Speaker 1: I just celebrate the previous team sport known to man
where modern day gladiators collide for all about glory on
the Gridire Let's talk some college football on Cougar Sports
with Ben cred.
Speaker 2: Welcome back Cougar Sports. One of three nine nine eight
point three ESPN the Fan. I've been curdil broadcasting from
our Vanderwell studios Banterwell dot com. Get on a free
Q and A no obligation to invest Q and A
with our tax more Wealth Advisors, Certified Financial Planners, NFLPA
Certified Financial Planners. They've been aiding in supporting the BAU
student athletes for a long time. Now they want to
and support you. I got Ronald three man Weaper behind
the glass on the mic as well as Brett always
bring the hammer Hammer time show. We're going to get
into some college football. Get your prep, getting you're ready
for this National Championship Game. The Indiana Hoosiers doing something
that has never been done essentially in their history, coming
back from the college football dead. Let's be honest, Indiana football,
the fact that they are in the college football National
Championship Game is insane. Do you give more credit? Okay
to Kirk Signetti as like a coach, a culture builder,
talent evaluator. Or do you give more credit to the
nil landscape, the transfer portal landscape, you know, the ability
to acquire and a team epteaen talent via the portal?
Speaker 3: You know what I mean?
Speaker 2: Because I do think this is an interesting study, Like
could Kirk Signetti do what he's doing in the former
Nick Saban SEC dominant era when the SEC was paying
players under the table right and nobody else could hire
the bagmen that we're ultimately running car dealerships in the
South in order to pay players, you know, you know,
six figure, five figure sums to get them to those
SEC schools. So it's kind of an interesting debate. And
we'll get into some of the other topics here. But
like when I say that, who are you given more
credit to? Is it the landscape or you're given it
to the coach here with the the Indiana Hoosiers, Kirk
Signetti or the landscape?
Speaker 4: Which one do you give more credit to? Kurt Signetti? Goo,
Google me, baby, I think that's what he said.
Speaker 3: Google me.
Speaker 4: All I do is win, I'm going through their transfer
portal class right now, and there's not a single guy
in here who I'm like, oh.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I wish p Yu would have had that guy. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 4: I think part of what makes great coaches great is
they know the very unique niche things that a certain
individual is great at, and then they asked that individual
to do that specific thing a lot. That's what I
think Bill Belichick was so great at. That's why you
saw Bill Belichick pulling like college lacrosse athletes And I'm
trying to remember that one kid who was always catching
touchdowns for them in the Super Bowl, Like, I think
it and I think part of it is dan Il,
but but I do think a lot of it is
I think there's no amount of money.
Speaker 3: Really, I don't.
Speaker 4: Think that you could say, like if I would have
told you two years ago before Indiana went to the playoff,
and I would say, hey, Ben, Indiana has all the
money in the world. They're gonna go from the worst
team in the history of the sport to going to
a national championship. I don't know about you, but I
would have said, there's no amount of money that's gonna
turn Indiana around that fast. And so I do think
obviously Nil helps NL got them. You know, the likes
of Fernana Mendoza and Pat Cougan and some other some
other solid prospects. Again, Pat Cougan came from Notre Dame,
and we know what Notre Dame does with offensive lineman.
Speaker 3: But I don't think we can.
Speaker 4: Really truly appreciate how great of a coach Kurt Signetti is.
And it's like we can't quantify it, we can't put
it into words in a way that appropriately outlines just
how ridiculous this current story with Indiana is. They have
never prior to Kurt Signetti, reached double digit wins in
their history three going back to eighteen ninety nine.
Speaker 2: And granted, I mean there are many seasons. Was the
only play like eight games, seven games, and things of
that nature, but getting even into the modern era, like
nineteen sixty seven was maybe their greatest season nine to two,
right like eight and four in nineteen seventy nine, nineteen
eighty seven, eight and four, nineteen eighty eight, eight and three,
nineteen ninety three, eight and four, it's not They're not
even getting to nine wins in their most historic modern
era seasons in nine or in twenty nineteen they went
eight and five under Tom Allen, so it's truly it's
a fascinating study of culture, coaching and cohesion.
Speaker 3: Right this.
Speaker 2: Kirk Signetti brand, All I do is win right, no
matter what. Does the NIL Transfer portal help, no doubt.
But what's crazy? I really believe it's culture cohesion and
and finding a bunch of guys that buy into the scheme,
that are high football IQ, guys that are productive wherever
they go. Fren Amendoza coming out of going into a
senior his best offer was to Yale, and then somehow,
some way, cal Berkeley found him and he got to
cal Right, so let's listen in here. Uh you know,
eventually he ends up at Indiana, entered the portal after
last season, and Kirk seing that he saw something in
him that made him, okay, believe that he could be
the guy to lead the Hoosiers farther, surpassing them what
is surpassing what they did last season, and eventually to
become a Heisman Trophy winner.
