Speaker 1: It's time to celebrate the biggest team sport known to man,
where modern day gladiators collide for all the glory on
the grid.
Speaker 2: I let's talk some.
Speaker 3: College football on Cougar Sports with Ben Cridl.
Speaker 2: Welcome back to the sports one of three nine ninety
eight Quick three ESPN the Fan.
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Speaker 2: And he's time for a little college football segment.
Speaker 3: Get a welcome in uh b YU Insider Cougar Sports Insider. Yes, indeed,
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Speaker 3: Love that bredon Day, CEO of Video Men's War, Odeo,
Menswear dot Com, Braiden Cougar Football their Siny Clash. I
think that's the best signing class and BYU football history
top twenty one. And you flipped a few commits too
while you're at it from the University of Utah. You've
been you know, a big bo your fan for a
long time. In this modern era, nothing really matches that
recruiting ranking or the recruiting class.
Speaker 2: Who was your favorite out of the bunch.
Speaker 1: Oh, I mean, I'm gonna say Rider aside just because
I think that one, like like everybody's gonna go for
the quarterback or bau right, that's what we're gonna say.
But I think outside of Rider, I think the one
probably Brock Harris. Again I'm going against an another, but
Bot Mutlo is gonna be awesome too. So I don't know,
it's hard to pick somebody out of this class because
I love that we have such a high average. I
think our average is above eighty five. Maybe I don't know,
it's eighty seven, right, And so I think just where
we're at in terms of twenty four to seven rankings
and everything is awesome. It's awesome the programs at this point.
If you've see what Ba's doing right now with the
classes they had before, just imagine what they can do
with the same program we've got going. Everything we've got
in terms of the culture, all those different things. I
think you bring in this amount of talent and it's
really excited to see what we're gonna do with it.
Speaker 2: Love it, love it man. Yeah.
Speaker 3: So this this BYU football team the last two years
eleven and two, eleven A two top twenty signing class.
When was the last time things were this good in
Cougar football country?
Speaker 1: I mean before I was born, Like back in the eighties.
That's the only thing I can think of. I mean,
we had a good run there three years in a
row with you know, during your years of seven oh
eight o nine, those were some really good years that
that was the best time of t B A B
A FEN during my lifetime. But I think this, you know,
is above that, and it's got to be the eighties
is the last time we had the program turning this way.
And I personally, again I don't I wasn't alive to
who knows, but I think the trajectory and what happened
with the colony extension and all that kind of stuff
looks makes you know, I think this these two years
are really just springboards into what's what's what's potentially out
there in the next couple of years.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's Uh, it's a great day to be a Cougar,
no doubt about it.
Speaker 2: We're going We're getting back to the glory days. Uh.
Speaker 3: What's the ceiling for this team? Would you say, what's
the ceiling for Koloni? What's the ceiling for Cougar football
right now.
Speaker 1: So I just remembered something crittled that I needed to
tell you because you weren't on last week when we
did the interview, that you kept giving me crap to
not have this blue goggles and that I should get
my real projections now, my blue goggles projections. And I
just want to ask who was closer. Whose projection was closer?
Speaker 3: I said the ceiling was nine to three, and you said,
I think fourteenth thirteen for the regular season.
Speaker 1: I think it's yeah, I've probably done sixteen and oak
because we were winning the Natty. But yeah, no, but
but I think I can't remember your question now. Sorry,
I got so I just wanted to make sure I
put that out there to you.
Speaker 3: No, you know, I'm just say it was the ceiling
for this Cougar football team. Obviously you're a National Championship
or bus guy. Uh, you know it's every single year
sixteen and oh, but is the ceiling Natty?
Speaker 2: Once again?
Speaker 3: When you watch that Texas Tech game, do you see
the kaza between Elite and Great?
Speaker 2: How far away is b yu?
Speaker 1: I think we're it's possible, but it's still gonna be
super tough to get into that better, But I think
I think it's there. Like obviously I think Texas Tech
we could have won that game. Things go a little
bit different. Obviously it pulled away, but going in three
minutes left in the third quarter down by six points,
like we were still in that game until all of
a sudden will sell off. I still think, do they
win that game? If we played it ten times, they
win it eight of the ten or seven of the ten.
And I think that's where the gap. Where can we
get to a spot where we're just as good as them.
