1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,919 Speaker 1: If you're listening to Cougar Sports with Ben Kretel, and 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:06,040 it's time for a cruping of Cougars and inside look 3 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:10,480 at the latest news on the recruiting trails surrounding Cougar athletics. 4 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:12,919 Speaker 2: Welcome back Cougar Sports. 5 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 3: One of three nine ninety eight point three ESPN The Fan. 6 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:17,839 I've been Crital broadcasting from our Vanderwell Studios Bandwell dot com. 7 00:00:17,839 --> 00:00:19,800 Get on that pre Q and A no obligation to 8 00:00:19,839 --> 00:00:22,519 invest Q and A with our Taximar Wealth Advisors. Today 9 00:00:22,519 --> 00:00:23,800 it is time for a little cruit and the Cougar 10 00:00:23,879 --> 00:00:27,280 is gonna be bronch you by Odeon Men'swear odeonmnswear dot com. 11 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:30,440 Elevate your suit game with a sports performance suit from 12 00:00:30,519 --> 00:00:34,359 Odeon Men's where you can get fifteen percent off utilizing 13 00:00:34,399 --> 00:00:36,560 that Critle fifteen coupon code at any one of their 14 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,240 three locations mentioned myself for ESPN the Fan and get 15 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,159 that fifteen percent off, or head on head on over 16 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:45,520 to their website Odon Menswear dot com and utilize the 17 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,799 Crital fifteen coupon code. Sports performance suit that feels like 18 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,640 the ath leisure sports performance stuff that you wear while 19 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:53,920 you're playing sports but it looks like a traditional suit. 20 00:00:54,039 --> 00:00:56,719 Elevate your suit game at Odeon Men'swear. Let's get out 21 00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:00,000 to the hotline. Welcome in, Brandon Huffman, National recruiting Editor, 22 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:00,960 were two four seven sports. 23 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: Brandon, how the heck are you? 24 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 4: Man? 25 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:03,039 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us? 26 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 4: Oh, you know, I was doing better like forty eight 27 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,879 hours ago and I was still in Hawaii. But I'm managing. 28 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:11,640 You know, I'm in Arizona now, so it's actually warmer 29 00:01:11,719 --> 00:01:13,840 here than it is in Hawaii, So I can't be 30 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:16,519 too bad. Right. We got the national Chemishibon. 31 00:01:16,519 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 3: Valley of the Sun. That's my home state, baby. I 32 00:01:19,079 --> 00:01:22,200 love a z But Hawaii that's our vacation spot. How 33 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:22,599 was Hawaii? 34 00:01:22,599 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 2: How was the Polynesian Bowl? Brother? It was awesome? 35 00:01:25,439 --> 00:01:27,159 Speaker 4: You know, it was one of the better games, and 36 00:01:27,239 --> 00:01:30,719 largely because they made a real emphasis on inviting underclasses. 37 00:01:30,879 --> 00:01:33,040 So there was over thirty twenty twenty seven prospects in 38 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:35,760 the game, both the MVPs on offense and defense for 39 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,359 twenty twenty seven. But you also got to still see 40 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:40,000 a good chunk of the twenty twenty six. I think 41 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:42,200 there's sixty plus twenty twenty six is in the game. 42 00:01:42,239 --> 00:01:44,799 A lot of YU players in that game as well. 43 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:47,799 So it was a nice combination of graduating seniors, guys 44 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:50,760 that have actually already enrolled in school and been there 45 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:52,120 for a week and then came to Hawaii, and then 46 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:54,000 guys that we're going to spend in the next year really 47 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:54,640 focusing on. 48 00:01:55,599 --> 00:01:58,319 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's it's always fun to see the stars, right, 49 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,079 the rising stars that are coming out of the prep world. 50 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,319 And obviously we have the college football Championship on tonight. 51 00:02:05,959 --> 00:02:08,840 Where you leaning right now, Miami or Indiana? 