Speaker 1: What's going on in the world of Cougar athletics Here
from players, coaches and experts on all the latest happenings
with the Coopers. Welcome back to Cooper Sports here on
one O four nine and ninety eight three ESP and the
fan Ronald the three man Weaver Here, Brent always bringing
a Hammer's taking off for the day. Vig Graham on
the data aggregation being critic will join us here momentarily,
gonna get into a little world of BYU Sports segment.
Take you around. What's everything going around whether at BYU,
former Cougars in the pros. There's an update. There's a
lot of stuff that's been dropping that you might not
know about. I'm gonna give you an update on it
all as we live from our Bandweb Studios Banterwelf. Guys,
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Q and A today at bantererwelf dot com. That's banderwelf
dot com. All right, A couple things before I finished
the Kevin Young post games out, I want to let
you guys know jeg Or Demon. I'm really happy that
everything at Yegor Demon has been accomplishing his first season
in the NBA. I think he's gonna be a candidate
for All Rookie Team. And this is nothing that I'm
making up yeago Right now, averaging just under thirteen points
with twelve point eight per game, four rebound stream, point
eight sist and one point three steals per game, Yegor
is absolutely looking like an All Rookie candidate. For the
Brooklyn Nets this season. Look the poise the field to
touch the scoring Gary Trent Junior.
Speaker 2: Look.
Speaker 1: I know this is some NBA talk, and hopefully this
doesn't deter you, but they rip Yegor up at half
court right because Yego still might have to be a
little bit stronger on the ball, presses him, tips it,
gets it through, lays the ball up, starts clapping in Yegor.
Yego goes down next possession, beats him off the screen,
shoots the three, and then starts talking right back. I
love Yegor because Yego is not going back down from anybody,
and he's definitely gonna trash talk if he needs to.
So Yegor Dema has been balling out, has been showing
up for the Brooklyn Nets. And I remember when he
got drafted. I remember all of the Brooklyn Nets, you know,
side podcasts, maybe not maybe the main people, but there
was not a positive reaction with this. There was a
lot of negativity. People didn't think it would be good
because of the three point shooting. They okay, the passings there,
but can he shoot the ball from beyond a perimeter
And he's been able to do that. Look I told
everybody that the shot would come. I compared it to
John Moran. John Morrell was not a good three point
shooter in college, and a lot of people he did
not shoot it well when he looked at the video.
He was able to improve that once he got to
the Leak. He struggled the first couple of years, and
now he's a knockdown shooter. A SHOT's always gonna be
able to find itself, especially at the guard level, when
they're able to work out one on one. I try
to give you guys that's inside. But when Jabari Parker
was playing in the league, grew up in my ward,
I got the chance to see the Milwaukee Bucks facility,
watch him work with the guys one on one.
Speaker 2: Go up.
Speaker 1: I remember a couple of times going to some games.
It's way different the level of coaching that you get
in the time that you put in. So I'm not
surprised by diegoor Demon not surprised that he went top ten.
He was a lottery pick. It's proven everybody that doubted,
whether it be in Cougar Nation or at the next level,
he's been doing it. Gotta keep building. Beloved what I
see from Diego demon right now in the league and
age of de Bonnce's next. I think Rob Wright's on
that list. I know the hype might be a problem,
but I think just as scoring and passing ability, he
can still play. Richie Saunders, I think is gonna be
there as well, and Kevin Young and the coaching staff,
they're gonna continue to develop players for the NBA ages
next Richie and then Rob and then look, you got
kJ Perry, who I think can play at the next
level as well. You got Abdullah Med He's coming in.
They got a bunch of guys coming and they're obviously
going to use a transfer portal as well. This is
BYU basketball is going to be a very attractive place.
