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PROVO — When BYU star tight end Matt Bushman went down with a lower-leg injury in Monday’s practice, the Cougars feared the worst. They saw their fears materialize when an MRI confirmed Bushman would miss his senior season (and likely his last with the program) with a season-ending injury.
But fellow senior Troy Warner said the tenured tight end, who is one of just three players in BYU history with three-consecutive seasons of 500 or more receiving yards at his position (Gordon Hudson and Dennis Pitta are the others), wouldn’t be far from the team.
"A lot of us seniors are just trying to do everything we can to be with him at this time," Warner said. "He’s in our prayers … and I know he will continue to help this team any time he can."
On Friday, it was formally determined that Bushman will be one of eight captains for the Cougars in 2020.
Bushman joins junior running back Lopini Katoa and junior offensive linemen Brady Christensen and James Empey as offensive captains. Warner is joined by linebacker Isaiah Kaufusi, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, and safety Zayne Anderson — all seniors — as defensive captains.
Only one captain will meet at midfield for the pregame coin toss under new rules, but the Cougars still named four offensive captains and four defensive captains, opting to rotate amongst them for that role.
Still, the decision to honor so many seniors and upperclassmen with leadership roles came down to votes, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said.
"These leaders were voted on and chosen by our team," Sitake added. "The names aren’t surprising, as these have been the guys leading our team this whole year. I am happy they’ve been recognized by their teammates and just pleased we have so many great leaders on our team."
In addition to the eight captains, BYU named eight players to its team leadership council in cornerback Chris Wilcox, defensive end Bracken El-Bakri, quarterback Zach Wilson, wide receiver Gunner Romney, wide receiver Neil Pau’u, defensive tackle Lorenzo Fauatea, quarterback Baylor Romney, and linebacker Payton Wilgar.
Conover added to QB room
BYU added a quarterback to the position room this week with the addition of former four-star recruit Jacob Conover, his father, Jeff, confirmed Thursday on Instagram.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound signal-caller from Chandler, Arizona, was one of 14 early signees in 2019 prior to serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Conover was supposed to return home this fall and enroll at BYU for winter semester, but he was caught up in the hordes of returned missionaries the church brought home early due to COVID-19.
Conover, who played with current teammate Gunner Romney and held offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Washington State and others during his recruitment at Chandler, joins a group of quarterbacks that includes starter Zach Wilson, backups Baylor Romney and Jaren Hall, and freshman Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters. But with recent NCAA legislation that will allow players to participate this fall without losing a season of eligibility, Conover can join the team for practice and not have to use a redshirt while he acclimates to college life.
Venue change
BYU will have one fewer home game in 2020.
By mutual consideration of the Cougars and due to travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston approached BYU about switching the order of the two-game series that kicks off Friday, Oct. 16.
Instead of playing at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, that game will now kick off at TDECU Stadium in Houston. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. MT on ESPN2.
An amended agreement will feature Houston returning to Provo at a later date.
The change leaves BYU with three road games in 2020, following back-to-back games at Navy and Army, as well as five home games: Troy, Texas-San Antonio, Texas State, Western Kentucky and FCS North Alabama.