52 00:02:08,879 --> 00:02:11,039 Speaker 2: And why I'm telling you what. 53 00:02:11,199 --> 00:02:13,159 Speaker 4: I was at the Rose Bowl when I watched Indiana 54 00:02:13,159 --> 00:02:15,080 against Alabama, and I was at the Fiesta Bowl, and 55 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:18,000 I saw Miami and illness, and that Indiana team is 56 00:02:18,039 --> 00:02:20,520 not losing to any one. And I think it's going 57 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,319 to be thirty one to fourteen, which means Miami, congratulations 58 00:02:23,319 --> 00:02:26,879 on the national championship, because me picking Indiana almost automatically 59 00:02:26,879 --> 00:02:29,120 needs is going to be opposite day. But I'll tell 60 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,159 you that Indiana team I saw against Alabama and then 61 00:02:31,199 --> 00:02:36,000 watching him against Oregon down and whatever that was. The people, 62 00:02:36,479 --> 00:02:38,159 I mean, they just look like they're on a complete 63 00:02:38,199 --> 00:02:40,360 different level than everybody else in college football. 64 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 2: This season. 65 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 3: Well, like I was looking at the recruiting rankings of 66 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:46,039 these two teams and like. 67 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 2: Their team cars, I knew it was coming, you know what. 68 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,439 Speaker 3: I mean, You're looking at it like, look, I think 69 00:02:51,479 --> 00:02:55,400 the team composite talent score of Indiana was like seventy second. 70 00:02:55,879 --> 00:02:57,840 They went out and got a pretty good transfer portal 71 00:02:57,879 --> 00:02:59,960 class this past offseason. I want to say it was 72 00:03:00,199 --> 00:03:01,719 I want to say it was like top twenty five, 73 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:04,759 but Miami went top five. I mean it looks like 74 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,319 they were one of the heavy spenders in the transporport 75 00:03:07,319 --> 00:03:10,520 of this last go round. From a talent level standpoint, 76 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:11,280 what do you see here? 77 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,719 Speaker 4: Well, I'll tell you know one thing that's not being 78 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,560 mentioned nearly enough. And everybody keeps talking about the composite 79 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:21,400 rankings and how you know how Indiana has such a 80 00:03:21,479 --> 00:03:24,639 good team despite their ranking. Well, you know, they are 81 00:03:24,719 --> 00:03:27,319 very veteran, they're very experienced. They've got guys that are fifth, 82 00:03:27,319 --> 00:03:29,599 sixth and seventh year guys. They've got a quarterback who 83 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:31,639 has been around, who was talented, who you know, his 84 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:35,080 story was much traveled. But you can't knock experience too. 85 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,599 That's one thing in this game. But we also have 86 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,680 to you know, ranted the talent fit and it worked 87 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,719 out exactly how curst Anetty planned, but it also worked 88 00:03:43,719 --> 00:03:45,919 to Mario Tristiball's plan. You know, they had a couple 89 00:03:45,919 --> 00:03:48,240 of games during the season they probably shouldn't have lost, 90 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,520 game that they should have won where they had the 91 00:03:50,639 --> 00:03:54,000 more talented roster, but they lost. But Mario Cristobal has 92 00:03:54,039 --> 00:03:56,840 his team in the National Championship game because he made 93 00:03:56,879 --> 00:03:59,319 it justice. They did what they needed to do down 94 00:03:59,319 --> 00:04:01,639 the stretch. So I think this is one of those where, yeah, 95 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,159 the rosters made them very different from a ranking standpoint, 96 00:04:04,159 --> 00:04:06,400 but coaching, you know, Mario Chris Bauls never had a 97 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:10,000 problem accumulating talent. His knocket always been can he have 98 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,879 those in game? You know, questions get answered, whereas Krits Signetti, 99 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:16,240 nobody ever knew what he could do at a high level. 100 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:19,600 And I think the coaching is so overlooked with what 101 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:22,199 Indiana has done. And while they're they're roster may not 102 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:24,720 be full of four and five stars, it's very veteran, 103 00:04:24,759 --> 00:04:27,800 it's very experienced. But more importantly, he gets those guys 104 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:30,879 to play together schematically, and that's why they've been able 105 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,120 to just blow out and everybody pretty much the entire season. 