If Kevin Young is able to get to a final four,
Elite eight to me is quoting you have to be
competing for it. If they don't win, then we can
have that conversation later. But you have to be in
the Elite A, competing for a final four, and if
you get there, I think that would change, and not
even change, it would propel the momentum that BA basketball
and Athletics already already has Through the roof Michael Jordan,
the ceiling is the roof love that joke. But no,
the point in that is that they already have accomplished
so much in two years. If you get that far,
the last time you know that BA even got that
close was you know, Jimmer than Danny Ainge, and not
even Jimmer. Jimmer was the sweet sixteen Danny Ainge. It's
been the eighties. So if Kevin Young led you to that,
look he was eighteen and two. I put this on
my you know, Cougar basketball pre game notes. But I
think the last time that that had happened, you know,
was since Dave Rose eighteen and two the second best record.
That's tough to do in your first two twenty games
at home in the non conference slate. So tippecap to
Kevin Young. He's done everything the right way. He's worked
extremely hard, and I hope that BA basketball continues to
build on top of the moment that they have. This
was per CBS Sports. I want to discuss this, which
of these teams will win it all? Ever, since two
thousand and four, a team in the top twelve of
the week six ap Pole, top twenty five, excuse me,
Pole has been the eventual champion. So right now, Arizona, Duke, Michigan,
Iowa State, Yukon, Purdue Houston, Gonzaga, Michigan State, BYU Louisville, Alabama.
That's interesting. I didn't know that until I saw this.
I was like, really, but no. When I went back
and I looked at it, it's very true. Not going
to go through all the stats, you can do that
on your own, but this when I looked it up. Yes,
the last time a national champion was not in the
top twelve of the week six ap pole was two
thousand and three when Carmelo Anthony led the Syracuse to
a title. So will it be BYU? They got a
great shot, they got a great coaching staff, they have
the production of players to be able to do it.
We'll find out then it more. Let's get back to it.
Let's finish up the post game sound and I'll break
it down. Kevin Young addressing the media yesterday following b
y U S win or Pacific, coming to the end
of the non conference schedule, what were your objectives coming
into building it and how do you feel like you've minion.
Speaker 2: In those courses.
Speaker 3: Yeah, so, I mean, obviously we wanted to beef it
up and just make it more challenging, you know, which
I think we've done a decent job of. I think
we could probably even do could have done more, honestly. Uh,
there's a you know, it's interesting about my staff because
I have a kind of a split of guys who've
coached in college for a long time and guys that haven't,
so a lot of it's new to me and some
of my other coaches, and you know, a lot of
internal discussion on you know, we could we play more
you know, quad one type games than we even did
this year. So that was the overall you know genesis
of it. I think in this stretch it was kind
of you know, you still have to fill your schedule.
So that's a really well coached team. Coach Mart's of
like a world renowned coach, and so felt like they
could present a challenge, which they did some defensively. Uh,
but this stretch, you know, trying to be home during
Christmas and finals and all that kind of thing is
kind of what went behind, you know, scheduling these kind
of packed in games that we have now.
Speaker 4: And then what about developing your team during that time? Oh?
Speaker 3: Huge, I mean that's why you beef beef it up right,
So it's a good point, like the context of what
does it mean to beef it up?
Speaker 1: And what do you learn?
Speaker 3: I mean the amount of stuff like we've learned compared
to last year is night and days, not even close.
Speaker 2: You know.
Speaker 3: I think you learn schemes, what's good, what's bad. You know,
we're talking about the pressure and so forth. Like you
learn that, you learn where guys need the ball in
their spots relative to good defense and not just someone
they can just bully or whatnot.
Speaker 1: I mean, so there's just a litany.
Speaker 3: Of things that you learn, and you can't do it
unless you're playing against really good teams. And so I
mean the other thing I would say there is I've
learned college basketball more, you know, I just what, like
what do other people do that have been doing this
for a long time. Like when I'm in New York City,
if a New Yorker crossed the street, I'm crossing with
them because they know what they're doing right.
Speaker 1: Same thing with this the scheduling piece.
Speaker 3: You know, all the good teams schedule tough, and so
that's what we're trying to be. And this was this
year was I think a I think hopefully what the
blueprint can be, you know, moving forward with some of
the non conference scheduling.
Speaker 4: Two more questions.
Speaker 2: Ten rebounds for AJ is rebounding ability.
Speaker 1: Where does that stack up among all the great things
that AJ.
Speaker 2: Can do on the floor.
