Camp Cougar, Day 6


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Day six of BYU training camp concluded with a media-observation period featuring red-zone work. Taysom Hill had three productive series, ending them with touchdown passes to Nick Kurtz (twice) and Terenn Houk.

Hill's backup Christian Stewart again got a lot of reps, and connected with Colby Pearson on a long TD strike during an 11-on-11 segment; word is the two also connected on a deep score before reporters were allowed in.

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A number of would-be defensive starters were again either absent, leaving practice early or limited to conditioning on Thursday. Graham Rowley, Zac Stout, Manoa Pikula, Bronson Kaufusi, Craig Bills and Rob Daniel were all unavailable by the closing segments of practice.

Kaufusi remains out while rehabbing a hamstring strain, while Daniel has been a bit banged up over the past couple of days. Rowley apparently left practice early today, while Bills was not seen on the field, after being present for every previous practice.

Stout and Pikula were projected to be the starting inside linebackers on opening day, but Stout has missed most of this week while injured, and Pikula has yet to practice while dealing with academic issues.

Head coach Bronco Mendenhall said both players' grip on starting spots has loosened during camp.

"It's not firm," said Mendenhall of Stout's hold on the starting Mike linebacker position. "We have great competition at linebacker, and it's really nothing that Zac can control, as he is hurt right now...(but) when a player goes down, it doesn't take long before someone else steps in and has an opportunity. It could be hard to get spots back."

When asked about Pikula's standing as the first-string Buck linebacker, Mendenhall said "it's precarious."

"It's as if he were injured. Practice is going on and guys are getting better."

On the offensive side of the ball, offensive lineman Tuni Kanuch remains out, back/receiver Trey Dye was absent on Thursday, while tackle Michael Yeck was hobbled and left early for a second straight day.

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Media have only seen select portions of camp practices to this point, but the play of Stewart in particular has stood out--both for his effectiveness and the number of snaps he has taken from the backup-quarterback spot.

Mendenhall acknowledged that Stewart is getting "more reps than most number twos have gotten," and it's because of the style of play employed by the first-stringer.

"With the nature of offense we play, even though Taysom (Hill) is durable, even though he is fast, even though he is tough, the chance that mobile quarterbacks could go down at some point--you have to prepare for it.

"If you look simply at our game versus Utah State last year, that game was very difficult on Utah State once Chuckie Keeton went down. Credit to their program, they rebounded and found a way, but it does alter your plan, so we're doing our best to make sure our number two is getting more reps than normal, in the event of (injury) happening."

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By necessity, BYU is preparing its backups at running back, with Jamaal Williams suspended for the opener at Connecticut.

Paul Lasike said Thursday that "I'm really excited to take a couple more reps. As a team we're going to miss (Jamaal) out there for the first game. But I think we'll be alright with the boys that we have; we have good depth at running back. I'm just excited to be in it."

Lasike says he and Adam Hine will use their differing skill sets to compensate for Williams' absence.

"All of us are kinda different," said Lasike. "I'm a bigger back, so for those dives and those straight-up-the-middle runs I guess I'll kinda take that load, and then as for the longer running and the routes and stuff, Adam Hine will most likely take those."

Algernon Brown will also be in the opening-night mix; he was practicing on a limited basis Thursday, restricted to helmet-only participation while his teammates were in full pads.

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Mendenhall said Friday will be the first day of two-a-days, but the sessions will be light, in preparation for what he says will be the first true "live contact" practice during a planned stadium scrimmage on Saturday.

The coach says that through nearly a week of work, the practice protocol has paid off with desired results.

"Practice structure is giving us more team reps than we've ever had with fewer injuries," said Mendenhall. "Fewer players on the ground means that we can go harder, longer, with less risk, and so I think our team is progressing faster. Add a returning quarterback into that mix, and that's accelerating our offensive growth. I think they look really good after six days."

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Media did not observe much in the way of kicking on Thursday, but the placekicking competition has been an interesting one to watch, with incumbents Moose Bingham and Trevor Samson being pushed by newcomer Andrew Mikkelsen, a former Oregon State walk-on who is recently-returned from two years of missionary service.

"It allows you to play to your highest potential and your best ability," says Bingham of the kicking competition. "If I don't have anyone behind me, I can screw up as much as possible, but if you feel that pressure right behind you, you're going to go and ball-out as much as you possibly can."

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Through almost a week of camp, seven offensive linemen have emerged to form the primary first-string rotation group. Tuni Kanuch was expected to be a part of the top-level unit, but has yet to practice, so he is not listed as being in the mix.

The top seven are currently DeOndre Wesley (LT), Kyle Johnson (LG), Terrance Alletto (C and LG/RG), Edward Fusi (C), Brayden Kearsley (RG), Ului Laupaho (RT), and Brock Stringham (RT and RG).

The next group of players pushing to make it into the OL "top ten" are Ryker Mathews (LT/RT), Solomone Kafu (LG), Tejan Koroma (C), Chase Larson (RG) and Michael Yeck (RT/LT).

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The biggest off-the-field news on Thursday was the NCAA Division I Board Of Directors' passage of "P5" autonomy legislation, clearing the way for the five most powerful athletic conferences to make many of their own rules.

These rules are likely to include liberal adjustments relative to cost-of-attendance, which would ostensibly provide greater benefits to student-athletes at schools in those conferences.

Asked if BYU is prepared to mirror the P5 in any protocol they might enact, Mendenhall said "if the true intent is to benefit the student-athletes and their well-being within reason, I'm for parts of those ideas."

"In the discussions that I've been part of," said Mendenhall, "I wish I could say sincerely that is the motive. It usually just is 'who has the most money,' 'who can provide more for the sake of themselves and their program,' not really the student athlete, and it's moving much more toward professionalism than amateurism. I wish I could say this is all for the student-athlete; that's not how I feel.

"From early discussions with (BYU AD) Tom (Holmoe), our intention will be to provide...and pursue all of those things that have true and real value to our student-athletes and to BYU.

"If you look at the world of chasing the 'Big 5,' I think we'll chase what's appropriate and provide everything possible that will benefit our student-athletes, not only on the field but off...within reason."

Mendenhall conceded that P5 autonomy will now become a talking-point with some recruits.

"I think it will come up," said Mendenhall, "but I think as this goes on and our policy becomes clearer and clearer, I think it will end up being a non-issue. Most of the kids that come to BYU are coming for really specific reasons anyway."

"If they know that out intention is to do everything possible for them in relation to the Power 5... I'm not sure (the legislation) will have a giant effect on BYU. It might on others, but I'm not sure it will on BYU."

Mendenhall reiterated his wish to "play more of them," when referencing P5 schools, noting that "budget alone, as we know, doesn't determine outcome of games."

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BYU's first day of two-a-days on Friday will be closed to media, with no interviews scheduled. Media availability for Saturday onward has not been determined.

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Listen to post-practice interviews from Thursday in "Cougar Cuts," top left.

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