Speaker 3: Let's tune in FORR. Daniel.
Speaker 5: I'm talking to longtime college an NFL assistant coach Bill
Musgrave earlier this week, and he told me a story
about a.
Speaker 3: Phone call that changed the landscape of college football. Tell
the story.
Speaker 5: Yeah, So throughout my entire high school career, very underrecruited,
and going to my senior year, my only committable offer
was Yale.
Speaker 3: So it's like, great, here we go, great.
Speaker 5: Academics, you know, good football and to be able to
you know, live out my dream and basically become you know,
essentially a student at that point, like you know, it's
the way to get my foot in the door to Yale. However,
I still love football, and I was like, wow, like
if I just get a.
Speaker 3: Shot like whatever.
Speaker 5: Level, like I just really literally want to go there,
especially the D one level, like that guest level. And
at a quarterback coach really believed me who had ties
the NFL, and he was making all these calls to
coaches who you know, had gone back and forth in
college in the NFL, and there's really no luck.
Speaker 2: There's really no luck. How are we?
Speaker 5: We kept on working just to get better, just to
refine my skills for you know, a college level, and
then a call in late January, and mind you, like
the early signed day is December, and so that's what
everybody does their whole like signing day, and that's kind
of like done.
Speaker 3: Deal.
Speaker 5: And I did a whole signed day at Christopher Colombus
High School. Signed a blank piece of paper, but you
can't sign the.
Speaker 3: Ivys to Yale, so I really signed legg.
Speaker 2: Is a paper have my yell hat on.
Speaker 5: And late January, this quarterback coach got a call from
Bill Musgrave, who I owed so much too, and I'm
forever in debt for and he's been one of the
best coordinators the quarterback coach I've been around has poured
so much of myself as football knowledge but also as
a character and as a teammate. And he made the
call the quarterback coach saying, Hey, I'm gonna come come
down there, do a little bit of pro day, test
him on IQ, see him throw a little bit. And
he came down and saw him.
Speaker 3: And after that he's like, hey, I want to offer you.
And I'm like, okay, great, Like.
Speaker 5: Sounds good, Like how much is tuition?
Speaker 3: Because I thought he was talking as a walk on.
He's like, I went off for your scholarship.
Speaker 5: And I'm like, wow, he's believing in me like that,
that's insane. Like everywhere else, I was like kind of
fighting for a walk on, fighting for a walk from
the University of Miami's fighting for you know stuff at
I fy you and I fay you and him offered me.
Speaker 2: A full scholarship.
Speaker 3: I was like, wow, like I I owe this guy.
Speaker 2: Here we go, where can I sign? Crazy story, just
a unique pathway. How did Kirk say Eddie know about
this guy? How did he know that he lead him
to glory and victory and surpass what they had already
accomplished last year with eleven wins et cetera double? Did
you win something that had never been done before? He
sees something, he knows, something he's able to evaluate better
than Maybe he's the greatest evaluator of football players to
walk the face of this earth, or rather at least
in the modern era. I think that's very, very possible.
Nick Saban had a quote today on Pat McAfee show.
Speaker 4: They asked him about stars and recruiting rankings, and Nick
Saban said, we never looked at how many stars a
guy had, because you have to look at who's giving
out the stars.
Speaker 3: Quote.
Speaker 4: They don't know their bleep from a handful of sand.
And I do think there is a possibility as we
move forward here that we don't know everything that we
think we do stars rivals and on three they do
a great job. But stars are not all the end,
all be all. You look at guys like Devontae Adams,
guys like Justin Herbert, some of the guys at the
top of the top in the NFL, who guys didn't
want Patrick Mahomes was at Texas Tech.
Speaker 3: Nobody.
Speaker 4: It's not like Alabama was calling for Patrick Mahomes. I think,
if nothing else, this is incredible because it just goes
to show you, like, this is bigger than football to me,
wherever you're at in your life, you may have been
turned down for ex job or by you go on
lots of dates and it's not working out for you.
Just because somebody else doesn't see it in you does
not mean that it's not in you. The fact that
Fernando Mendoza, nobody wanted this kid out of high school
and now he's playing in a national championship. He's gonna
maybe have a sixteen and o season, he has a
Heisman Trophy from a guy that nobody wanted to now
the guy who everybody wants to interview there at College
Football Championship media row. And so I just think it's
just a great life lesson really that wherever you're at
in life, just because other people tell you no, that
doesn't mean they automatically can see what's inside of you.
I think you just got to keep on going. But
to your point, I do think part of that does
go to show. Like I'm looking at their twenty twenty
four class for transfers for Indiana in coming from Ohio,
Curtis Rourke the absolute stud coming in from.
Speaker 3: Ohio a JMU guy.