Speaker 3: I mean, if you asked his dad, he says, it's
way up there. You know, that's something he was on
me about even before AJ signed with his coach. You
gotta make him rebound, sit him if he doesn't. So
you know, look, I mean, where where is its head
for him? Is it?
Speaker 1: The Knights are transition?
Speaker 3: It reminds me of Ben Simmons when I coached him
and Philly back in the day. It was like when
big guards like that can get in their rebound and
their dynamic and transition, it goes back to the transition
opportunities and the fast breakpoint. So that's the defensive rebounding
and then on the offensive side of the glass. I mean,
we preach a lot of offensive rebounding technique and numbers,
and we just talk about it almost at nauseum, to
be honest with you, and which is great. When AJ goes,
He's probably gonna get the rebound. When I go, I'm
probably not gonna get as much as he does, right, and.
Speaker 1: So trying to get him to buy into that.
Speaker 3: But I mean, look, we ask him to do a lot,
you know, and so it can be taxing on it,
but that's kind of where it rears the value on
the offensive side and the defensive side.
Speaker 2: Last question, it's kind of a random question for your coach.
Speaker 1: You're a man of great quarter zips.
Speaker 2: Is there a method to your quarters if you're rolling
out on it?
Speaker 4: Given night?
Speaker 3: Oh man? So so Samantha Young, no relation, my executive assistant.
It's her job to since she sends the text out
with the picture of which one we're gonna wear, I
will say, I don't know if Tyson would agree, but
we have too many this year, like some of them,
this one even to the point where some are actually white.
And then there's the same one that's off white that
really throws people for a loop. So we got to
kind of dial that down. Kyle our purpose, our equipment guy.
We got to talk to him. But kudos for noticing.
Speaker 1: That though, kudos to hitch Our for noticing that. A
weird tip right there. Ben and I discussed that on
the pregame show yesterday. Look the fits matter they do,
and yes they have a lot of Kevin Young is
a three quarters of guy that the Joggers, the Janowskis
won't coaching anything different. Yeah, they got too many they
He likes the black, He likes the gray. And when
b yu is winning, is whin they're the black winning
the gray. Don't uh, don't do the royal stay away
from the blue. But Kevin Young likes the black and
likes the gray. So shout out to Samantha Young two
on sending the text message out and getting them dialed
to make sure that they all look the part. I
want to get to something that he finished with a
couple of things rebounding and you know his passing ability
and transition to Ben Simmons and no bread to tease
it earlier and talked about it. We're gonna discuss it
here now. Look the rebounding ability. I think that's funny.
First of all, that his dad a said, look, you know, uh,
if he doesn't rebound, sit him, sit him. And look
that's that's dads. My dad coached me hard and said, hey,
if he's slacking off, you know what you gotta do.
You gotta punish him. So no, but I mean AJ,
And we heard from that sound in the second hour
of you that'll be on the podcast. But yeah, the
coaching staff is challenging Aja to rebound better. And I
think that AJ. I don't know if that if he
could necessarily be a double double guy because he's not
a post guy, but I think he can come pretty
damn closer to it. I think AJ right now in
college and when he gets the league, I think he
could be a guy that averages twenty nine when he
gets the league, maybe averages twenty five when he gets
to that point. Could be a twenty seven to eight
rebound type guy, maybe nine, like between that seven and
nine mark, because of his athleticism, because he wants to
go hunt on the glass. He likes to play defense,
right And look, you guys might not notice things. And
at some point with the pregame basketball sh I'm I'm
gona get a chance to interview. I'm gonna bok it.
I'm gonna get a chance to interview who I think
will be the future number one overall NBA draft pick
for the twenty twenty six year and who I think
is the best freshman in this class right now. I
think it will be a job. I'm gonna ask him. Look,
you take pride to rebound, you take pride in defense.
