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Speaker 2: Welcome back Cougar Sports. One of three nine ninety eight
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Speaker 3: It is top of little college football.
Speaker 2: Can't wait to get into all the mix of Granny's
talking to some college football as well as BYU Football
with a Cougar Sports insider here on your Utah, ESBN
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Speaker 3: Braidon. How you leaving?
Speaker 4: Yo?
Speaker 5: Man?
Speaker 4: I would be doing better if we were playing this weekend.
I think we should see.
Speaker 3: Yeah, you wanted to you want to be in the playoff.
Speaker 2: I understand that, Brandon, I know you feel that b
YU has been shafted, and like, how do you feel
like kugarnation he's doing right now after kind of getting
the short end of the stick as it pertains to
the committee.
Speaker 4: I think we're probably over it, and we probably should
have expected it, but I'm still sad. I think I
think it's gonna be harder. I've got over it for
the first two weeks, and I think now that games
are actually happening this week, I think I'm is when
I'm gonna gonna hurt sing the most.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, how how is by How are b
YU fans reacting to the fact that Jake Retzlof is
in the playoff and b YU is not.
Speaker 4: I think it depends on where you talk about it.
I am pretty self proclaimed Jake lovers. Still I'm I
think it's awesome that he's still there. I think he's
a great quarterback that I'm excited for him to be there. Obviously,
I wish that we were there also, But I think
there are certain people who are not very happy in
Kugernation that we didn't make it and he did.
Speaker 2: The future is bright for BYU football despite not getting
into the College Football Playoff. The last two years, we've
been knocking on the door, and they wouldn't let us in. Okay,
even though the metrics heavily favored the objective analysis, the
pure data was in BYU's corner.
Speaker 3: Okay, So the subjective human element.
Speaker 2: The corrupt cabal, the cartel of college football, said no,
not today, not today, Brigham, Not today Brigham.
Speaker 3: But the future is bright, and.
Speaker 2: I feel like there's gonna be great retention this offseason
on the roster. I think LJ is coming back. I
think Bear is coming back. Still to be determined what
happens with IG, but I feel like IG is coming back.
Speaker 3: How much of those that.
Speaker 2: Have have ultimately exhausted their eligibility, they can't come back
and unless they have some sort of Juco experience, Right,
But I think you're gonna retain a lot of guys
and then go acquire some good gap fillers, right, filling
devoid of guys that that may be left to the NFL,
and you're gonna be right back into the mix of
it once again in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 5: Yeah.
Speaker 4: And I think the thing that it's hurt is I
remember last year, maybe out of this time, but early
spring we were talking about how you know this year
it'll be different because they're gonna finally get the respect
of the of the rankings. We'll have preseason rankings and everything,
and obviously all the stuff Jakes that happened, But I
really do think I don't think we can count on
that happening two years in a row, hopefully, so I
think I think that's one of the things that I'm
really excited about is that next year, with every with
the returning talent, having Bear going from being a freshman
to a sophomore, which is usually when they make the
biggest jump, I think we're going to get quite a
bit of preseason respect, which sets us up a lot
better than we were this year. I really think if
if we start in the top if we start in
the top up fifteen, then we end up getting in
the playoffs no matter what.
Speaker 3: This year with our resume, no doubt about it.
Speaker 2: Uh, what is it that b YU needs in the
portal of this offseason?
Speaker 3: Do you think?
Speaker 2: What do you think they will go out and try
to acquire? Obviously you had a four star tight end.
You're looking at you like, hey, Carson Ryan is leaving,
why don't we go pick up Walker?
Speaker 3: Lions, what else it's on the dock and what else
is on the menu?
Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean I think obviously we I hope we
get both Walker Lions and oh, I can't thing of
the how Lafo is that.
Speaker 3: His name from La Foule? Yep, yep.
Speaker 4: So I think I think those two. I really hope we.
I think we're gonna need to get a running back.
I think the Dye Kid from Sue You as an
option there. I think we probably will get look at
two hopefully, And then I think deepens the line. We're
gonna need to, you know, keep stacking that because I
don't think that the rooms deep it up. I think
you have Kirklindon and oh my goodness Town it make
John's right. So having Giano and kirkland back, if they're
both decide that they're gonna come back and play, I
think that's gonna be a spot that's a little more
depth there with them, But honestly, behind them, there's just
not anything proven. And so I think that the d
line is the spot that I'm the most worried about
and that I think we need to go after. In
the portal that I haven't heard too much about that
we actually like what we're gonna do there and haven't
seen any rumors really happen. Who we're gonna try and
get out of there.
Speaker 2: I'm intrigued to see what they go out and try
to require no doubt. You know, last year, you wonder
if you were two pole, all the players, all the
players that entered the portal and left BYU and we're
talking about probadent Keeling, Harrison. Right, you go down that
list of transfer portal players, how many of them regret
leaving Kru Wakelee, How many of them wish they would
have stuck around b Yu. What do you think?
Speaker 4: I'm guessings like Crewe who maybe didn't do as well
as they thought they were going to do outside of
the way. I think you got Crew, maybe even Harrison Taggard.