I think it's going to take this recruiting classes like
we just really had, and then getting a few key
pieces out of the portal And I think it's upfront.
I mean, you look at that what that defensive line,
the problems it causes because they're able to do They're
able to go just four down and not have to
bring anybody else, and keep people in coverage, keep people,
you know, sound gaps down on all those different things.
I just think the defensive line is just crazy. But
I think we're I don't think we're that far off.
I think it's just a couple of players. I think
the NIL and Portal era make it possible, So that
gap is getting closed. I mean back in the day
of the you know, the Bamas and Georgia's of yesteryear,
when before that was happening, I feel like the gap
was even bigger. I really think we're just a few
players away from closing that gap.
Speaker 3: Just a few years away from closing that gap. What
do you got from me?
Speaker 2: Ap?
Speaker 4: So if I give you the over under two and
a half, are you taking the over under two and
a half years before BYU gets into the college football playoffs?
Speaker 1: Who that's tough. I'm gonna go. I mean, my my
blue goggles under. I think I think we've got an
under that. It depends on what happens with the College
FOOTBA playoff expansion too. If we go to sixteen or
twenty teams, then I think that it's an one hundred
percent under. If we say at twelve, I think that
two and a half are pretty dann good over underline.
But I think with the recruiting class the things stay intact.
I'm gonna take the understill.
Speaker 2: I like it. I like it.
Speaker 1: When are we gonna get to the when do we
get into the final semi semis? I think over I
don't think we're there yet. I think it it's gonna
take more than just that to be able to actually
be competing for a national championship at the end. But
I think getting into the playoff, yeah, we're we're I mean,
we were almost there this year, so I don't think
it's crazy to say under on that.
Speaker 4: Well, So, so do you think do you think BYU
can get there under Kolone Satake or will it be
the next guy after for Klannie?
Speaker 1: I think I think it's Colone. I think I think
we can. Whether we will or not, I don't know,
but I think Colonie is the perfect guy to get
us there.
Speaker 2: I agree.
Speaker 3: What do you make Brandon of kind of the the
eleventh hour signing and contract extension of Kolani, Were you,
you know a.
Speaker 2: Little bit miffed at that, Like why did it come
to that?
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I was. I was nervous. I was
definitely nervous that at first. I was like, Oh, this
is just Colonna, you know, kind of getting some leverage
there so we can get what he wants to do
AU And I'm you know, the more you hear sometimes
I do think that was a little bit of it.
But there were some talks on that Monday morning that
and I was hearing that. It was like he was
basically gone already. I don't know how much those were
just rumors what was going on, but I think it
was very legitimate, and I got very, very nervous. It's
hard to read into what actually happened. Who's at fault,
because you know, you're hearing different stories from different people,
But I was. Colonie's mentioned a couple time now in
interviews postgame interviews that he wanted it to happen before
the bye week. So the fact that he's putting that
out there makes me think that he's in wanting this.
And ba Is wasn't moving, and he's like, well, if
you're not gonna move, and I'm gonna start moving, I'm
gonna start looking out elsewhere or at least get some
leverage there. And so I think I was very nervous.
But I think the fact that it happened and he
had the leverage that he had, I think sets Bau
up for a ton of success. I mean, some of
the rumors out there that he's gonna have more control there,
you know, change some of the structure, who can pay
salaries and what. I think A lot of that stuff
really does affect the long term ability for BAU to
get to where they want to go and where we
want them to go.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a great situation right now for for BYU.
In my opinion, you're gonna have an influx of cash
rev share ten to fifteen in NIL. Coaches are getting
paid well, so you should be able to retain most
of your players and I hope and hopefully your staff.
Speaker 2: Where do you expect attrition?
Speaker 3: You know, how many players do you think we're gonna
we're gonna maybe possibly lose in this cycle?
Speaker 1: I think, I mean, what we've always seen up until
this point with with it is that we're losing one
to two key players that you're like, man, that's gonna hurt.
But then the rest of it we're we're getting in
just as many or more. I think we've been a
net positive in the in the portal so far. I
think we're gonna start losing depth pieces that are unproven
talent but think that they can go get a better
shot somewhere else. I think is what we're gonna start seeing.
So guys like John McKenzie, who I think has potential there.