106 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, both of these teams are fantastic. Both of 107 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,079 them are very talented, and both of them are are 108 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,160 well coached, and they have good cultures. That's what I 109 00:04:42,199 --> 00:04:45,360 would say about each one of these these teams, in 110 00:04:45,439 --> 00:04:48,519 each one of these coaches. So I'm excited to see 111 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:50,879 what happens in this game. And there's actually there's a 112 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,120 bit of a rooting interest for some BYU fans. Some 113 00:04:53,439 --> 00:04:56,560 want to say Kiena Marin their former Cougar ball out, 114 00:04:56,759 --> 00:04:59,079 and and then others are like, they just love the 115 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,560 Kirk Signetties, the Indiana Hoosi, your stores. They have a 116 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:03,800 bit BYU fans have a bit, you know, they have 117 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:05,800 a bit of a chip on their shoulders, the underdog. 118 00:05:05,879 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 2: So they're rooting on the underdogs. 119 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:09,759 Speaker 4: But let me say one thing on this, and I 120 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:11,959 think this is actually makes a lot of sense. This 121 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,879 is an outlier, you know, in a sense that remember 122 00:05:14,959 --> 00:05:17,399 it was fifteen years was speaking of Indiana the game, 123 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,079 the team that plays their games in the arena where 124 00:05:20,079 --> 00:05:22,759 Hoodres was filmed. Butler, maybe it's the National championship game 125 00:05:22,759 --> 00:05:25,639 and almost knocked off Duke, and you know you're gonna 126 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:29,120 have cases like that where the rosters made look different. 127 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:32,120 But in this era where you're having the portal so 128 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:36,040 readily available and for a quick fix process, you know, 129 00:05:36,399 --> 00:05:39,759 Chris Signetti has just ruined the life of every college 130 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,319 coach who is being hired at a school that maybe 131 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,680 didn't have the season at the school that they just 132 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:46,600 got hired at that they won. And Indiana was a 133 00:05:46,639 --> 00:05:49,519 losing his power for program of all time, and what 134 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,319 he's done is magical. But now every school is going 135 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,079 to expect their new coach to utilize the portal and 136 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,040 have the success that Chris Signetti has done. I think 137 00:05:58,079 --> 00:06:00,079 this guy's one of one. I think this Indiana he 138 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:01,560 was one of one, And I don't know that this 139 00:06:01,639 --> 00:06:04,399 is going to be the rule rather the exception of 140 00:06:04,399 --> 00:06:05,680 the rule. Even moving forward. 141 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 3: What makes Kirk Signetti so good at maybe coaching and 142 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:16,720 even evaluating and acquiring talent from high school and from. 143 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 2: The portal to put himself in this position, Well. 144 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 4: Again, you go back to experience. I mean, the guy's 145 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,720 in his mid sixties. He's probably been around football for 146 00:06:24,759 --> 00:06:26,519 so long that he's been able to pick up on 147 00:06:26,639 --> 00:06:28,959 tendencies and what he's looking for, and he knows that. 148 00:06:29,079 --> 00:06:31,480 You know, you cannot discount the fact that this guy 149 00:06:31,519 --> 00:06:34,800 spent a year working under Nick Staban was Nick Saban's 150 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,319 recruiting coordinator when he first was hired at Alabama, and 151 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,079 you know, you just can't put a price tag on that. 152 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:43,439 And I think that's something that you know, people don't understand, 153 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,199 is that him being around the game of football, him 154 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:49,439 taking lower level jobs and working his way up. He 155 00:06:49,519 --> 00:06:51,199 knew what he was looking for, he knew what he 156 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:53,480 was doing, and he's had success in every stop along 157 00:06:53,519 --> 00:06:56,240 the way. And again, I think this guy's a unicorn. 158 00:06:56,319 --> 00:06:59,519 I think he is a coaching unicorn and just happened 159 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,240 to be the guy that you know, people waited too 160 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:04,120 long to hire and now Indiana gets. 161 00:07:03,959 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 2: To reap the rewards. 