Our guys probably wish they would have stayed. But I
think obviously like get guys like Keeling and Jake are
gonna say that. I mean, Jake kind of got Jack
didn't have a choice, but let's just say he did
have a choice. I think both of them are happy
with their situations. They're both in the playoffs, but I
think overall, if they weren't getting the time they wanted.
I don't know. I didn't follow really anybody outside of
those four super closely, but I think.
Speaker 2: I think we lost Brayden. Braidon's still there, buddy, I
think I lost you there for a second.
Speaker 4: Yeah, sorry about that. Yeah, I honestly think it's just
I think it depends on how much they got playing
time they got out of that situation.
Speaker 2: Yeah, Harrison, Josh Singh is an interesting study. You went
to Vanderbilt, played well there.
Speaker 3: You wonder how.
Speaker 2: Much rotation he would have been in on that interior
defensive line.
Speaker 3: I think if he.
Speaker 2: Started for Vandy this last year or at least be
in that two D rotation, you imagine he would have
been in the two DP rotation at BYU. But he
probably got paid a little bit more there at Vandy.
Speaker 3: So I wonder, you know, when it does shuttles.
Speaker 2: And because these guys talk, right, anybody that's an all
flirtatious that's currently on the roster, okay, that has has
a good friendship with those guys.
Speaker 3: That left, they're calling them. They're asking, hey, what has
it been.
Speaker 2: Like for you? You know, what was the approximate pay? What
what is the market rate? And they have agents as
well that are out trying to field these calls and
field these numbers and try to figure it out. You
wonder how many of them are saying, Hey, I wish
I would have stayed at BYU, And I think a
lot of them would actually say, hey, I would have
I would have liked to. I think Keelan would have
liked to stayed at b YU. At by you've been
able to, you know, maybe up the ante at that time.
I think we're in a different spot now though than
we were even a year ago now with revs share right,
So when you get into these competitive maybe bidding battles now,
Buy's probably.
Speaker 3: Built a little bit different to be able to retain
some of these guys.
Speaker 4: Yeah, and I honestly think that's the you know, I'll
hear BYU fans say things complaining about the portals were
in college football or nil you know, REP shares ruining
college football. But I just don't know how you can
look at it and say that as a YU fan.
Obviously from the maybe overall college football you can say that.
But we're in a spot that it's it's leveling the
playing field for it and obviously getting it in the
spots now where we're able to compete and getting us
into these But like you said, I think with Kilaney
like him being retained that type of coach of the
coach that you don't lose people to the portal unless
you're kind of telling them, hey, the playing time isn't
going to happen unless the money isn't there. And obviously
with some of the renegotiations rep share happening, like, I
don't think the money is going to be an issue
if we want the guys bad enough. Obviously there's gonna
be guys who maybe want to get paid a little
more and we're just not worth it for us valuation wise.
Speaker 6: But I really do.
Speaker 4: I think we're just spont where we're gonna keep people
we want to keep. Like I think Bear could have
gotten offered from everywhere. I think we have the ability
and resources to go to keep him.
Speaker 1: And I think he.
Speaker 4: Fit's offense so well that they're they're gonna put the
money out there to keep him.
Speaker 3: It's transfer portal season.
Speaker 2: Uh, And I wonder since the transfer portal became a thing, Braden,
I know you you monitor recruiting. Obviously, you know this
team better than just about anybody monitoring the roster of
the productivity, et cetera. Do you have an all time well,
I guess a modern day favorite transfer portal player that
came to BYU because you mentioned it, Like, hey, be
you guys benefited from the transfer portal.
Speaker 3: How could you hate the transfer portal.
Speaker 2: When you've benefited so greatly from it and you just
had two consecutive years going to eleven and two with
an opportunity to be twelve and two doing something you
haven't done in twenty four years.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm trying to think that's a that's a tough
question to choose because there's not a lot of good
ones honestly, Like, I think Baron Jak are both Transfer
Portal guys, and I think they've both been huge for
the program. I think guys like Jack Kelly. Jack Kelly
is a huge one. Gianna Tomasa, like, there's a there's
a ton of really really good talent we brought in
that's changed the game for us. On on that sut side,
I think, you know, almost all of our tackles over
the last few years have all been transfer products. Like, like,
the Transfer Portal has been good to it. If I
had to pick one. I'd probably be bear just because of
the upside because we got up so early in the
transfer portal and how good he did this year and
the upside of where he take the team. But it's
been good overall for us. It's really good for us.
Speaker 2: You mentioned Jack, right, and and uh, I was like,
we've benefited from Weber State. Two of our best defensive
players over the last few years have been Weber State
transfers Eddie Heckerd and Jack Kelly. Shoot what about yeah? Yeah,
Mark Collins really good football player. So you see that
and you're like, wait, oh, man, the the you know
you you mentioned uh, you know these guys that come
in and you're like, man like, uh, you know Kingsley
Sulmatiya also from Oregon.
Speaker 3: Right. You look at the tackles.
Speaker 2: That have come into b YU. It seems year and
and you're out. It seems like they're they're transfer players.
Speaker 4: Yep. Yeah, Isaiah Jahanna, You've got at Kingsley like a
lot of and obviously this year you had Andrew Gentry.
Like honestly, all of our tackles over the last few years,
almost all of them have been transfer products.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I just uh, yeah, Pooka Nakula Pooka Nakua twenty
twenty one came from Washington, Yep. Samson Koua, Jacob Robinson,
Jacob Robinson came from Utah State.