I think La Maison Waller, those are guys that like
there's a potential there that that's where we're gonna get
hurt the most. We probably lose another starter or two.
I hope not, but I think that's just the nature
of you know, as we were kind of looking through
those numbers, and in my head, I'm like, okay, Like yes,
even if we let's say that the between the revs
and the ten to fifteen and nil, like she said,
thirty million dollars, like with what some of the offers
that are getting said out there for these different positions,
that still doesn't mean you can just like pay thirty
million as a ton, But that doesn't mean you contain
all you all your talent. If somebody else is gonna
come after them as they are number one and you're
and they're all are number three, they're just we can't
throw the money at them. So I think we're gonna
miss a couple of starters here and there every year.
But I don't think it's gonna be crazy. Just because
of Colonie's culture, I think we're gonna be able to
retain who we want as long as they are our
top priority. I think we'll keep.
Speaker 3: Them Lamson Waller Don McKenzie currently in the in the portal.
You know, what was your reaction to those two individuals
jumping at the portal two wide receivers spots.
Speaker 1: I'm sad, Yeah, I'm sad. I think Dom. I was
excited about Dom' speed and then you know, we saw
some highlights coming out of spring with la Mason making
some pretty acrobatic catches and I really was high on him.
But I'm wondering with him. You know, it could have
been a fit thing too, not just the playing time
because he was hurt half the season anyway and didn't
wasn't able to play. But I'm sad, but again, it's
not the It's not one of those situations where you've
got to dick hapstake at year to year. And I
don't think that either one of them were going to
be our studs next year, So I don't really think
that I'm that worried about it.
Speaker 2: La Mason had potential though four star.
Speaker 3: Dom was a three three star speedster, you know what
I mean, Like he had a nice touchdown earlier this
season off the edge, showcasing that speed.
Speaker 2: These guys had power four offers, power five offers.
Speaker 3: Right, I can't remember all of uh all of Dom's offers,
but I know he had been he had committed to Virginia.
If I'm not mistaken, you of a pitt duke. Obviously
b YU had offered him, he was enrolled there, Santago State,
Oregon purportedly offered at one at one point, Air Force,
Sage State, UNLV, Utah State. I mean, these are these
are death guys too. These are death guys too.
Speaker 2: Yeah, up and eventually have at junior or senior year.
Speaker 1: And that's awesome. That's that's the thing is. But how
cool is it now that we have guys that are
depth pieces that were Yes, obviously I'm sad because I
really do think he could have turned into something. But
at the same time, how cool is that our depth
pieces now are guys with competing P five offers, people
are offers and are as highly counted as he is. Like, yes,
I'm sad because of what he could be and when
we signed him it was like, holy cow, this is huge.
But how much talent we've gotten since then, and the
fact that he still didn't crack the two DP. Yes,
he's just the year off of his mission. So I
really think. I'm sad about the potential, but I think
year to year is the roster construction, and I didn't
expect him to be a huge piece next year. So
I guess that's where I mean, it's not a huge
deal just because next year it doesn't make a huge
difference in my opinion, who's.
Speaker 3: The priority right now to retain. You want to get
out in front of it, because you're right, hey, this
guy could could, could could bounce if given a better opportunity.
Speaker 1: Else will bear, And I think that's I didn't think that.
I mean, I was obviously he's gonna get tons offers
just because of who he is. But you know, a
couple of players in the post game saying like if
we can keep Bear like that, just some of those
comments got me nervous. I think bears a huge piece
to it. And then LJ, but that's more from the NFL.
I don't I mean, he could transfer, but I don't
see him going to another school. But I think if
we can, LJ is such a huge part of that
running game, and I think, I mean, I think is
better than what the general fan thinks he is. And
he was just hurt for so long. This year, but
I don't know you want him to be your RB
one to be as successful as we want. I think
he's a great RB two. So those are the two
I would I would focus.
Speaker 2: On do we need what do we need to the portal?
Speaker 3: What positions of need are there with guys graduating and
h you know you you hope to retain everybody that
has eligibility remaining, But what do you need to go
get in the portal?
Speaker 1: I would say, I think tackle. I know there's contradicting
kind of thoughts on where the tackles are, but I
know it's in a proven space Andrew Gentry comes back
most likely, so I think we have one tackle there
that's proven but tackles the spot. But then I also
think defensive tack is a spot where I'm I'm nervous.