Talk about the gamesmanship. Look, pay attention, pay attention everyone
to when he stares defenders down, he ripped up. The
guy goes for the win. Meal aj takes pride. He
loves the aspect of the game of playing hard and
then rewarding his teammates and rewarding himself. He loves that
part of the game. He I think it was the
riverside game. Gets the ball, gets to what euro step,
rolls to the basket, lays it up, you know, goes back,
gets the ball again, dunks and transition and it is
like has like flexing with the muscle, looking to the guy,
nod at him, daring him. And then the guy tries
to dribble past him. Age plays great defense and dribbles
the ball off his feet, gets excited, claps up, dabs
a fan up like that's the guy that BYU has,
that's leading the charge, along with Richie Saunders, along with
Robert Wright. But look, the athleticism is there. He compared
to the Ben Simmons. Some people I like that because
he took the award away from Donovan Mitchell. I do agree,
Jazz fans, don't get in your feels. The point is
Ben Simmons had thirty three, you know, career triple doubles.
AJ's ability to be at a pass the ball, rebound
the ball is like that of a Ben Simmons, Ben
Simmons six to ten, AJ six', nine and the way
he's able to. JUMP i think he's got a higher
vertical Than Ben, Simmons BUT i like that comparison of
pushing the ball in transition of when he's that, strong
when he's that, long when he's that athletic coming, downhill
you have to make a. Decision you have to pick your.
Poison and with his ability to, pass it just makes
it easier FOR byu to be able to get what
they need to get done and. Everything so shout out TO,
Aj shout out to bou men's. Basketball let's take a
little bit of a. Transition let's finish up with this basketball.
Thinking then we'll kick it back over the football with
as we're here in the world OF Boe sports right
here on your one to, three nine and ninety eight
Three UTAHS Espn Radio. Network this is Per Gregor. BELL
byu currently ranks fourth nationally in per game of tendants
capacity percentage of CAPACITY ba number four right now Behind. Kentucky,
ugh you, know Like, Kentucky and that's a conversation for another.
Day is Since Mark pope will he be out at
the end of the. Season we'll save that. Discussion But, Kentucky, Tennessee,
arkansas and Then North carolina's fifth BYU's number four with
the average attendants of eight thousand thirty. Four that's eight
thousand thirty. Four excuse, me that's what the capacity. Is
the average is in this is eight thousand and. Three
that's what they're. Getting so only thirty one, seats thirty
one seats not being filled. Up you, wonder Like ben
AND i talked, about is it those? Donors are you
then in a lower? Bowl is it? You lower bowl?
Folks you thirty one seats behind the bou bench that
are not showing? Up is it? You because if it,
is do a good deed This christmas and give. Tickets
there's two games left in non conference before conference. Play
because you're not giving conference play tickets. UP i know
that for sure is gonna be sold. Out it's gonna be.
Loud so do a good, deed those thirty one tickets
that are not being, used give them for The Abilieen
christian game This. Friday before The Ablien christian, game catch
on your catch us on a one to three nine
ninety eight THREE fm. Network i'll be taking you up
until tip off AS bou, plays and then catch us
back Next monday as well as they take On Eastern.
Washington so give those tickets and then once you get the,
tickets always tune into the station as we take you
through Our Cougar basketball pregame. Show SO, boi your basketball doing.
Works and that's not in The big, twelve, guys that's
in the. Nation so they're leading to The big. Twelve
and and they have one of the, biggest if not
the biggest ARENA i think FOR byu basketball in The Big.
Twelve this is Per Jeff, fuller you put this out
just a few hours. Ago this is the twenty twenty
Five Big twelve average home game attendance percentage. Capacity this
IS byu six or two, thousand seven hundred eighty NINE.
Byu b out the likes Of Iowa. State they have
a good fan. Base Texas Tech. Lubbick they love their
sports down. There, Wes, Virginia Arizona, State Kansas, state and
then The utah and the rest of The big TWELVE
byu had one hundred and three percent over and, Look
lavelle was rocking this. Year it was The utah game
was sold, out a couple of other games night. Games
vampire Kug so shout out to all of the fans
that make it. Possible, LOOK i know a lot of
people are upset about ticket prices going, up but the
season ticket, holders those of you that purchase tickets to,
rock you, know most importantly making it really difficult in
that south end zone for people to kick the rock
for basketball shooting free throws into the rock and you miss.