Speaker 4: True, it's true, like it it's benefited. Well, that's what
I'm saying.
Speaker 5: I don't know.
Speaker 4: I'd never understand when dau fans complain about the portal
herding college football, Like, yes, maybe as a whole, but
for BAU it has been such a net positive, such
and that positive for us.
Speaker 3: Agreed.
Speaker 2: We got Braton Day Brandon, CEO of Odeon Men's were
what deals do we have for our fans our listeners
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Speaker 3: They're at Odeon Men's Worth.
Speaker 5: Yeah.
Speaker 4: So we've got a couple of things going on in
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There are some crazy deals there. Boy suits starting at
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They're honestly still great product. They're just stuff we've had
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So twenty percent off gift cards from now until the
end of the year.
Speaker 3: Love that deal.
Speaker 2: What else has been on your minds as a fan,
as an insider.
Speaker 3: There in the Cougar sports world?
Speaker 2: What else have you been delving into as we get
prep get ready for the pop Tarts Ball.
Speaker 4: I think the thing I've been just thinking a lot about, honestly,
is just kind of a transport like stuff we talked about,
but also looking at with the recruiting process mixed with
transfer portal like. I know I've listened to some of
your interviews with Anything. It was showing back a few
days ago you were talking about how he was talking
about how the recruiting classes, Like, yes, they can be stacked. Really,
it's still kind of a year to year thing and
how being where BAU is and what they've been doing
and it set them up for good recruiting. But then
if those recruits don't work out, then they obviously move
somewhere else. But at the same time, with recruits, if
we don't hit on recruits, we've been pretty good at
getting those guys to come back around to us after.
I think the trajectory of the program has just been
an all time high right now, and it's just been
so excited to kind of you that trying to kind
of probably some copium there to try and get over
the fact that we didn't make it the playoffs.
Speaker 3: How often do you take copium every day? Oh?
Speaker 2: Man?
Speaker 3: Well? Uh great?
Speaker 4: Was my blue gog was popping copium pills.
Speaker 3: Baby, Hey, I love it.
Speaker 2: You know other guys that have come to BYU this
year from other schools taw Celia Khana last year, Nucy Town,
we Payo from stam for right, like, these are the future,
these are the future stars of this BYU offense or defense.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean I think you saw what Nucian after
and cal seely kind of got into the rhythm of things.
We started using them as not even I think Nucy
started what both of them started getting used not just
as third down specialist. And I'm really intrigued to see
next year kind of what that does. I know that
there was when we got into more depth sides of
the games, when we were like the TCU game, when
we got ahead by quite a bit, Newsey was playing
in that that Midia glaster spot. So I was kind
of intrigued to see that and see him not playing
on the line and playing off the ball a little bit.
And then as soon as third down came, he dropped,
he jumped back on the line and they brought a.
Speaker 5: New package in.
Speaker 4: And I'm really excited for Nuci. I think that kid
has some really really high upside.
Speaker 2: My guy, uh, I'm gonna put this out as one
of my questions of the day. I want you to
chime in on Twitter, because I gotta I got a
robust list. Pukaakula, much Jack, Kelly, Edy Hecker, Carson, Ryan
Andrew Gentry, Aiden Robbins that was a fan favorite, Chris
Brooks was a fan favorite, Keaton Slovas, Justin Kirkling to
see Lea Kana Neuci, tom Way, Pao Jackson, Craven's shout
out to him.
Speaker 3: How about Will Farron, Jake or you know, I mean,
look will Will.
Speaker 2: If there's a Will, there's a way Will Farron, Isaiah
Ban Yeah, was a favorite, Darius Lassiter, Bear Blackmeyer, Tuger
Bachmeyer obviously. Uh, and there's uh, there's a slew of others.
Speaker 4: Williams Williams, Yeah, yeah, that was I'm trying to remember.
Was that tran that was transfer? I can't remember if
or not.
Speaker 3: I want to say he was.
Speaker 2: He may have been more of a grad transfer, right,
wasn't he the grad transfer transfer?
Speaker 5: No?
Speaker 2: That was a yeah a man, right, yeah, yeah, Tyson
Tyson Williams was before the actual portal era.
Speaker 3: I think he was a graduate transfer.
Speaker 4: Okay, okay, yep, yep.
Speaker 2: You went like Jordan Leslie was a grad transfer, right
like he was. Uh yeah, I'm pretty sure that that's
kind of how it went. And like you got Juco
transfers as well, right, Like Devon Blackman was a Juco transfer.
Speaker 3: Jake was more of a Juco transfer as well, Jake
Retzlaf so.
Speaker 2: But hey, it's fun to talk about appreciate you hopping
on to discuss the transfer portal season with his give
me a score prediction?
Speaker 3: Uh for this? Uh, well, I guess we're not in
score prediction mode yet. We're we're we're in prep.
Speaker 2: I was gonna get a score prediction from you for
the pop Talk Bult. We got to still get a
few scouting reports done before we get into that, but
we appreciate you joining us. Brandon Day, ladies and gentlemen
Odeon Men's Where. Uh. He does a fantastic job there
at Odeon mens Where wants to give you a great
deal so you can look your best, feel your best, and.