If Keanu doesn't come back, and if Kirklea doesn't come
back healthy, then we have a bunch of depth pieces
there and not really a starter. So I think our
number one spot we need to go after is defensive
tackles because you know, we like to go at least four.
We like to rotate four all the time, but we've
gone six before and so I think you want to
have six six defensive tackles you can play, and we're
not right there in my opinion, So I think that's
the number one priority. But besides that, I think we're
pretty I don't think we need to go crazy on
any other position besides running back. I kind of like
I said, if I Lj's there, I'm less worried about
running back. With LJ goes, we need to go hard
heart in the portal defensive line, and then I think tackles.
Speaker 2: I like that take.
Speaker 4: How do you feel the linebacker room has a potential
to lose a few guys? Obviously Jack Kelly is gonna
be gone. Isaiah Glasker you never know what he's doing.
How do you feel about the guys behind those two
stepping up next year, potentially in the starting role.
Speaker 1: I think getting chambered at stroller back and then being
there as KAFUSI. I mean, Miles Hollis played some good reps.
I'm not too worried about linebacker. If you lose obviously,
you like you have to replace Jack. If you lose Isaiah,
then I'm a little more nervous. But I still think
we have a ton of talent there. And I think
we're we're okay. I don't think you really unless there's
a difference maker that you just have to go after.
I don't really think you need to go to the portal.
I say, I trust the depth there. I think you
got athletes on athletes stacked in that room. Pierson Watson.
I've heard so many good things out of you know,
fall camp and then practices out of him, So I
think we've got a lot of talent there. I'm not
too worried about that room.
Speaker 2: Not too worried about it this last year.
Speaker 3: Right, So let's look at the guys that left, Okay,
do you think all of them are regret leaving? Do
you think Keelan regrets leaving?
Speaker 2: Do you think? I don't think Jake does. He's too late.
Speaker 3: He's going to see Yea, Kila's in the playoff too,
you know what I mean? And it's like Harrison Taggart,
who else had I got? Who else had I got?
Speaker 2: Here?
Speaker 1: Those that I feel like that we're Yeah, those were
the three starters. I feel like that we lost.
Speaker 2: I'm trying to think.
Speaker 1: Ye I think I heard a rumor that Cruz not
happy with his decision. I don't know if that's true,
but I heard a rumor, but I think the other
I think Harrison probably wishes it too, just because they
were when Trey went out and then Sila was kind
of dealing with some stuff. I think Harris would have
gotten some good reps there. But I don't think we
missed him crazy amount. But I think he probably missed us.
But I think with obviously Jake had to go, I
mean that not had to, but basically there was a
decision with made for him. But I think Kielan Kilan
is the one that made the choice, and he's probably
fine with it. I don't think he's like, oh, man,
I really shouldn't have left. I think he's gotten a
lot of reps still there and still done quite a bit.
I think he would have been the one or wide
receiver one or two this year. I think he would
have taken a lot of what Kingston did, even though
I love Kingston. I think they were hyping up Marion before,
but I think he would have been more featured on
this team. But I think if it's his, you know,
I just think he probably would just find it that
Miami didn't feel too one way or the other.
Speaker 3: Yeah, So you had Carson Sue Sue, Josh Singh to Vanderbilt,
he played Simoni, David Ers and Taggert to cal Keel
and maryont to Miami, Porter Small, De Weaver State, CoA
Elders went to Hawaii. Nason Coleman went to nau Landon
Rico went to Utah State, Cale Bresen went to Montana State.
Kate Finigan I think, went to Aveline. Christian Carson two
J went to Utah State. Jky Corn to Utah State,
David Logito Boise State, Noahlugo UTSA, Dallan Johnson, Utah Tech,
Ice Mode in Michigan State, Crew Wakey to Purdue, Dalton
Riggs to UCF.
Speaker 2: We saw him in provo again.
Speaker 3: Dallenjvea Utah Tech, Cody EPs Western Kentucky.
Speaker 2: I think he retired though Michah.
Speaker 3: Harper went to Montana, Jackson Bowers went to Oregon State,
Miles Davis to Utah State, and then I think Shone
shony Moa ended up either at Yukon or Weaver.
