to play, for the well-being of the student-athletes. Most coaches won't agree with that, but I think it's one week to long, still."

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One day of practice doesn't allow for too many depth-chart observations, especially at the receiver spots, where multiple combinations were seen on Friday, but here are a few notations:

QB: Taysom Hill/Christian Stewart

RB: Adam Hine/Jamaal Williams

RB: Paul Lasike/Nate Carter

WR: Mitch Mathews/Nick Kurtz

WR: Jordan Leslie/Devon Blackmon

WR: Ross Apo/Kurt Henderson or Colby Pearson

TE: Terenn Houk (Devin Mahina limited on Friday)

LT: DeOndre Wesley or Michael Yeck/Ryker Mathews

LG: Kyle Johnson or Terrance Alletto/Solomone Kafu/Brian Rawlinson

C: Edward Fusi or Alletto/Parker Dawe/Tejan Koroma

RG: Brock Stringham or Johnson/Brayden Kearsley

RT: Ului Lapuaho or Yeck/Brad Wilcox/Quinn Lawlor

--

LE:Graham Rowley/Logan Taele/Tanner Balderee

NT: Travis Tuiloma/Kesni Tausinga/Marques Johnson

RE: Remington Peck/Tomasi Laulile/Theodore King

OLB: Alani Fua/D.J Doman

ILB: Zac Stout/Austin Heder

ILB: Jheremmya Leuta-Douyere/Va'a Niumatalolo

OLB: Jordan Egbert (Kaufusi-hamstring)/Michael Alisa

CB: Trent Trammell/Rob Daniel

CB: Skye PoVey/Jordan Johnson

S: Craig Bills/Kavika Fonua/Kai Nacua

S: Dallin Leavitt/Harvey Jackson ("1" when Leavitt plays nickel)/Mike Wadsworth or Chris Badger

--

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As is always the case during these camp reports on days with media availability, you can hear post-practice interviews in the "Cougar Cuts" section, top left.

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BYU will hold an open practice Saturday morning from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm at the SAB practice fields; there will be no media availability afterward.

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