Speaker 3: Get out there and do your best. Thank Ben, appreciate you,
my guy. Brandon Day.
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to break Coming up next, I want to get the
latest on Kyle Whittingham, where he could end up, why
he stepped down from J T wistersil of locked on utes.
That up next, This is Cougar Sports on one oh
three nine ninety eight point three ES.
Speaker 1: Cougar's opponents and rivals right now need to know the
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The road Home, guys, it is time to get to
know the foe. But talk some University of Utah commentary.
What's going on with Kyle winning him? What's going on
with Morgan Scalley? Finally, Kyle address the media. What are
some of the nuggets that were obtained from that media
availability yesterday? Will Kyle continue to coach or will he
step into his assistance to the Presidents and Associate Athletic
director role and make three point four to five million
a year for the next couple of years. Does he
want to coach or does he want to be an
AD or an assistant AD. Let's get into It's gonna
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eight oh one, four hundred five through and eight. That's
eight O one four hundred five through and eight Orthroprosiutah
dot com. Let's get out to the hot mind. Welcome
at j T Wister still of locked on utes, JT.
How you living doing well?
Speaker 5: Always great to be hones with you.
Speaker 3: Thanks for having me, Yes, indeed love talking Bob with you.
What what some of the gems?
Speaker 2: What were some of the takeaways from the media roundup
with Kyle Whittingham yesterday.
Speaker 5: There's a few. This whole suga has been so weird,
even going back to last week. Right, I'm stepping down,
and then right after that hits the Athletic reports that
he is interested in coaching. Still, so I'm glad we
finally got the year from Kyle. I know a lot
of people have made something of the fact there wasn't
a press conference to address with stepping down and then
Scally being officially named the head coach. I didn't make
a ton of that just because we you we'd get
media availability with them. And the fact that they're waiting
till after the Bowl game with Scally I think makes
a lot of sense to me. But I know some
people talked about that kind of thing as it pertains
to the Nuggets. I mean, look, he sounds like a
guy who still wants to coach. I would also say,
though at what level and in what capacity? I'm sure
we'll talk about all the Michigan stuff here in a moment.
To me, that makes a lot of sense, right with
wanting to coach at Michigan and that as it's been
reported and I've heard the same thing, he absolutely does
that it's a top five to ten job in the
country with the resources Michigan has. I think it's the
top five job in the countries. I think that's why
he's interested in going there, But what other level of
jobs he would take. That's why I think it's more
like NFL assistant wise that's what he said yesterday. Like
you said, I'm a free agent, I'm in the transfer portals.
Listen to him talk. He says he's he with what
happened that you saw? So what does that mean?
Speaker 3: I'm not entirely sure, JT. We have some connection issues.
You're kind of hit.
Speaker 2: It's like hit and miss a little bit with your
with your connection real quick, Ronald. I don't know if
you're seeing it on your end, but I just wanted
to get you a breast of that. I don't know
if you're in a specific location, but let's see if
we can get him dialed in. JT is still there, buddy, Yes, yeah,
still here? Okay, yeah, so yeah, so you yeah, continue there, JT.
You were kind of hit and miss there.
Speaker 5: Yeah. I was just saying this whole thing with Kyle Whittingham, right,
he said, I'm a free agent, I'm in the transferform.
Speaker 3: Now.
Speaker 5: He doesn't sound to me like a guy who wants
to retire.
Speaker 4: Now.
Speaker 5: Is he a guy who wants to take any college
coaching job? I don't think so. I think he's a
guy whould love to go to Michigan. As has been reported,
I think there's NFL jobs that would appeal to him,
because I think he'd be much more inclined to the
lifestyle of the NFL calendar than just the average college
coaching job. Now, Michigan's chance to win a national championship,
to me, would appeal to him. But throughout this whole process, right,
you know, he even says I'm at peace with stepping down.
He talked about how we wanted to come back this
year and not go out last year. So this has
been a really interesting saga. But he does sound like
he's at piece with the decision. But it's been strange
how we got here.
Speaker 2: It truly has been awkward, in strange. Look, this is
a guy that it's obvious he still wants to coach.
Will he take a G six job? Will he only
take a P four job? Will he take an assistant
head coach, defensive coordinating job? Does he want to look
to the NFL? Are all options on the table?
Speaker 5: I don't think so. I don't see g G six job.
I see NFL like advisor more than coach. I'd say,
I think the Michigan job is just different. The Michigan job,
Like you said, that's the chance to win a national championship.
That's something that gets you reinvigorated, right those other jobs,
Like Kyle Whittingham has already accomplished everything a G six
job could possibly achieve, with the maybe exception of making
the playoffs. But with that, he'd be better off at
a at a Utah, just like that at a Michigan anyways. Right,
So I don't also believe this like there's a reason
this this whole thing now of Kyle Whittingham and an
interest in coming back in and everything.
Speaker 4: He's a guy who hasn't.
