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BYU fans were welcomed to an open practice on the second day of training camp Saturday, and the hundreds who turned out had to leave impressed with a passing game that again stood out for its big-play potential.
Backup quarterback Christian Stewart got a lot of work in the two-hour session, connecting on deep scoring strikes with Mitch Mathews, Nick Kurtz (twice) and Mitchell Juergens. Taysom Hill found Jordan Leslie for a long TD late in the closing segment of practice. Devon Blackmon also turned a long catch into a score.
Particularly impressive non-scoring catches were turned in by Blackmon and Nick Ziolkowski; Blackmon snared a one-handed reception on the sideline midway through practice, while Ziolkowski went horizontal on an out-pattern early in the day. Stanford transfer Keanu Nelson also stood out with a fine individual effort to record one of the nicer catches of the day.
The defense also had its moments in drills and 11-on-11 periods; freshman linebacker Fred Warner recorded two interceptions, while S Kai Nacua, LB Va'a Niumatalolo and LB Austin Heder all had picks--Heder's coming off the back of a BYU receiver.
A number of whistle-sacks were credited to the defense, which as a unit was more fired up and productive than it was on the first day of camp.
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BYU's kicking game was on display for the fans, and a trio of kickers performed well. Moose Bingham hit on field goals of 34, 44 and 49 yards. Former Oregon State walk-on and recently-returned LDS missionary Andrew Mikkelsen also hit from 33, 44 and 49, while holdover Trevor Samson was good from 34 and 49 yards, missing from 44. None of the kickers were successful on attempts outside 50 yards.
New addition Chasen Brown punted as the backup to Scott Arellano and showed well, while Chase Larson (Snow College transfer/offensive lineman) will apparently serve as the second-string deep snapper behind Kevin O'Mary.
BYU's kick-return group today was the same as Friday's, with Trey Dye, Jordan Leslie, Keanu Nelson, Devon Blackmon, Mitchell Juergens and Michael Shelton all back to field kicks. Juergens and Nelson got quick looks as punt returners.
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Players limited to conditioning work on the side today were LB Bronson Kaufusi, NT Jaterrius Gulley, OL Tuni Kanuch, LB Adam Pulsipher, TE Devin Mahina and CB Trevor Bateman.
Players out today were WR/TE Terenn Houk (sick), LB Manoa Pikula (academics), QB McCoy Hill (injured) and DL Kamalani Kaluhiokalani.
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Two days in, here's a look at the 105-man camp roster, by position group; you will note that the numbers in parentheses add up to 105.
QB (5): Taysom Hill, Christian Stewart, Hunter Moore, Hayden Griffitts, McCoy Hill
RB (7): Jamaal Williams, Nate Carter, Adam Hine, Peter Welsh, Paul Lasike, Trey Dye, Joshua Whippy
*note: Algernon Brown (out-undisclosed) may join the 105 during camp; if so, he would likely bump someone like LB Adam Pulsipher out of the 105. Pulsipher continues to rehab an Achilles injury and has not been participating in practices.