Speaker 4: Kent State, Michigan State, Ohio JMU, JMU Old Dominion unc JMU,
JMU JMU JMU. So like clearly Kurt Signetti got them
to JMU. And then instead of saying, hey, I'm going
to Indiana, instead of saying hey, Mark Cuban, can you
flip the bill on this, I'm gonna leave my guys
at JMU. I need you to buy me a whole
new team, he says, I don't need that money. I'm
bringing my guys with me. They're already here in the system,
and here they are in the Natty.
Speaker 2: Pretty crazy to see. And so I know Cougarnation's rooting
on idiot. There are very few are rooting on Miami,
even all the Kuilan Marrion fans that still exists. Do
we want Kill and Marion to have a two hundred
yard game but Indiana to win the game.
Speaker 3: Yeah, no doubt about it.
Speaker 2: Real quick, let's talk about way too early college football
preseason polls on three put out their way too earleague
college football top twenty five Ohio State's one, Georgia two,
Texas three, Notre Dame four, Indiana five. Still not buying
in to the Hoosiers. I guess Oregon six, Texas Tech seven,
Texas A and M eight, Miami nine, Oklahoma ten, Michigan eleven,
LSU twelve, BYU thirteen, Penn State fourteen, Ole, Miss fifteen,
the U of U sixteen, Alabama seventeen, Washington eighteen, USC nineteen,
Tennessee twenty, Iowa twenty one, Houston twenty two, Virginia Tech
twenty three, Florida twenty four, and then U of A
coming in at number twenty five. Of note. Let me
just break down the recruiting rankings. Twenty twenty six recruit
football team rankings BYU has the twenty first overall class
per two four seven sports. Their transfer portal class comprised
of nine players, thus far as forty first in the country.
And I'm sure there's an update like total composite ranking
between the two, but that's where BYU's at, and they
have a ton of talent coming back and returning. Let's
start off with this is the thirteenth ranked. Thirteenth ranking.
Is that an accurate depiction of who BYU is and
who they deserve where they deserve to be ranked right now?
Speaker 4: I think ideally BYU sitting at eleven or ten. But
I'm also the same guy who will look at this
list and tell you the.
Speaker 3: Gentleman who put out this list.
Speaker 4: I truly believe they just put out the same list
every year. I was looking at last year's and you
know who's at number four, the same team who's at
number four in this year's list, which is the Notre
Dame quitting slash fighting Irish.
Speaker 3: To me, the way too.
Speaker 4: Early, top twenty five, it's ninety percent brand ten percent.
Speaker 3: What have you done for me in the last couple
of years.
Speaker 4: The fact that Texas is jumping up to three, even
though we haven't seen Texas win an SEC championship since
they've been there. Notre Dame finished outside the playoffs, but
somehow they're in number four and they're losing Jeremiah Love,
probably the biggest piece of their offense. Orgon in Texas Tech.
I'm good with Texas A and m I'm good with Miami.
I'm good with Oklahoma. I think they've earned it. Michigan,
I think we saw have some questions. I think we
believe Michigan will be good. We believe in with and
we know what they have with their recruiting classes there. LSU,
we gotta see it because every year with LSU, we're
saying they're gonna do it and they don't. I think
ideally BYU is at ten or eleven, because obviously we
know what bou brings back in terms of quarterback, in
terms of returning basically the entirety of your defense. They
add one of the best recruiting classes in the history
of their program. But also I don't put a whole
lot of stock into on three and way too early
College Football Top twenty.
Speaker 3: Five my other caveat.
Speaker 4: I thought we waited to do the way too early,
at least until the game had been played. I didn't
realize that we were doing these before the national championship.
Speaker 2: But here we are. Ronald the three man weave al.
I know you got something to say about this. What
do you make of the top twenty five? The way
too early top twenty five rankings from on three?
Speaker 3: Yeah, we're going by brand and not by what's occurred.
Speaker 6: And I think this is just poo poo. Like if
this is very simple to me, one and two should
be should be ranked based on how you just do
the playoffs? Man, Just do like the NFL draft, do
you win a super Bowl, you get the last pick,
you know if you win, Like, that's just how it goes.
Speaker 3: Do the same thing with the rankings.
Speaker 6: If if Indiana wins it, why isn't Indiana not the
favorite next year? So you just think Kurzinetti, who inherited
a three and nine program, not was the three and
nine program, inherited the three to nine program and then
got their most wins and now is undefeated.
Speaker 3: Who I'm picking to win a national champion?
Speaker 6: So you're telling me that guy shouldn't be ranked next year, Ben,
that's what you're telling me, Like, so how many how many
national championships? Nick Saban coaching tree, by the way, does
he have to win to be able to I just
don't know. I'm just I understand Ohio State. I understand Georgia.
I don't understand Texas. I definitely don't understand order. Like
I just don't understand why Indiana is not gonna be
one in you know Miami higher. Miami should be a
top five team. If you don't want to put him
at two, Okay, they should be a top five team.
