Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO — Going into BYU football’s first game of the 2019 season against in-state rival Utah, special teams coordinator Ed Lamb believes he has a reliable punter, Danny Jones, and an exceptionally reliable placekicker, Skyler Southam — the former U.S. Army All-American who is perhaps best known for booting the game-winning field goal a year ago in a 24-21 win over Wisconsin.
So where does that leave Jake Oldroyd, the one-time kicking hero who recently returned from a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile?
Well, Oldroyd is a little bit of both.
The redshirt freshman will likely see time at punter and field-goal kicker this season, allowing Southam to focus on kickoffs and some field-goal situations.
“He’s hit some monsters,” Lamb said of Oldroyd on this week’s Coordinators’ Corner show on BYUtv. “Some of his punts have really been out of this world so far. But we haven’t had a single punt in a game yet, so there’s a lot to be said for what happens this Thursday.”
Jones will continue to be used at punter. But the primarily rugby-style Australian will likely defer the traditional, pro-style punts to Oldroyd. Southam could also be used as a punter, though he offers an exclusively pro-style set (by his own admission).
“They’ve told us that everything is wide open: field goals, kickoffs and punting. I did all three in high school, and I also played safety, so I’m used to getting on the field a lot,” said Southam, a Wasatch High product who once set a Utah high school football record for average punt. “I just want to help the team out wherever I can.”
Perhaps Oldroyd’s greatest advantage in the punt game comes with his versatility, even if he's best known for the game-winner in his first collegiate game against Arizona.
“Jake’s been doing a roll-out spiral, too, and he’s done a really good job at it,” Southam said. “As a punter, he’s a very talented punter. He’s a great punter, and a great kicker, as well.
“There’s competition all around … and I think everyone that is a specialist has the ability to play Division I as simply a specialist.”
What about the returners?
Lamb is drafting the punt returners almost exclusively from the wide receiver room, with all-everything weapon Aleva Hifo currently leading the race to be the starting punt returner.
Former walk-on Dax Milne, a Bingham High product, and Gunner Romney could also see time at punt return.
“We really like Aleva Hifo and what he brings to punt return,” Lamb said. “He does a great job of getting under punts, and has a really good reason where it will come down.”
On kick return, Romney, Milne, running back Tyler Allgeier and defensive back Will Watanabe, a returned missionary freshman who prepped at nearby Timpview High, will likely see the most time.
Injury update
In the season-opening Coordinators’ Corner, defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki said defensive backs Troy Warner (foot) and Chris Wilcox (knee) likely won’t be available to face the Utes — and potentially several weeks afterward, as well.
“We could push them, but we prefer to let it be their idea,” Tuiaki said in response to a question about their availability. “The projection is to wait a little bit and see a couple of games in, where they are at.”
Tuiaki added that he “couldn’t sleep” for several days after last year’s 35-27 loss to the Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium, and that has been motivation for him coming throughout the offseason.
The same can be said of his players, through spring camp, player-run practices in the summer and all of August’s training camp.
“I think the attitude and the way fall camp has been going, the boys are super ready for this game,” Tuiaki said. “We’re coming in to win this game.”