162 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 4: But I don't even know if there's a special sauce 163 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:08,959 you can really describe. I just think this guy is 164 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:10,879 that much of an outlier himself. 165 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:14,959 Speaker 3: Love the breakdown that only you can give. Brandon Huffman 166 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,160 two four to seven Sports here on your Utah ESPN 167 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,319 Radio network, Let's talk BYU. I thought they did a 168 00:07:20,319 --> 00:07:24,800 pretty good job of acquiring talent in the twenty twenty 169 00:07:24,839 --> 00:07:26,879 sixth class. I think two four to seven put him 170 00:07:26,879 --> 00:07:29,920 at number twenty one overall, with seven four stars and 171 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:34,040 fourteen high level three stars. In the portal, they've I think, 172 00:07:34,079 --> 00:07:37,360 acquired nine guys via the portal. They sit at I 173 00:07:37,399 --> 00:07:41,519 want to say, around forty first in the rankings. They 174 00:07:41,519 --> 00:07:44,480 only have nine guys, which is a bit of an outlier. 175 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:48,560 Not many teams have stayed under that ten player threshold. 176 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,639 But how would you evaluate the acquisitions via the portal 177 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:52,040 thus far? 178 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, I think mean this is where you 179 00:07:56,079 --> 00:07:57,839 go back to, you know, to culture, and you talk 180 00:07:57,879 --> 00:08:01,480 about the culture Signetti has built. I want to talk 181 00:08:01,519 --> 00:08:04,519 you built ten years ago and now it's about maintaining 182 00:08:04,519 --> 00:08:07,360 that culture. And so you don't need a lot of guys. 183 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,199 When you're signing a class of twenty and you've got 184 00:08:09,199 --> 00:08:12,079 returning missionaries coming in, you get to be very picky 185 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,600 on what you're doing in the portal. And while they 186 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,360 only have nine guys coming out of the portal, these 187 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:18,480 are guys that I think are going to be, you know, 188 00:08:18,639 --> 00:08:22,160 outstanding additions. I love what I've seen, you know, from 189 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:24,040 Kadu the lobby the last couple of years. 190 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 2: The Lady. 191 00:08:24,319 --> 00:08:26,639 Speaker 4: It was this tactful freshman of the year's season in 192 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:28,560 twenty twenty three, when they had a quarterback on that 193 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:30,920 same team named for Nana Mendoza that you might be remembering. 194 00:08:31,639 --> 00:08:34,360 You know, Zach Yamouchi coming over from Stanford, who had 195 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,559 been at Bishop Gorman, a a program where he's used 196 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:39,480 to winning pockey fin now who started I think five 197 00:08:39,519 --> 00:08:42,320 games this year at Washington. You know, was in the 198 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,039 midst to be a starter as a redshirt freshman. You've 199 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,399 got Roger Saliapungo, you know, who had a touchdown I 200 00:08:47,399 --> 00:08:49,799 believe in the in the Fiesta, are in the Peach 201 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,240 Bowl for Oregon, you know, and he comes home and 202 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,360 you know, you throw in Walker Lions and what he 203 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,679 was able to do as a weapon at USC, and 204 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:02,519 you know it's hard at USC when you always have 205 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,240 the amount of receivers at a high level that us 206 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,480 he has for the tight ends to really get the ball. 207 00:09:07,519 --> 00:09:09,080 And now he goes there and you know, I think 208 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:11,639 it's any you know, BYU fans were freaking out a 209 00:09:11,639 --> 00:09:13,399 little bit about you know, some of the stuff that 210 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:14,720 came out of the under Armoured. 211 00:09:14,519 --> 00:09:15,879 Speaker 2: Game about Ryder Lions. 