They've proven the star talent in all these stars do
not perform this year sec other Big ten, even though
Big ten, I think it's gonna win again.
Speaker 3: So I think you should just go backwards.
Speaker 6: I just think you should go backwards in national Championship
game and and do that because the teams that got
to the playoffs so that are getting there most of
the times do have a top ten, top fifteen program.
But I think that's where they should be ranking. So
I would have Indiana at one. I would have Miami
at too. I know a lot of people are gonna
disagree with me and say, no, Ron, that's not it.
But Miami's gonna have a better roster for like next
year based off of what they did. They're gonna be
able to get people to commit and what they already
have coming in. So I don't know I just I
can't put Texas been who It's just it's tough for
me to put Texas above Miami and above Texas Tech
and above Oregon. I just wouldn't have done it that way.
And then I have an issue with BOU being at thirteen.
I think BYU could have beat Texas this past year.
I think BYU could have I would love to see
BOU against Notre Dame last year and this year. I
know people gonna be like, oh, Jeremiah Love. Yeah, I
would have loved to see Jay Hill when he was
a DC. And I think BOE's better than Oklahoma, and
I think they're better than Oklahoma. I'm going in the
next season. I think they're better than Texas A and M.
So I would have b YU up, you know, at eleven.
That's that's where I would put b YU. I think
there are two teams in Oklahoma and Texas A and
M that shouldn't be in the top ten. I think
BAU should be in the number eleven, and then both
of those should be behind.
Speaker 2: Ultimately, they're putting BYU where they're gonna, you know, ultimately
probably end up in the in the final rankings.
Speaker 3: Right. That's so Yeah, that's where they're gonna end up.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean it could be they could move up
to top ten. They could also drop down a few
slots because certain teams have low but they were in
the college football playoff, right, so I don't know where
they're gonna end up, but they could very well drop
to thirteen. So they're just putting them right where they
were because they have everyone returning essentially that is of
import and they've done pretty well in the portal thus far.
That's why ON three put them right there. They don't
think that they're talented enough to cross that threshold into
the elite status just yet, and hopefully they can prove everybody.
Speaker 3: Wrong and they can have a chip on their shoulder.
Speaker 2: But is it controversial to be number thirteen in the
country and that's kind of where you ended up in
the prior year for some Yes, but remember by us
the new kid on the block b Yu and many
in many ways is the new money and new money
without spending the twenty eight million, thirty million on a
roster that Texas Tech has all of a sudden become
famous for. Like they're not spending that amount. They didn't
spend it this time not for football at least, they're
still not there. They only spent about ten million this
last year on the roster. Now I'm sure that that's
gone up. Is it fifteen, is it twenty this year
with rev share.
Speaker 3: I don't know.
Speaker 2: We'll see k how it plays out and who ultimately
is retained, But it looks like most of the players
are retained, so I imagine that will be going up their payroll.
And with a twenty let's say it's a twenty million
dollar roster, does that make you think? I mean, look,
I feel like the money allocated to a team has
as much to do with hype as any other thing in.
Speaker 3: College football right now.
Speaker 2: Right like, there's a lot of hype that surrounds portal
money and retention money is what it is, and you
have low hanging fruit from guys like Cole Whittingham and
many other coaches around the country to say, well, yeah,
if you pay the players, you're going to get the
best players. Miamis a pretty good study of how much
money was spent in nil. Look at their ROI they're
in the National Championship Game. They spent a lot of
money on their roster. I'd say they probably spent more
than what Indiana did, but Indiana has been pretty dominant.
Speaker 3: We'll see.
Speaker 2: This is a This is a very interesting study because
if you look at two thousand and twenty five, like
roster talent, I want to say that Miami was one
of the most active one is one of the most
active transfer portal. I guess acquisitioners. I don't even know
if that's a word. They were acquiring a ton of talent.
They spent a million dollars on Kilan Marion. That's a
lot of money for a wide receiver that was not
guaranteed to be a wide receiver one. So to me,
this is a very interesting study of like brand plus
nil money versus UH culture, coaching, cohesion and and getting
old and stangold to a degree within a scheme. This game,
that's like, that's the battle tonight, and I'm in to
see what wins out because Miami has been trending in
a very very good direction obviously towards the end of
the towards the end of the year, so very intriguing,
no doubt about it. Most Cougar fans, and I think
most of Vegas, what's what's the spread on this right now?
And they know it's moved a bit eight and a
half eight and a half. So some people think, like
Indiana's covery, this is gonna be a this is gonna
be another blowout fourteen to twenty one points. I don't
know if that's the case. I don't know if that's gonna.
Speaker 3: Be the case.
Speaker 2: We'll see how it plays out. As Kirksigetti mentioned, you know,
don't don't buy in, don't purchase, don't consume the rat poison.