That shout out TO Aj richie And. ROB i think
they were celebrating with fans when The pacific player. Missed
it gives people free. Chick i've divulged in, it So
i've been a. Recipient, YES i am a media, member
but that doesn't MEAN i can't scan THE qr code
that comes up on the jumbo. Tron that is for.
Everybody it's not just for one particular. Person. Guys that's
a little world of bou sports segment and it was
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Com we'll go to break don't go. Anywhere Ben credit
will join. Us next we're gonna get into a little
crewdon Of. Cougars excuse me Not cruden And. Kruegers he
has signed a player profile segment With Devon echa or
is It. Eco we'll find out next coming up right
here on Your UTAH Espn Radio network one o three
nine in ninety eight THREE Espn.
Speaker 2: Get To know The cougars student athletes and a player
profile segments here on one oh three nine at ninety
eight THREE Espn The Van Welcome Back crisport one of
three nine nine of even point Three drew man on
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visit at the Url Advanced windows dot. Com That's Advanced
windows dot. Com got to get into this player profile.
Segment get to know one of the newest members of
this Bau cougar football, team a part of the twenty
twenty six. Class with so many great running backs that
have come Through Brigham Young university over the, years you
always look towards the, future who they bringing, in who
could be that next. Star whether you look back on
the past and you maybe Love Curtis brown Or Harvey,
unga Or Jamal williams Or Tyler. Rausier most, recently L.
J mart who can be that NEXT. Lj? Martin and
so we're gonna get to know a guy that could
very well be that in this. Segment he's on the
line right. Now he's recruited by a number of. Schools
he ended up CHOOSING. Byu we got five foot eleven
hundred ninety pounder out Of Lehigh High, School Devon, ekka
part of THE Byu cougar football. Family, devon how are?
Speaker 4: You i'm? Good how are you?
Speaker 2: Doing? Awesome, man appreciate you joining, us letting us get
to know you a little bit. Better the recruitment's, Done you're, signed, sealed.
Delivered you're recruited by a number of. Schools San Diego,
State San Jose, state Sack, Sate Idaho, State Utah, state
In Northern, ARIZONA. Unlv you chose The. Kougs why was
being A Byu cougar the priority for?
Speaker 4: You, honestly once they offered, ME i knew the, place you, know,
Like i've always wanted to go there since freshman sophomore.
Year they've been recruiting me for a, While so ONCE
i got the, OFFER i knew that's the PLACE i
wanted to go.
Speaker 2: To and your your primary. Recruiters who were? They who
are the individuals that were reaching out to you from
The cougar coaching.
Speaker 4: Staff Coach anderson he was talking to me the, most
AND i was talking to Coach i'm got a little.
Bit so, yeah those two are the. Most who what.
Speaker 2: Did the Coach anderson the Coach who'm gonna say about
your skill? Set why is it that they liked what
they saw on tape what they've seen in person on
the football?
Speaker 4: Field uh. Huh they just they THINK i got explosiveness
THAT i can really add to the, team you, know
because we've had a lot of you, know stronger backs
and stuff like. That so they think my speed can
really help it out to the.
Speaker 2: Offense, WELL i see it on the film, obviously great,
vision good, physicality great breakaway speed as. Well really good football.
Player you went To Lehigh High. School you won a
lot of football games. There you come from a great
program and it continues to produce high level football. Players
you got great. Teammates what was it like kind of
growing up in that That lehigh air and playing For?
Speaker 1: Lehigh it's been.
Speaker 4: Good i've always had great players around. Me so, practice
every practice felt like a. Game, day so it was
good to prepare for. Them had dogs all around, you you,
know since my freshman, YEAR i had people Like bobby
and every year we just had, dogs commits and all.
That so you've always got some good players around, you
so it's good to build around, them to build around.
Speaker 2: Them growing. Up you grew up In, utah right where you're,
born In utah where we were born and.
Speaker 4: Raised born and raised In. Utah, yes, sir, okay.
Speaker 2: So born and race here In. Utah did you grow
up A byu? FAN A utah, fan A Utah state?
Fan what was the upbringing?
Speaker 4: Like, honestly WHEN i was, YOUNGER i was more of
A utah. Fan but over the, years is going especially
going TO byu actually getting, there it changes. You it's the.