Speaker 5: Made at Utah and I and has people in place
to help him with the things that it takes to
run a college football program. I think if it's it's Michigan, right,
he's okay with I have to do more. I don't
get the sense that he'd want to go to just
any college job, especially one that doesn't give him the
resources to win at the highest level. And now it's oh,
you have to do more at this place, and you
don't have a chance of a good opportunity to win
as you did even at Utah. To me, this is
a guy who's still going to retire from coaching, whether
it's completely or just like we said, maybe he's continues
in that assistant type of role. I don't think Whittingham
wants to be in May, just whatever month you pick
in the off season, going into the office each and
every single day. That's where we talked about. At Utah,
he had things in place and people that could help
him do that. If he goes through a lot of
other jobs, he has to do all of that and
do more than he was doing at Utah. To me,
he is still a guy that's getting closer to retirement,
and I think it's Michigan job for him, or NFL
administrative assistant or something like that. I do not see
him being a G six coach, but there appears to
still be a passion to stay in the world of football.
But does that mean he will do whatever it takes
a stay in football. I don't think so.
Speaker 2: Do you think there's any enmity between Kyle Harlan the
presidency there at the U that would lead him to say,
you know, I don't want this this sweet, hard deal
you've given me for the next two years at three
point four to five million.
Speaker 3: I'm gonna go coach somewhere else.
Speaker 2: I'm gonna win, I'm gonna show you guys that with
you know, with support, with resources, that I can win
at the highest levels in college football.
Speaker 5: Yeah, That's that's a really tough one, right, because there's
been a lot of speculation already on that relationship. Obviously,
Morgan already did put something out by just congratulating with
on their career, and those guys have been together so long.
I gotta believe that relationship is still pretty strong. But
I'll also say that I think it's very fair to
wonder if Kyle Whittingham came back to Utah for another year,
would Morgan stally have come back too, Not because of
any animosity, because Morgan Scalley, I do believe had outside interest.
This has been one of the top ten defensive coordinators
in the country for years, and when you have the
level of success that Utah has had as a P
four team, usually your coordinators eventually get an opportunity to
be a head coach or an elite coordinator someone else.
Morgan's had those in the past. He's passed been a
good soldier knowing he'd be the head coach in waiting.
I think year it was like, all right, let's do
one more year of this It's been reported it was
supposed to be his final year last year, but he
kin wanted to come back go on a higher doubt,
which I mean, he didn't make a bowl game last year?
How crazy was that? Right? Still, when it's a built
like that was forever ago with what the Utah team
was able to achieve his past season, so Morgan was
a good soldier then. I do think Morgan like it
was his time to face It just seems like Morgan
and Kyle it was going to be one or the
other in terms of who was the moving forward at Utah.
I have just have a hard time believing that Morgan's
sally was gonna be down to be the Utah defensive
coordinator once and instead of going and chasing either a
head coach opportunity or being a higher paid coordinator, because
I do think some of the top jobs in the
country would have wanted him for all that he's accomplished.
Speaker 4: So cover, I feel like.
Speaker 5: The relationship is still good there, but I think it's
it's understandable the question how did this all play out?
Because it has been such a weird trajectory, I'm curious
what will come out and boxibly Morgan and Kyle. They're
still in the same building together, So I feel like
these are good overall.
Speaker 4: But I think there's.
Speaker 5: Definitely a chance that Kyle wanted to come back to
one more years. There's also a chance that he was
content to shut down and run off into the sunset
and retirement. And as he was running off of the
sunset out of the court is he noticed the whole
situation going on at Michigan and one of the top
five jobs in the country is open. Remember this is
the winningham turned down the offer secunity to go to
Tennessee long ago. When you turn down Tennessee and stay Utah,
you're turning down a chance to win a national championship. Now,
obviously you're also keeping yourself in a more safe job.
So Kyle still made a good choice. But now he's
got a chance to go to Michigan and really compete
for a national title. And think that appeels to him
a lot. But yeah, I think it's fair to wonder
how that relationship is as it relates to Cale's administrative
assistance at this moment. I was shocked if that was
what he was doing next year. He seems like a
football coach. He talks about the juice is still there
and I expect him to be involved off the football
field in some capacity.
Speaker 4: J T.
Speaker 3: Wisterfield.
Speaker 2: J T appreciate you hopping on great insight, great knowledge,
best way to support you what you do, how you
do it for all of our listeners.
Speaker 5: Yeah, you guys can check me out of that locked
on Youth's on YouTube, on tax or at JT winstersill
as well. Appreciate the time, Ben.
Speaker 3: Thanks, JT. Appreciate you.
Speaker 2: That was another Fox segment and it was brought to
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Speaker 3: Let's take a brief time out. We'll be back though Cougarnation.
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Speaker 3: We'll be back. This is Cougar Sports on one O
three nine ninety eight point three esp.
Speaker 1: You are listening to Cougar Sports with Ben Kredel and
it's time for a Cougar Insider report. Now, let's get
that for a prietary inside scoop on Cougar Sports from Cretele.
Speaker 2: Welcome back Cougar Sports one O three nine nine eight
point three ESPN The fan. I'm at Crital broadcasting from
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You can also donate monetarily the road home dot org.
That's the road Home dot Org. Gonna get into a
little inside report in this segment, I want to discuss
with you Ronald the three man Weaver, the transfer portal players,
the favorite transfer portal player, the most impactful transfer portal
player that BUYU has picked up in the transfer portal era.
Right like we've hit, We've had some great ones, we've
had some good ones, and I wanted to discuss that
here with you on your Utah ESPN Radio Network Gonna
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Speaker 3: Today, all right.