It's all poison. You can't show up to war with
milk and cookies. Don't do it, guys. That's our segment.
But real quick, a couple of news and notes coming
out of the transfer portal if you missed it, A
couple of notes I want to bring up here. So
Ice moa former BYU line back edge, was at Michigan
State last year. He committed to Michigan along with his
brother Celestie. I told you it could be a two
for two for one type of deal. Celestimo was committed
to the University of Utah, the number one recruit in
the state of Utah, and due to the coaching staff changes,
Celestimo de commits from Utah, incites a bit of a
petty tweet from Mark Harland, the ada of the University
of Utah, and he ends up at Michigan. Also, a
couple of Utah quarterback products have committed to Colorado, and
Coach Prime, a former BYU commit in canl Sweet Wine
out of Sky Ridge three star player, he has committed
to Colorado as well as transferportal quarterback from the University
of Utah. Isaac Wilson, the younger brother Zach, has also
committed to Colorado. So a couple of news and notes
there coming out of the great state of Utah. All right,
we're gonna go to break, don't go anywhere more to
get two on a beautiful Monday edition January nineteenth edition
of Cougar Sports. That segment was brought to you by
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nine ninety eight point three.
Speaker 1: If you are listening to Cougar Sports and it's time
for a Cougar Byte. Ida been Crittle breaks down the
latest sound bites from Cougar Athletics. Wow here on one
oh three nine at ninety eight three ESPN The Fan.
Speaker 2: Welcome Backrugar Sports one o three nine ninety eight point three,
ESPN The Fan. I'm met Trital broadcasting from our vand
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Q and A no obligation to invest Q and A
with our tax moret Wealth Advisors certify financial planners. Nobody
does it better than vander Wealth and we appreciate them
being our wealth advisement managers. Do you stop for a
little cougar bike? Guys gotta get into a PK Parker
Kingston LJ.
Speaker 6: Mar.
Speaker 2: These are the two guys that are going to lead
you alongside bear Bachmeyer to glory and victory. How do
you feel right now about this offensive unit coming back
to BYU? How confident are you that this offensive unit
will be better than it was a season ago. We'll
delve into that and discuss why this BYU crew is
excited to rep the y again in twenty twenty six.
This Cougar Bite's going to be brought to you by
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experience the Wonder of the West. All right, let's get
into a few soundbites. Is this PK that we're starting
off with first, Yes, it is, all right. This is
PK discussing why he's coming back. Why ultimately are all
these guys coming back to BYU.
Speaker 7: And they did a great job taking care of us.
I think they made it a priority to keep the
guys in house before looking elsewhere. And I think it's
just a testament to Colony and his culture and what
we've got built for us and brewing for us. After
last year, we're I mean we're hungry. I mean with
what happened in the Big twelve championship last year, we
want to rewrite that. And I think with everyone staying
and everyone had the opportunity to go to the NFL
or elsewhere, we just we wanted to have one more
year together and see what we can do.
Speaker 3: You had a big decision to make. Why was returning
to be away the right one for you?
Speaker 8: Just talking to people and then just also having an
opportunity to reach my goals. You know, just if I
came back for another season, I could ope my draft stock,
I could have a chance to win some really cool awards.
Then also just talking to Jamal Williams, he was saying,
I mean, you're only in college once, you know, just
enjoy it. He's like, the NFL is not going to
go nowhere. I mean, you know, like he's like, if
you're good, you're good, like it's gonna happen. So just
hearing that advice and hearing that, you know, you only
get to be around these guys like one more time,
you know, and I mean this real fun team. You know,
you always hear about the NFL how it's not as
much camaraderie, But I feel like here BYU we have
a lot of camaraderie, Like we really enjoy being around
each other and just having fun. So it kind of
just made my decision, as you know, having a chance
to come back of my draft stock, win some awards,
and yeah, go out there and have fun with my
guys one last time.
Speaker 2: The haters are always going to say, oh, it's just
because of the money.
Speaker 3: By who's money?
Speaker 2: Now BYU throws out the filthy luker and that keeps
everybody there. And Parker Kingston does allude to the intent
and the actions of the Cougar coaching staff. The GM
the power brokers, saying that they wanted to take care
of us, like the team before going out and acquiring.
Speaker 3: Anybody before going out acquired. They took care of us.
Speaker 2: They negotiated with us, They sat down with us, which
does allude to, hey, there was a negotiation there and
taking care of us. But and there's money involved there.
But LJ goes on and says, look like we actually
enjoy each other, We enjoy building something special, enjoy the synergy,
we enjoy the culture. It's it's a testament to Kilani
and the culture that b YU has. I've always said
it and I'll continue to say b Yu's locker room
has been and always will be different.
Speaker 3: It just is.
