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BYU Football begins preseason practices Thursday with a 105-player camp roster, including 20 newcomers comprising incoming freshmen and transfers, return missionaries and walk-ons.
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The 85 program veterans are led by 14 returning offensive and defensive starters, featuring the Cougars' first-string quarterback, tight end, "X," "Z" and "H" receivers.
On defense, two of three starting defensive linemen return, as do three of four starting linebackers and two of four starting secondary members. BYU's starting placekicker, punter and deep snapper are also back for a Cougar squad which was picked 36th in the preseason USA Today Coaches' Poll, released Thursday.
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Among the roster notes included in today's personnel press release:
Senior DB O'Neill Chambers was not invited to camp; head coach Bronco Mendenhall says Chambers "is not currently in good standing with the program."
Senior DB Jray Galea'I, senior DL Jordan Richardson and senior WR Rhen Brown leave the team due to injuries.
Senior DB Robbie Buckner, freshman DB Trevor Bateman and freshman DL Taumata Tofi are not in the 105 due to injuries, but should join the team when school starts.
Sophomore DB Drew Reilly joins the program after a season at Colorado State. He will not be eligible to play this season.
Sophomore punter Scott Arellano joins the program after a season at Foothill JC.
Junior DB Adam Hogan joins the program after two seasons at L.A. Southwest JC.
Freshmen RBs Brayden El-Bakri (Brighton HS) and Bryan Engstrom (Alta HS) join the program as walk-ons; also on the camp roster as walk-on newcomers are Quin Ficklin (Fr. OL), Roman Andrus (Fr. DL), Tyson Brook (Fr. DL), Nate Sampson (Fr. LB) and Morgan Unga (Fr. DB).
Scholarship freshmen on the 105-man roster include: Dylan Collie (WR), Matt Hadley (DB), Micah Hannemann (DB), Austin Hoyt (OL), Theodore King (DL), Jherremya Leuta-Douyere (LB), Butch Pau'u (LB), Rhett Sandlin (LB) and Jamaal Williams (RB).
Returned missionaries with previous program experience rejoining the team are: Craig Bills (So. DB), Blake Morgan (Jr. DB), Tui Crichton (RS-Fr. DL) and Remington Peck (RS-Fr. DL). First-time RMs are Brad Wilcox (Fr. OL) Bronson Kaufusi (Fr. DL).
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While he is still listed as a quarterback on the official BYU roster, during camp I anticipate a positional switch for sophomore Alex Kuresa, from quarterback to wide receiver. That change would give BYU a five-quarterback group consisting of Riley Nelson, James Lark, Taysom Hill, Ammon Olsen and Jason Munns.
Stehly Reden, who switched from DL to TE and redshirted in 2011, will be back with the team in 2012, and rejoin the tight end group, giving BYU six TEs: Marcus Mathews, Austin Holt, Richard Wilson, Kaneakua Friel, Devin Mahina, and Reden.
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