TE/YR (5): Terenn Houk, Colby Jorgensen, Matt Sumsion, Devin Mahina, Bryan Sampson
WR (13): Ross Apo, Colby Pearson, Nick Kurtz, Keanu Nelson, Jordan Leslie, Mitch Mathews, Devon Blackmon, Kurt Henderson, Jake Ziolkowski, David Kessler, Mitchell Juergens, Michael Davis, Travis Frey
OL (18): Edward Fusi, Parker Dawe, Brayden Kearsley, Tejan Koroma, DeOndre Wesley, Chase Larson, Quinn Lawlor, Manu Mulitalo, Kyle Johnson, Brian Rawlinson, Terrance Alletto, Ului Lapuaho, Ryker Mathews, Solomone Kafu, Brock Stringham, Brad Wilcox, Michael Yeck, Tuni Kanuch
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DL (15): Tanner Balderee, Remington Peck, Tomasi Laulile, Logan Taele, Kamalani Kaluhiokalani, Steven Richards, Travis Tuiloma, Graham Rowley, Josh Carter, Kesni Tausinga, Bracken El-Bakri, Adam Ingersoll, Theodore King, Marques Johnson, Jaterrius Gulley
ILB (11): Harvey Langi, Manoa Pikula, Tau Kautai, Sione Takitaki, Philip Amone, Austin Heder, Jheremmya Leuta-Douyere, Zac Stout, Toloa'i Ho Ching, Adam Pulsipher, Va'a Niumatalolo
OLB (9): Alani Fua, Sae Tautu, Fred Warner, Michael Alisa, Troy Hinds, Jordan Egbert, Tyler Cook, Bronson Kaufusi, D.J. Doman
CB (8): Trent Trammell, Rob Daniel, Jordan Johnson, Michael Shelton, Jordan Preator, Trevor Bateman, Garrett Juergens, Skye PoVey
S (8): Harvey Jackson, Dallin Leavitt, Kai Nacua, Kavika Fonua, Chris Badger, Craig Bills, Mike Wadsworth, Grant Jones
PK/P/DS (6): Scott Arellano, Chasen Brown, Trevor Samson, Andrew Mikkelsen, Moose Bingham, Kevin O'Mary
*note: Freshman PK Corey Edwards is not be in the 105 but is expected to join the team's 123-man roster once classes are in session.
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Saturday's depth-chart notes will show some high-profile, would-be starters (Jordan Johnson, Rob Daniel, Marques Johnson in particular) running deeper down the line.
Whether their demotions are part of team-imposed punishment (as is the case with Jamaal Williams) is a matter of conjecture until coaches or the players themselves comment on the matter. For the time being, the depth as noted simply reflects the observations of the day.
As was the case on Friday, WR designations are fluid and not yet assigned positionally (X/Z/H). Players listed on the same line will often be in the same formation together.
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QB: Taysom Hill/Christian Stewart
RB: Adam Hine/Jamaal Williams/Trey Dye or Nate Carter
RB: Paul Lasike/Peter Welsh/Joshua Whippy
WR: Jordan Leslie/Ross Apo/Colby Pearson/Mitchell Juergens
WR: Mitch Mathews/Devon Blackmon/Keanu Nelson/Michael Davis
WR: Nick Kurtz/Kurt Henderson/Jake Ziolkowski/David Kessler/Travis Frey
YR: Bryan Sampson/Matt Sumsion/Colby Jorgensen
LT: DeOndre Wesley or Michael Yeck/Ryker Mathews/Quinn Lawlor
LG: Kyke Johnson/Solomone Kafu/Chase Larson
C: Edward Fusi or Terrance Alletto/Tejan Koroma/Parker Dawe
RG: Terrance Alletto or Brock Stringham/Brayden Kearsley/Brian Rawlinson/Manu Mulitalo
RT: Michael Yeck or Ului Lapuaho/Brad Wilcox/Ryker Mathews
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LE: Graham Rowley/Logan Taele/Tanner Balderee or Steven Richards/Bracken El-Bakri
NT: Travis Tuiloma/Kesni Tausinga/Marques Johnson/Josh Carter
RE: Remington Peck/Tomasi Laulile/Theodore King or Steven Richards/Adam Ingersoll
OLB: Alani Fua/Jordan Egbert/Fred Warner/Troy Hinds or Sae Tautu
ILB: Zac Stout/Austin Heder/Toloa'i Ho Ching or Sione Takitaki/Philip Amone
ILB: Jheremmya Leuta-Douyere/Va'a Niumatalolo/Sione Takitaki or Teu Kautai/Harvey Langi
OLB: Michael Alisa/Tyler Cook/D.J. Doman or Steven Richards
CB: Skye PoVey/Jordan Preator or Trent Trammell/Jordan Johnson
S: Craig Bills/Harvey Jackson/Kavika Fonua/Grant Jones
S: Dallin Leavitt/Chris Badger/Mike Wadsworth/Kai Nacua
CB: Garrett Juergens/Michael Shelton/Rob Daniel
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There was no media availability after Saturday's practice. Camp continues with a single session on Monday; there will be no media observation or interviews. The third day of camp is traditionally the first day with the players in shoulder pads.
The next media observation and interview periods are scheduled for Tuesday.
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