Speaker 2: I got a robust list of players here BYU Transport
of players your favorite and why. Puka Nakua wide receiver,
Washington Kingsley Summati offensive tackle Oregon, Jack Kelly linebacker, Weavers State,
Eddie Hecker cornerback, Weaver State, Carson Ryan tight end Utah,
Andrew Gentry offensive tackle, Michigan, Aiden Robbins running back, UNLV
Keeton Slogans quarterback, pick Justin Kirkland defensive Linemant Oklahoma State,
tau Celia Kaye, edge rusher, Texas New c Tomwipeu defensiveligneman Stamford,
Jackson Craven's defensive lineman, Poise State, Isaiah Vanya Edge rusher
Boise State, Will Farren Kicker, Boise State, Chris Brooks running back,
cal Darius Lasker wide receiver, Eastern Michigan, Ver Bachmeyer quarterback
Stanford Tiger Bachmeyer wide receiver Stamford. You also have Keeland
Marion wide receiver from ukon.
Speaker 3: Who's your favorite? Who am I missing? And uh, who's
your favorite? Or why? Yeah?
Speaker 7: Offensively it's tough and look, I wish I could throw
lj in at two ben h but I think he
just decommitted it and committed to BYU because of coach.
Speaker 6: There was a coaching changes, but he.
Speaker 7: Would have been on that list too, been if if
if the coach would have been fired, and he'd have
been at Stanford. And I just bring up that Noocy
bear and it seems like these Stanford guys coming to BYU.
It has to be Puka beIN right offensively at least
and the reason why I look what he's doing now
in the league even when he played ding d up
Ben when he was eighty five percent, seventy five percent,
maybe sixty eight times he still was productive. You saw
the talent, you saw the high level four start, you
saw the kid from ORM. And the last time a
kid that came out of ORM that had that high
of a praise is in this class right now is
Junie Mowalla. Like you think of ORM High School as okay,
that kingsy Suwamatia. So Utah's got some dudes, and Puka's
that definitely that dude, I think offensively.
Speaker 6: And it's all gonna be said and done once against
his contract.
Speaker 7: I don't want people to take this hyperbole, but he
said that he doesn't want to play until he's He
only wants to play until Heast thirty thirty one.
Speaker 6: Ben, But I think that's criminal because the way Pooka's playing.
Speaker 7: He's got on track to be I think a top five,
if not top ten receiver of all time in the NFL.
Speaker 6: Some people might say that's a hot take.
Speaker 7: I really don't think it is, with the way he's playing,
with Sean mcvabye and as young as a coach as
he is, With how the Rams are positioned in the
playoffs now and in Division. I know they lost a
thriller yesterday and Thursday, night football, which was crazy if
you missed the game. Anyway, the point is, I think
it's Pooking. Then defensively, I'm gonna go Jack Kelly. I
think Jack Kelly has been phenomenal with what you brought in.
He said he wanted, you know, ten and a half sacks.
He told us that a big twelve media day. Ben
he got it done. He still has an opportunity, I
think to get a few, you know, a few more
so to me, offensively, it's Puka. Defensively, I'll go Jack
Kelly because Bio, it has been a minute since you
had a guy that could pass, rush and get after
the quarterback.
Speaker 6: That's that fast.
Speaker 7: We heard Jake retz Left say it last year before
he went into the land of Jack Kelly's fast to
Hokey down. Jack might be a legit like four or five,
four to six type. I will have to see, you know,
when the combine comes. But to me, I'll take Pooka
as the best transfer offensively, and I'll take defensively for
Jack Kelly's the best transfer defensively. I know it's been
a short time, but he's been very impactful since he's
got to the Y.
Speaker 2: Now they're a few other guys that I missed, but
I love their personalities, right, Like Dion Smith from Colorado, right,
like love getting to know him, loved. What about Caleb
e t N Oklahoma State to be Yu?
Speaker 3: Right? That was a j Vong put Chong.
Speaker 2: I forget man, you to State to b Yu Waylon
Lah Utah State to be Yu. You know some really
good football players Austin Les Yeah, Austin Leusa SUU to
b Yu. So you go, you kind of go down
this list of players and you're like, man, I missed it.
But Jacob Robinson cornerback, Utah State, Sampson the cool wide
and Siverar Utah, Caleb Hayes, what about Caleb cornerback?
Speaker 3: What about mister Eddie heckerd Yeah, I did mention him.
I did mention Eddie. But he's on that list.
Speaker 6: Can we throw him? You mentioned Caleb like one or
two your guys.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 2: It's like you have like favorites personality wise, you have
favorites productivity wise. I think the favorite right now is
gonna be Bear Bachmeyer just because he's a quarterback and
came from Stanford and he bawled out as a true
freshman as a freshman All American.
Speaker 3: There's gonna be very few that are like it's anyone, but.
Speaker 2: Bear Bachmeyer's your favorite because you was so good this
season and without him, you don't know what would have happened.
Speaker 3: You just don't know.
Speaker 2: Uh, well, you know, I love McKay Hillstead, I love
Trayson morgay and maybe they can allegend a glorying victory
and all those things were Everson Goleman, but like Beart
really stepped up and hit some home runs.