212 00:09:15,919 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 4: You know, he realizes he's going on a mission and 213 00:09:18,039 --> 00:09:20,039 so that's not going to stop schools from recruiting him. 214 00:09:20,279 --> 00:09:22,639 I think it certainly does help that that Walker is 215 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:24,480 going to be there for a couple of years. You know, 216 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:26,639 even if they may not ever really cross paths for 217 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:29,519 more than a year, that doesn't hurt to have him 218 00:09:29,879 --> 00:09:32,759 be a part of that culture. So Walker lyons talent 219 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:34,480 on the field. But then it also kind of ties 220 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:36,240 us loose ends. And then Tyler Caster is a kid 221 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:37,840 that you know, believe or not. I saw him in 222 00:09:37,919 --> 00:09:40,840 high school when he was playing at Williams Steels High School. 223 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:42,639 Went up to one of the better high school matches. 224 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:44,639 I saw Benjamin Morrison, who ended up being a secondround 225 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:47,120 draft pick. We're talking best on best in that game, 226 00:09:47,159 --> 00:09:49,360 and Kyler Caster got the better of him. He didn't 227 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:53,080 really stay healthy. He enrolled early at Oregon, actually skips 228 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:55,879 his senior year, got to Oregon, and then Oregon did 229 00:09:55,879 --> 00:09:58,240 a really good job of recruiting receivers out of the portal, 230 00:09:58,240 --> 00:09:59,879 and then they did a really good job of recruiting 231 00:10:00,279 --> 00:10:02,440 talent who was a little bit more dynamic. And so 232 00:10:02,759 --> 00:10:04,559 Kyler Caster is one of those guys that just needs 233 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,240 an opportunity to get on the field and you're going 234 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:09,240 to get to see. You've got the NFL bloodlines there 235 00:10:09,279 --> 00:10:11,159 with his dad Kevin having played in the NFL. So 236 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:13,519 you know, a couple of known names, but then a 237 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:16,639 couple of guys that you know, were really highly tile 238 00:10:16,639 --> 00:10:17,960 to come out of high school that they just need 239 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,000 that opportunity in Kyler Caster being one of them. 240 00:10:20,879 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's uh, it was an interesting acquisition. Like you know, 241 00:10:23,919 --> 00:10:28,279 Kirk Saghetti talks a lot about production, Kyler Casper doesn't 242 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:30,559 have much production at organ, but he's got a lot 243 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,120 of potential. Can he be a wide receiver one for 244 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:34,360 BYU this next season? 245 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,679 Speaker 4: Absolutely? And again, you know, this is one thing, and 246 00:10:38,039 --> 00:10:40,240 I had this talk last week when I was in Hawaii. 247 00:10:40,519 --> 00:10:43,240 There's one thing to not have production when you're at 248 00:10:43,279 --> 00:10:45,360 a four and eight program, if you're not able to 249 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:47,600 get on the field of a bad program. It's another 250 00:10:47,639 --> 00:10:49,960 thing to not have production when you're at a school 251 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,240 like Oregon where they have, you know, as good as 252 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:55,720 a recruiting department as any in the country. They're always 253 00:10:55,799 --> 00:10:58,240 recruiting top five to top seven classes. Remember he was 254 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:00,600 a part of that first Dan Landing class where they 255 00:11:00,639 --> 00:11:02,120 also able to hit the porter. But then they went 256 00:11:02,159 --> 00:11:04,679 after guys like Edam Stewart. They went after guys that 257 00:11:04,759 --> 00:11:08,480 were experienced, very talented players who needed to change his scenery. 258 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,440 So it wasn't like he wasn't playing because of the talent. 259 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:14,200 Issue was he wasn't playing because there was more talented 260 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,240 older guys. And then they brought some younger guys that 261 00:11:16,279 --> 00:11:18,039 were five stars that I'm one rep receiver in the 262 00:11:18,039 --> 00:11:20,679 country into Korean Moore, you know, so it was never 263 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:22,279 a challenged shop for him. It was really just a 264 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:23,759 traffic cam that he got stuck in. 265 00:11:24,879 --> 00:11:28,399 Speaker 3: Is the crowning jewel of this traansportal class. Kd ula Lav. 266 00:11:29,399 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 4: Oh, no question. I mean Kato Lulav is the kind 267 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:36,799 of guy that you know, he is an easy, early 268 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:39,120 impact guy. He's coming in. You know, he could have 269 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:40,840 stayed at Cal, he could have gone to the NFL. 270 00:11:40,879 --> 00:11:43,000 He had other schools that were pursuing him. I know 271 00:11:43,039 --> 00:11:45,480 the UCLA was trying really hard with him because Dick Soto, 272 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:49,080 the former YU player himself was his coach at Cal, 273 00:11:49,159 --> 00:11:52,320 was the codec in Berkeley. Utah was also making a 274 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,679 big push. But I mean kay Do Lulav because it 275 00:11:54,759 --> 00:11:57,279 was kind of a later portal entry. He became one 276 00:11:57,320 --> 00:11:59,200 of the most attractive linebackers. 