Speaker 2: It was different when I was there. I had come
from two different junior colleges. Great people, yes, great football players, yes,
many of them went on to Division I programs and
balled out at their.
Speaker 3: Respect to schools.
Speaker 2: But it was nowhere close to the culture and the
type of the quality of person that I experienced that
surrounded me. Uh At b Yu, high level people doing
high level things individually right in their personal growth, academically, spiritually, morally,
in their business.
Speaker 3: Uh you know, their.
Speaker 2: Professional Uh, their their their professional like just you know,
praise like where they wanted to go in their professional world.
Speaker 3: So it's just unique, it's different.
Speaker 2: So shout out to these guys for going on record
on it and discussing the impact of the culture there
and the impact of the type of players that are
surrounding them there at BYU. That's what makes this next
year very special. Now you know we're excited. Were related?
Does BYU have the roster to get over the hump?
Ronald the three man weaver. You're looking at recruiting rankings,
you're looking at what's been acquired, You're looking at what's retained.
Do you think that what's been acquired, what's been retained
can put BYU into the elite status? This is a
great team. They've gone eleven and two and twelve and two.
But we saw a little bit of the the difference
between Texas Tech twice where they dominated BYU. Texas Tech
then goes into the colle Football playoff and loses handily,
loses to and they were a quarterback away. Maybe you
could argue what it has by You've done what it
needs to do in order to get into that elite
status and survive and arrive at a college football playoff
and actually compete in a college football playoff and maybe
win a college football playoff game.
Speaker 3: They're close.
Speaker 6: I know fans are gonna get mad at me, but
I don't think they're there yet. I need to see
a little bit more depid defensive tackle interior and maybe
you know, you get j T back, you know a waiver.
I know he's a petition for it. Maybe Justin Kirkland
is healthy. Remember they brought him and he wasn't healthy.
I used that red shirt year he from Osceata. I
think we'll add to the linebacker room. So you know
they're gonna get guys back. TP will be healthy. They
still got one more scholarship to go get a Nickels,
so I can't make the decision yet. But based off
of what they have now there, I still think they're
missing a wire receiver. One see a lot of two's.
I agree with Jared Bledsae with that thought. That was
a great take by him. I'm a second THET and say,
I don't know if you can go get Look, there's
still some guys in the total and you need to
go get a guy that is the keeling Mary and
I won't say wide receiver one. Let's just not even
put that. You need to go get a Kilan Marriot
type of guy that can that. The defense fear has been, like,
I'm not being rude, like Parker's a slot guy, but
you need to go get a guy like that can
play in a slot like Parker. But there's also, you
know that close to that six foot one, maybe six
foot six or two, a guy that they fear Jackson
Smith and jacbof You're gonna run over our head and
we don't want to let that happen. So that I
still think is missing. I think they've upgraded a tight end.
I think they got that. I think they upgraded offensive line.
They've added great pieces, and then the last thing is
running back to I know I have nothing against I
have I have questions about depth.
Speaker 3: If goes down, who's there? You need more bodies.
Speaker 6: I think putting all your eggs and Davon Neck is
tough for a freshman, tough to do playing at the
next level. I think he will be great, but it's
tough being to be able to do that. I do
expect them to play right away and be on the
depth chart, but you still want one more guy. And
I know people are gonna say Ron, you're Hamprecks and
Rex I am, but we didn't see a lot of
guys towards the end of the season, and when guys
are dinged up, when things are going on, you need
that bok Ahungga is in a porter. You need to
replace that scholarship Ben you so I think you need
to go get another running back guy maybe who could
be a beneficial Rby two, there's still a great amount
of guys in the portal. You know, not getting Dylan Edwards.
He's at Kansas. If you live under a rock, that's
think you need to go get a guy like KEITHA.
Mary And that puts stress on the defense that they respect.
And then I still think that, you know, maybe upgrade
defensive tackle with a few more bodies. But they're close,
been there, so close, They're so close to getting that
perfect score on that test. I think BA use it
like ninety five ninety six percent for the most part, Ben,
but one or two more pieces there and I think
they will have the roster that can compete in the
debt positions at right.
Speaker 3: Now is the depth.
Speaker 6: It's what do you have after your one or two guys,
and I think BA is lacking that. But for the
most part, I like what they have at every single
position group and I think they're in a good spot.
Speaker 5: Uh.
Speaker 2: That is our segment or Cougar Byte, brought to you
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on want of three, nine ninety eight point three ESPNN.
Speaker 1: You are listening to Cougar Sports with Ben Krittle and
it's time for a Cougar Insider report. Now let's get
that proprietary inside scoop on Cougar Sports from Crittle.
Speaker 2: Welcome back Cougar Sports. One of three, nine ninety eight
point three ESPN the Fan. I've been crital broadcasting from
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Doctor Little Cougar Insider Report, and it's gonna be brought
to you by Big O' Tires in American Fork. If
you're looking for an honest, hard working, cost transparent mechanic
who's also a huge BYU fan, contact my guy Ryan
Eldridge today at Big O Tires at American Fork. He's
gonna take care of you know, if sands or a
bunch about it, whether it's an oil change or new tires.