Speaker 3: He was phenomenal for the coops.
Speaker 2: I look at positions of need typically that you don't
get and it's hard to retain good talent like Jacob Robinson,
to me, is considered one of the best cornerbacks in
BYU football history. He came from you Toss State, He
was an Oorum High guy and then came to by
You and became, in my opinion, arguably you know, one
of the best, if not the best corners in BYU
football history. Jacob was electric, He was phenomenal. That is
such a tough position physically. When I look at the
most physically taxing athletically positions, it's cornerback and tackle because
you're in the open space your name has had for
good and evil. As soon as you make a mistake,
everybody knows that you made a mistake, and as quick
as someone likes you, they'll throw you under the bus
and say we need somebody better at that position. It's
not quarterback, but it's it's from an athletic standpoint, it's
one of those very difficult positions. So you look at
guys like k lob and Andrew Gentry and kings Lee Suamatii,
Isaiah Johda that have come through the portal to those
tackle spots in the corners like I mean gave Judy
Lalley could have been.
Speaker 3: A legendary coup too.
Speaker 2: I'm still ticked off about him leaving. Caleb Hayes deserves
his flowers in my opinion, and as does Jacob Robinson.
So I'm gonna go offensively, it's Bear Bachmeyer is probably
the favorite here. Defensively, Oh, I'm gonna go Jacob Robinson.
I really thought that was a fantastic acquisition. He came
in after a season at Utah State. He wasn't even
like a star at Utah State either, He just played
as a true freshman. They came to Brigham balled out
and to me has been one of the best corners
to come through Brigham. So those are my two favorite guys.
I'm gonna put it out there to Cougarnation so they
can chime in on it. But we've had so many
great transfers for for the Darnell Dixons. By the way,
shout out to Darnell. He got some good news today.
The prayers have been answered. Love Double D.
Speaker 3: But Darnell is a bit of a guy.
Speaker 2: He's that guy that says, get off my long and
that transfer portal and nil and rev SHARE's gonna ruin
college athletic and I don't think it's the same ruin
and that it would ruin maybe BYU football. Can we
say that the new landscape of college football, okay, has
been more beneficial to BYU than it has been detrimental
Ronald of the three Man Weaver, has it been more
Has it been more beneficial, more detrimental or do you
just think it's been neutral for BYU?
Speaker 7: I think definitely with being in the Big twelve, I
think with how BYU played from last year to this year,
you have to say it's definitely improved.
Speaker 6: Because they're in the title game, right, So that's a bonus.
Speaker 7: Last year they weren't there, So you have to say
that this roster and the coaching staff and what they
brought in elevated them to get to the title game.
So based on facts, you know, Ben they the it
did it did? They have benefited from him. But at
the same time, if I'm going to argue in that
point a point within the point, stay with me here, fans,
it also costs you because you couldn't throw the balls
maybe necessarily vertically the way you want it, because you
lost a guy like Keillen Marrion, you lost maybe Depp
at the line packer position at times because Harrison Tager
you know, went elsewhere, right, And that's me nitpicking, being nitpicky, bin.
But when you talk about being a conference champion, when
you talk about revenue, when you bring these guys in
the ultimate go what beeness in today? Do what win
a conference title, go to the College Football Playoffs, win
the national title.
Speaker 6: So that's just me nitpicking.
Speaker 7: But overall, I believe it's been positive for sure, because
BOYU was in a tie last year, they missed out
the real bits off title game was Colorado bou Bo.
You spanked them, and then this year they win in Texas.
Tech is legit d team and who I think is
gonna win it all at the end of the day.
Also the national media saying that that Oregon's gonna beat
them and stomp them crazy. I guess you haven't looked
at football lately anyway. The point is, I think BOE
football has benefited. It's been positive.
Speaker 6: But again Transporter Ben, it giveth and it takes this.
Speaker 7: Given Keanu Tonavasa is given Jack Kelly, it gave Jacob Robinson,
It gave Eddie Hacker. Could you imagine being if Eddie
would have had two seasons, what would have happened at BYU,
what that could have been.
Speaker 6: But it also has took it.
Speaker 7: It also has taken you know, guys like gave Judy
Lay one year after that hurt remember that said, man,
he could have been a legendre like you said, it
also you know took you know other guys you know
like Klan Mirian and Harrison Taggert that I said, that's
just the nature of it.
Speaker 6: But overall think it has been positive. It hasn't been negative.
Speaker 2: Another little Cougar inside report for you guys ten years
ago Kailani was named head coach of BYU Cougar Football.
Can you believe that it's been ten years, a decade
of Kalani culture, Kialani coaching, Kilanie satake, love and learning,
humble and hungry football, the ups and downs, the way,
more ups than downs.
Speaker 3: The process has been awesome to watch.
Speaker 2: The Polynesian lavelle will be with us for years to come,
leading the Cougars to.
Speaker 3: Gloryin victory in the new era, the new age of
college football.
Speaker 2: And I think Kalani, we can all agree he's built
I think for this new era because he's a player's coach.
Need have players coaches in this modern era with robust
resources behind him. And Uh, I think his approach is
the best approach in college football. So ten years now,
Killan's been your head coach? How would you describe it? Kugarnation?