277 00:11:59,440 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 2: You know. 278 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 4: The reality is the linebacker position is kind of in 279 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,679 the value position. It's not going to move the needle, 280 00:12:05,799 --> 00:12:07,679 say like a left tackle, like an edge rusher, like 281 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,120 a receiver, like a quarterback is in the portal. But 282 00:12:10,159 --> 00:12:14,679 you still need an elite linebacker or an elite leadership 283 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:17,399 at linebacker, and if you can get the player to 284 00:12:17,399 --> 00:12:19,320 go along with it, then that's a kind of a 285 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,320 double edition. And I think that he would have been 286 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:22,879 the crown Rule for a lot of schools that were 287 00:12:22,919 --> 00:12:25,559 pursuing him, But for BYU that really didn't feel like 288 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:29,399 they're missing many pieces. You bring in his experiences, veteran leadership, 289 00:12:29,399 --> 00:12:31,399 playing in a conference that's got a team playing for 290 00:12:31,399 --> 00:12:35,000 the national championship tonight. That is a huge pickup for BYU. 291 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:37,799 Speaker 2: Yeah, I love that breakdown. 292 00:12:37,879 --> 00:12:42,519 Speaker 3: Three offensive linemen that they got Zach Yamoucci, obviously Pocky 293 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:46,120 Final and then Junior Sia. They also went heavy on 294 00:12:46,159 --> 00:12:49,360 the tight ends with Walker Lions and Roger salia Paga. 295 00:12:49,519 --> 00:12:50,879 It looks like they want to go with some twelve 296 00:12:50,919 --> 00:12:52,240 personnel this next season. 297 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 4: I know it's good because I think that the more 298 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:59,559 versatility you can get in your offense. The more at health, 299 00:12:59,639 --> 00:13:01,320 the more you can get the ball spread out to 300 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,039 your big receiver, your big tight end. That helps. And 301 00:13:04,039 --> 00:13:06,639 I mean in getting both Roger and Walker, who are 302 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:09,120 both traditional you know they're im sorry, they're not your 303 00:13:09,159 --> 00:13:12,080 traditional just we're only going to use them in blocking situations. 304 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:14,600 We want to get those guys involved in the passing game. 305 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:16,840 That's huge. And I think that both those guys have 306 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,360 the sides, they have the range that they are going 307 00:13:19,399 --> 00:13:23,720 to be absolute weapons for Yu's offense and give bart Backmeyer, 308 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:25,840 you know, some guys at the tight end position to 309 00:13:25,879 --> 00:13:28,600 get the ball to. You know, Walker played i think 310 00:13:28,639 --> 00:13:31,000 at every single game this year for USC except maybe 311 00:13:31,039 --> 00:13:33,600 the Bowl game. Roger was coming along strong at the 312 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:35,360 end of the season. Just happened to have you know, 313 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:39,240 quite possibly the freakiest tight end in college football. And 314 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,720 Kenyan Citique, who was the starter there and he wasn't 315 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:43,360 going to pass him up, you know, being a year 316 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:45,440 behind him in Kenya Steek probably gonna be a first rounder. 317 00:13:45,519 --> 00:13:48,440 So again, it's just a matter of opportunity for both 318 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:50,159 those guys. And I think if you're bare Backbayer, you 319 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:51,840 got to be looking your chuck. You got guys protecting 320 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,159 me up front, and you have two really good pass 321 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:57,759 catching receivers at tight end that you're going to be 322 00:13:57,799 --> 00:13:59,000 instituting you to that offense. 323 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:01,639 Speaker 2: Is there anything at BAU needs to acquire. 