They do have a great deal going on right now
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if you come in and you purchase four tires there
at Big O Tires in American Fork. Hit him up,
let him know I sent you VIP products VIP service
VIP discounts. A couple things I want to get into
regarding recruiting. Okay, BYU has required a few guys that
are of note. One over the weekend that was announced
Roger Sally Apaga tight end, a former four star coming
out of high school. He ended up at Oregon. The
six foot five, two hundred and forty pounder balled out
for Oregon for the last few years, got some pt
and now he has entered the portal and he's coming home.
A La Pooka Nikua Puoka had a similar trajectory heading
out to Washington. Remember he had some injuries and minimal
productivity there in Washington and then came to BYU, balled out,
still had some injuries at BYU, but we're seeing what
he's doing in the NFL. Obviously a prime talent for
Brigham back in the day via the portal, but Roger
Sally of PAGA has committed to BYU. The six foot four,
too hundred and forty five pounds sophomore now going into
I believe his junior season appeared in oregons Is in
twenty twenty four. Appeared in Oregon's first eleven games before
missing the rest of the season due to injury. Played
one hundred and ninety four total stats, including thirty six
on offense, on hundred and fifty eight on special teams,
made two tackles on special team, one against Michigan State
and one against Wisconsin, and recovered a crucial onside kick
in his Organs historic win over number two Ohio State.
So we've seen the football field on the special teams
unit and also on the offensive side of the ball.
With twenty twenty five so this season, though, what did
he produced? I mean, he was on the field a
lot for special teams. He only had three receptions twenty
six yards, and he did have a touchdown and the
last College Football playoff game where they fell to Indiana,
so eight point seven yards per reception. Looking for more
pt looking for more targets. He's an individual. Look at
that six foot four, forty five pound frame. He's similar
to like Walker Lions in Carson Ryan in build and
look he's an inline tight end that can also be
split out as a flex tight end. And so I
expect I wouldn't be surprised. This is even a lot
of twelve personnel this year with Roger Saliapaga and Walker
Lions being brought into the fold. You have a few
other tight ends that are retained. Some of them have
injury history, injury issues, injury history. They're gonna have to
fight off two transfers and Oregon Treasurer Roger Saliapaga and
us he transfer Walker Lions. But this boat's well for
all you twelve personnel fans. I know there's many out
there that are fans of Gurney as well. G Man
is the biggest fan of twelve personnel. But Roger salia
Paga and Walker Lions, ladies and gentlemen, Ronald did the
three man weaver? What do you make of this two
tight end acquisitions via the portal? Will they will we
be seeing a whole lot more twelve personnel this season?
Speaker 6: Absolutely remember the you're with Jake Gretz laugh where you
just saw twelve thirteen, fourteen, fifteen seventeen. Well, I'm just
a kid, bit I wanted to make you laugh, and
I made you laugh. No, but I'm being honest. I'how joking.
You did see twelve thirteen personnel. You saw a bunch
of Titans, Ray Polou, you know there's a bunch of
guys Matavatasa, like with that route with Jay Gretsov, they
were big, you know, very heavy.
Speaker 3: You saw Keano Hillet tight end.
Speaker 6: So they had a bunch of guys in that room
been that were really were really dominant, whether that was
in the run blocking him, that could catch the ball,
and I I'm seeing flashes of that with this, and
it's giving me vibes of guys that can put their
hand in the dirt that can also catch the ball
as well. And I think just just makes Ba's run
game more dominant. It sets the play action up phenomenally. Ben,
you got Walker, Lions, Robert Ciali Apaca the seconds, I think,
you know, he's got to give a shot out to
my brothers that got the number two three junior or
senior or whichever we by their name.
Speaker 3: Look, this allows BYU.
Speaker 6: To you needed another tight end being like a not
just a guy like a block, but that is also
a red zone threat because he was the only transfer
I think that's coming in that scored in the college
football playoffs. So he scored a touchdown recorded that. So
with him and now Walker and with LJ in the backfield,
the reigning Big twelve offensive player of the year. This
boats well to help LJ. Martin to accomplish. I think
that rushing record tight ends are a good part of
the run game. Man Rodicker is big on that. He
will not take that away, and I think that's why
Carson ryand was so dynamic.
Speaker 3: And they have that, and like.
Speaker 6: You said, because of the depth issues with some injuries
that they've had in the room and a couple of
guys leaving, I think Walker now Robert Bowe well, I
like Ke and Need as well.
Speaker 3: I think that also ads as well.
Speaker 6: So I think with those three ben those are gonna
be your main tight ends next year.
Speaker 3: And you've upgraded.