How would how do you feel about it? Kugarnation. Also
another Cougar inside report apparently aj Aj was at the
the Jazz Lakers game. He was skirt right, he was
courtsied and and greatness recognizing greatness. Uh one of the
Goats of the National Basketball Association and a future Goats,
a future goat AJ debonsa. Uh they met up on
the on the sideline. What did you make of that interaction,
Ronald than three man Weaver.
Speaker 7: First of all, to your point about Killani, I hope
byu social media it does a great job. I think
there's some of the best, if not the best in
the in the country with their social media team. I
hope a ten year tribute comes to Kilani. I'm not
trying to be cheesy. I'd love to see what they
put together, just Klinie's ten yere journey. Anyway, to your
main point, Yeah, went right over to AJ. The minute
the game is over, Luca don just gets rebound, drips
a clock out. Lebron before the clock even hit zero
is booking it towards AJ. Recognized it adapted him up immediately.
But I love the picture, Ben, I love the picture
of AJ's face, like how locked in he is in
that moment of taking that advice. And this goes back
to what you said, what Kevin Youngest said, what I
have said, to be so coachable, to be able to
just take everything and then soak it up like a
sponge and want to be the greatest.
Speaker 6: Look, we don't know what he's gonna become. He very well,
could you know, not be the greatest.
Speaker 7: He could be average, right, but with the way he's
able to be coachable and with how he's able to
take it and improve, Ben, I love it so love
to see. You know, some who call the greatest of
all time. I don't call him that, but Lebron one
of the goats, like you said, and a potential future goat,
a potential number one overall pick, just like Lebron, both
meeting up. I love to see these moments, So we'll
see what happens because you never know. Maybe Lebron is
the owner of the organization of which AJ plays for.
Speaker 4: You never know.
Speaker 3: That's true, That's definitely true.
Speaker 2: Last thing here in this Cougar Insider fort Pukaakua in
that twenty twenty three draft class. I would make an
argument that Pooka Nakua is the most undervalue, is the
most undervalued draft pick in that draft.
Speaker 3: I agree. Look, I mean there's some other players, right
you gotta highlight.
Speaker 2: I'm sure that are that are really good football players
right now in the National Football League. But being one
hundred and seventy seventh overall going to the fifth round,
to the Rams and becoming arguably the best wide receiver
in the National Football League. Man, that's that's tough the top.
You know, that is a difficult path to navigate.
Speaker 7: So question for you, Ben, then if he had been healthy,
because you bring up a good point that I've heard,
where would he have gone? Because I believe based on
you know, injury not being available transferring to you later
fifth round pick, I believe like maybe second or third.
Where what rumblings did you hear if he had been healthy?
What was the highest draft stock could have been?
Speaker 2: I think probably the best you get with Pooka's if
he's healthy and productive and utilized in a way that
showcases of talents. Remember McVeigh is phenomenal. Like if you review, okay,
if you review the draft grades from all of the
so called experts, like no one really had him much
higher than he went, right, You know what I mean?
Like no one really valued Puka because they didn't check tape.
You have to be a football just guru of an
x's and o's film junkie to be able to spot
a great football player that fits into your scheme. Now,
it's schematic and personnel driven. When you have Stafford, Like
Puka is not Puka without Stafford. Puca is not Puka
without McVeigh. Okay, it's just like not to say that
Puka wouldn't have been good where everyone He was good
at Washington had injury issues when went to BYU had
some injury issues. But like you saw like the potential
that and how Aaron Roderick utilized him when you go
back and check tape, like.
Speaker 3: Man, this guy can do it all.
Speaker 2: He is a as Gruden says, a football player, right,
He's just that dude, He's that guy.
Speaker 3: So uh as a football player.
Speaker 2: That's what I'm That's what I'm getting at here, Like
you need the trifecta you need. You know, Austin Colley
wouldn't have been Austin Colly his first couple of seasons
without Peyton Manning, right, Like, he just wouldn't have been
It's just hard to align the stars between your coordinator,
your supporting cast, your quarterback, and then your individual skill set.
But he is the most underrated in that twenty twenty
three class, and I don't really think there's an argument
for anybody else you go into like the even like
the first round picks, right, let's just talk about the
the guys that were spent or the organization spent the
most on how have they produced.
Speaker 3: I mean, Jamier Gibbs, nice, that was a nice pick
up at twelve. CJ.
Speaker 2: Stroud, Yeah, Anthony Richardson, Yeah, you know what I mean,
like go through the first round. But John Robinson, right,
I mean, come on, that's a great pick at number eight,
and he's been extremely productive. I mean, one of the
best running backs in the NFL. But from a value standpoint,
Pooka exceeds the value Jackson Smith, najibbah right, Like phenomenal
pick for the Seahawks, but still the value that you
get back after what you've allocated to him, I mean
it's not even close. Puka wins every single time. So
shout out to Puka Takua going for over two hundred
yards balling out last night with everybody watching. Guys, we're
live from the Road Home the road Home dot Org.
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up next, double D Darnell Dixon. I'm gonna ask Darnell
that same question. Okay, I'm gonna ask him that same question.
Has the new college football landscape been more beneficial, more detrimental,
or just neutral for the BYU Athletics department and specifically
the BYU football program that coming up next, This is
Cougar Sports on one O three nine ninety eight point
three e SPN