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I don't. I don't think. I mean, there's
probably some of those guys like Manic, you know, I don't.
I didn't follow every single one of those. I think
we talked about the four that I really followed super well.
I know Jake Gikorn ended up starting up at Utah States.
I'm sure he's happy with that situation, but yeah, I
think it ended up being okay, And that's what I
have felt mostly out of the portal. We've been winners.
We've let other guys that are good players but can
go get more rep somewhere else. They've ended up leaving,
but we haven't really lost any huge key pieces, at
least a multiple of them, because I think Kilany's culture
breeds that. And then we get people to come back
that were recruited by us and went and chased the
bright lights, and then they end up coming back to
us because they realized that's not as big a deal
as they thought it wasn't. Hopefully that stops happening all
together because recruiting is get up better. But but yeah,
I think the portal is a net positive for BAU
every year.
Speaker 3: So the net positive portal of Brigham Young University. I
hope it give it rather than take it take it
away this offseason as well. This last offseason, though, you
picked up Tiger Bachmeyer Justin Kirkland, Tavian Beasley, Alvin Peyafua.
Speaker 2: I don't know if we saw him much.
Speaker 3: Bear Bachmeyer great pickup, Kea Need, Navasa, Max, Alfred Carson,
Ryan and E. C. Purcell to Celia Khana, Andrew Gentry,
Kyle super Choke.
Speaker 2: Who's the outside of Bear? Who is the best acquisition?
Do you think?
Speaker 1: I think Keanu ton of Us. I think he gets
craped for not performing like you did Utah, but with
him and John t next to him, he ended up
playing the one tech more than I think he would
have normally. I think if Kirkland was helpy all season,
Kirkland plays the one tech and Knew plays the three tech,
and I think he ends up getting more. But when
he was taken on double teams so much, I think
it he got lost in some of that. But I
think you definitely say there. But then also Kyl Sapartrak
was huge for us, and obviously he rotated with the
with the three men rotation they had in that spot.
But I think, I mean, when you read through that lift,
I had already known some of those names, but I
had forgotten about some of them being transfers. I think
we definitely won on the portal last year, like it's
not even close.
Speaker 4: Well, I do have a question here, what do you
think the solution is at the tight end position? Because
Carson Ryan was a he was a great one year fix.
What do you what do you think the solution is
for next year? Is it the portal again? Do we
trust some of the guys behind Carson?
Speaker 2: What do you think?
Speaker 1: I think it depends on what what goes on. And
actually just read an article from Jeff Hanson about this,
so this is on the top of my mind, But
it depends on what happens with ty GOOCHI or however
you say his last name. If he decides to go
on a mission first, then I think you might have
some scholarship capital of the triango in the portal. Besides that,
there's a ton of scholarship guys in there, and yes,
you might be able to push some of them to
the portal, but I think they might have to roll
with and this is kind of quoting Jeff Hanson, I
think they might have to roll with the depths that
they have there just because of where they're at in
terms of numbers. Because they've got guys in this in
the system that are going to be there next like
in the next couple of years. They're loaded on tight ends,
but we do have that couple of year gap now,
and I think if they can have the scholarship capital,
I'm sure they go after somebody and try and get
a starter, but they might just have to kind of
roll with Noah Moyaki and and hen Need being the
guys next year, and then hopefully if Ty does play
Taigauchi or however you say his last name, you know,
kind of hopefully showing out. I think he's he is
an underrated recruit. I think he's going to be awesome.
I'm excited for him.
Speaker 3: So yeah, now, ty Ty Getch is uh is the
freak athlete of this of this class, and he's uh, He's.
Speaker 2: He's a really nice pick up.
Speaker 3: We'll see how he how he plays in a b
YU uniform, no doubt. All right, Bradon. The best way
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Speaker 2: Appreciate you, Braden, Thanks for hopping on.
Speaker 1: Thank cookies.
Speaker 3: Yeah, buddy, tis the season to be given, speaking of giving,
and the road home is here to give back to
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and help others find their way home. Let's take a
brief time out. We'll be back let's talk stats with
Blaine Anderson, and I want to get his thoughts this commentary,
his insight on this private equity. You know what's cooking
up on the hill and uh is it uh too
good to maybe be true? That coming up next, this
is Cougar Sports on one of three nine ninety eight
point three eight sp