Speaker 6: You got a flex guy that can catch you, a
guy that could be your primary blocker, but that it
can also do that. But I like the twelve person. Now,
I know g Man right now, if you're listening, I
know he's celebrating. He's doing a little leperchun where he's
jumping up and clicking his g man heels with all
that girth.
Speaker 3: This is really good. They need this.
Speaker 6: But someone that put out a tweet and I wanted
to know who it was, and I should have found
it been when I knew we were going into the segment.
But someone that said, just over the next couple of years,
by U's tight end, Roma is gonna have Carson, Ryan Walker,
Lyons or Roberts, the alipak of the second Royner, Swanson,
Brock Harris. They're just naming a bunch of guys. And look,
it's the bau throws to the tight end and they
run the dang football. And I'm great for that. Aaron
Roddic to stay true to his roots. I think a
lot of people, maybe two seasons ago with Keaton Slovans
after Isaac Retz, thought okay, I still think they're fans
that might maybe felt some type of way about Dollan
Hulker leaving and felt that by he doesn't utilized tight ends,
and that narrative is just not true.
Speaker 3: And they have a bunch of guys.
Speaker 6: It's not just linebacker you, it's not just quarterback of you, O,
lineman you, it's tight in you as well at b
YU and they got some phenomena guys. This is a
great pick of Ben. They had a scholarship there. They
use it phenomenally and you're gonna see him play. Glad
that they brought him home.
Speaker 2: Ben Walker Lions, Rogers, Sally Apaga. Two four stars come
in to BYU via the portal, two tight ends, and
I'm sure Kevin Gilbride, T J. Woods, Aaron Roderick are
excited to utilize these guys their talents in the run
game and in the past game. A couple other things
as it pertains to the recruiting class and recruiting rankings
from BYU the twenty twenty six Transfer Portal team rankings
per two four to seven sports. Where does BYU currently
stand in these rankings?
Speaker 3: Right? You know?
Speaker 2: They are they winning the portal currently with nine acquisitions. Okay,
they're sitting at four first, not too bad. Sandwichhip between
Vanderbilt and Cincinnati and of no, Vanderbilt has taken fourteen players,
Cincinnati has taken twenty players. The amount that byuh's gone
and it acquired via the portal is is minimal comparative
to all of these other teams. You know, you look
at the top the top players in the portal right now,
LSU has thirty eight commits, Ole Miss has twenty five,
Texas has sixteen, Ohio State has sixteen, Penn State thirty six,
Oklahoma State. Wow, they've got fifty three. They are completely
revamping retooling their team. Indiana has seventeen, Texas Tech has twenty,
Kentucky has twenty nine. Notre Dame is similar to BYU.
They have only seven commits Texas A and M with eighteen,
Auburn thirty three, Cali with twenty seven, ASU with twenty four,
Michigan was seventeen. There are very few schools that have
taken so few players. Georgia has nine and USC has eight.
But you're like in good company here, like you're not
having to completely retool your roster. BYU is like one
of five teams that is sitting under ten acquisitions in
this early portal season. Now I say early portal season,
I guess it's officially closed. But so there may be
more right with uh, you know, with with more acquisitions
post spring, but I mean it's probably somewhat solidified.
Speaker 3: Quite honestly.
Speaker 2: B YU one of maybe five teams that's taken under
ten portal players. What does that say about BYU?
Speaker 3: Right? That tells you.
Speaker 2: Everything you need to know about where BYU stands, especially
when you're you're you're you're in the same group as
Notre Dame. I know the quit irish, But hey, that's
a good roster. They've routined a lot to USC Georgia.
You don't have to go out and get a whole
lot via the portal. You like what you have and
you're creating that cohesion, chemistry and continuity and getting old
and staying old in the college football ranks, by the way,
you thought only with thirteen acquisitions thus far via the portal.
Speaker 3: Okay, So that's.
Speaker 2: Where b WAYU stands forty first in the in the
transfer portal rankings right now per two four seven. Okay,
And just as a side note, in twenty twenty five
college football team talent composite ranking BYU was seventieth in
the country. That's what their team talent was. I imagine
the team talent will be a little bit better this season.
In twenty twenty six, the recruit football team rankings, by
the way, b why, you're bringing in a pretty good class,
twenty first in the nation per two four seven. They
had seven four stars and fourteen high level three stars.
Pretty goys, staying good recruiting class. Some of those guys
are going on missions. They're serving the Lord with all
their heart, might, mind and strength, just like elder Rider,
Lions and others. But the future is bright for BYU
on the recruiting front. All right, that's your insider report,
brought to you by Big O' Tires in American Fork.
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Cougar nation, don't go anywhere, plenty to get to. On
a Monday, January nineteenth edition of Cougar Sports Here on
your Utah ESPN Radio Network, one of three, nine ninety
eight point three