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PROVO — BYU didn't announced a starting quarterback Monday as it shifts to a full week of game prep for Saturday's season opener against FCS power Southern Illinois (6 p.m. MT, ESPN+).
But both Gerry Bohanon Jr. and Jake Retzlaff will have a leadership role on the 2024 program.
Both incumbent Retzlaff and former Baylor and USF quarterback Bohanon were represented on the Cougars' leadership council, listed as co-captains underneath four full-time captainships.
"I think it's pretty self-explanatory, that the team views them both as leaders," said BYU center Connor Pay, who was named one of four full-time captains. "That's definitely a good thing. They both garner that respect from their teammates, which puts them both in the position to lead the offense."
The Cougars released their Week 1 depth chart earlier Monday, with both Retzlaff and Bohanon listed as co-starters with an "OR" designation next to their names on the two-deep.
After one of the longest offseasons in the last two decades of BYU football history, as well as a competitive training camp competition between the two vying signal callers, coaches are prepared to take the decision right up to kickoff, head coach Kalani Sitake affirmed.
"It wasn't by design until we decided that we didn't have to (name a starter)," Sitake told reporters Monday afternoon via video conference call. "We're trying to respect the process of everything, and we see that we're in a really good spot and have two really good quarterbacks. Honestly, all of our quarterbacks are really good.
"We just want to get out there and play the game. You guys will see it. I don't think you need all the answers right now. We'll get them when they come."
That doesn't mean that the players and coaches don't know who will take the first snaps against the Silukis.
"We kind of have an idea, and we know our plan, what we're going to be doing. We're just not ready to tell everyone the game plan yet," Sitake said. "We have an idea of what we're going to do, and how we're going to execute our offense, what we'll do on our three phases. We're excited about it."
Added wide receiver Chase Roberts: "We know, as receivers, but we're going to keep it down low up until game time."
BYU named its four captains for the 2024 season, with three seniors and a junior among the vote collectors that will lead the team's leadership council. The top captains are Pay, defensive end Tyler Batty, cornerback Jakob Robinson and a junior in Roberts.
"For me, individually, it means a lot," Pay said. "This probably means more than any other award because this is my teammates who are voting for this. It's the people that I care about the most.
"To be voted a captain by them and someone who they feel comfortable leading the team is a really special thing for me, and I know it is for everyone else on the leadership council, too."
OUR CAPTAINS. pic.twitter.com/JUgRnXfql8
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) August 26, 2024
Pay and Roberts will be captains over the offense, while Batty and Robinson will represent the defense during the pregame coin toss and other leadership responsibilities. The quartet will also work with a leadership council comprised of eight seniors and seven juniors, including the following co-captains:
- Offense — Gerry Bohanon, Jake Retzlaff, Weylin Lapuaho, Darius Lassiter, Hinckley Ropati
- Defense — Talan Alfrey, Tanner Wall, Jack Kelly, Logan Lutui, John Nelson
- Specialists — Will Ferrin
"We have a close-knit group of players on the team with a lot of good leaders, and I'm confident in the leadership these 15 players will provide for our team," Sitake said. "The Leadership council will meet regularly to plan and provide the leadership responsibilities each has with his teammates and for the program, on and off the field.
"On game days, three of our four captains will be joined each game by one of the co-captains to represent the team at the coin toss, while the other captain will coordinate with the rest of the leadership in the locker room to lead our team as we come out to take the field."