324 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,159 Speaker 3: Some people want an RB two, Some people want like 325 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:08,279 a wide receiver one as well to maybe create separation. 326 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:10,559 They lost to Quilan Marrion last year would have been 327 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:11,799 nice to happen this year for instance. 328 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:15,279 Speaker 4: Yeah, there's no question. And I think you know when 329 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:19,120 you look at what was available in the portal this year, 330 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,159 there were a lot of elite wide receivers in the 331 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:23,879 portal this year, and I think part of that is 332 00:14:23,919 --> 00:14:27,000 because what we've seen in the past couple of years, 333 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:29,200 especially with revenue sharing, is that schools are doing a 334 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,120 better job of locking up they're wide receiver ones. They're 335 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:35,200 realizing that, you know, a quarterback is the most important position. 336 00:14:35,279 --> 00:14:37,440 To get a left tackle is the most important position 337 00:14:37,799 --> 00:14:41,000 after quarterback, ed dresher and receiver. You don't need to 338 00:14:41,039 --> 00:14:43,559 overspend on receivers, but you've got to take care of 339 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:45,759 those ones that you do have. That Jeremiah Smith, the 340 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:49,600 Malachai Toni types, and the reality is that you didn't 341 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:51,879 see a lot of schools wide receiver ones go into 342 00:14:51,919 --> 00:14:55,320 the portal, so you know, if anything, yeah, they along 343 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,600 with one hundred and thirty other power forward or I'm sorry, 344 00:14:57,679 --> 00:15:00,799 FBS schools wanted a wide receiver well, but those just 345 00:15:00,799 --> 00:15:03,320 weren't as available out of the portal this year as 346 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:05,559 maybe some of these other traditions. So I think when 347 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:07,480 they do, they go and get you know, two really 348 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:10,240 good tight end one and a half that will help 349 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:11,559 in that passing game as well. 350 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 3: Brandon huff been two four seven sports best way to 351 00:15:14,759 --> 00:15:16,440 support you, what you do, how you do it for 352 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:18,399 all of our listeners. 353 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 4: Twenty four seven Sports is the place to go. You 354 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,240 can find me on Twitter at Brandon hupbin on on 355 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:25,720 Instagram Brandon Hutton twenty four or two four seven the league, 356 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:27,919 the portal might be clothes. There's still some guys tying 357 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:29,960 up to loose ends figuring out where they're going to go. 358 00:15:30,039 --> 00:15:32,919 But hey, we've got junior days, we've got camp, seasoning, 359 00:15:32,919 --> 00:15:36,639 we've got numerous I know TJ. Woods got to the line 360 00:15:36,639 --> 00:15:38,480 coach for BYU was in Hawaii at the end of 361 00:15:38,559 --> 00:15:40,879 last week at an in home visit with Isaiah Bertola, 362 00:15:40,879 --> 00:15:42,960 who's the number two player in the state of Hawaii. 363 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,039 These coaches don't get any time to rest right now. 364 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:48,360 Then they get the whole month of February off, So coaches, 365 00:15:48,399 --> 00:15:49,799 we have to work you around. You can work for 366 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,360 the rest of January, but be following all the action 367 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:54,519 because there's plenty of twenty seven and twenty eight info 368 00:15:54,679 --> 00:15:55,480 going out right now. 369 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,759 Speaker 3: Love the breakdown, appreciate you Behuf, Brandon Hupp and ladies 370 00:15:58,799 --> 00:15:59,120 in general. 371 00:15:59,159 --> 00:16:03,159 Speaker 2: Thanks so much. There you go, two four to seven Sports. 372 00:16:03,159 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 3: Subscribe today, stay up to date on all the recruiting 373 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:09,200 news and notes around the country, and definitely what's occurring 374 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:13,960 here in Provo. That's our segment, and we'll take a 375 00:16:14,039 --> 00:16:18,120 stop here and hear from our sponsors here momentarily. 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