Way so, yeah so you became.
Speaker 2: A byu fan along the. Way and when you watch
your your own, film, right what do you like about
the way that you? Play how would you describe yourself
as a running?
Speaker 4: BACK i feel LIKE i just play, hard you, KNOW i.
DON'T i don't give up no matter you, know we're
up a lot down the. LOT i just try to
play my hardest at all, Times SO i. Don't, Yeah
i've never been a quitting, type so that's ALL i
like about my.
Speaker 2: Play, YEAH i describe you as a consistent running back.
TOO i mean it's hard as a running back to stay,
healthy stay, strong and produce year over. YEAR i think
you accumulated three, thousand two hundred and seventy six total
rushing yards over your high school, career including one thousand
and thirty eight as a senior one thousand and thirty
six as a. Sophomore SO i mean having that consistency of,
productivity what do you attribute that?
Speaker 4: To, honestly just every DAY i, practice we just try
to do the right. Thing you, know code a class, lift,
eat do the same thing every day and when you
do the right, thing you, know you get the. Result
so we just try to say consistent every day and,
yeah don't do too, much but don't do to.
Speaker 2: Little Just, yeah you're a multi sport athlete as. Well
what other sports did you play growing?
Speaker 4: Up growing, UP i played basketball and, baseball SO i
played those big. Three but WHEN i got to high,
school football was just my main. THING i played some baseball,
too but, yeah football.
Speaker 2: Is my main, sport so football transition to majority. Football
but you also played baseball what position do you playing?
Speaker 4: BASEBALL i played center. Field.
Speaker 2: Nice, Nice i'm looking at your your sophomore batting. Average
you almost batted five hundred and At. Lehigh that's a
pretty good baseball, School.
Speaker 4: Yes, sir it. Is, yeah wee, husband, football basketball and
baseball been dominant for, years so it's a great school
to come.
Speaker 2: From what made you fall in love with? Football why
didn't you fall in love with? BASEBALL i don't.
Speaker 4: Know just SINCE i was, young football just had a
different spot in my, Heart Like i've always loved baseball.
Stuff but, yeah football's has always been my.
Speaker 2: Thing, well it's a great. Sport it's the ultimate. Team
gave no doubt about. It Devon, eica three star running
back At Lehig High, school part of the twenty twenty
six B yu football. Class, Devon you guys had just
had one of the best classes IN bau football, history
maybe the best recruiting class IN ba football. History who
have you been able to get to? Know, uh that's
a part of that class that you may be shared
recruiting trips, with et.
Speaker 4: Cetera, yeah. Legend you, know he's been my he's my,
teammate you, know, family he's been he's gonna be someone's
gonna be fun to go down with and him just
gonna try, to you, know work through. This we're going
down early, too so it's great to have someone to
go with and compete with every.
Speaker 2: Day so, yeah you guys are both gonna be midyear,
transfers early enrollees for the.
Speaker 4: Spring, yes, sir we're going down In. January love that.
Speaker 2: Man get to go down there and compete and ball
out and see if you, can you, know get into that,
rotation into that depth. Chart do you think you can
make an? Impact you think you can be a true
freshman that can see the field the first.
Speaker 4: Year that's for. Sure that's the. Goal that's What i'm
trying to do the DAY i get. There So i'm
gonna do EVERYTHING i can to do. That but that's
for sure the.
Speaker 2: Goal what weaknesses do you need to address in order
to accelerate your your your production and progress as a running.
Speaker 4: Back you, Know i'm ALREADY i have pretty good, speed
but it's good to get my speed, up get, bigger
get stronger in the weight. Room but, yeah just let
b yu get me right and get down there and.
Play just.
Speaker 2: Work you grew up in the state Of. UTAH i
don't know if you're a member of The church Of
Jesus christ The latter Day, saints But i'm sure you're
familiar with. It give us a little background on family
and faith and did that play a role in committing
to B.
Speaker 4: Yu, YEAH i. DID i do have family that's, Big
like my, grandpa he's into the. Church my family we've
been going to church SINCE i was, young so that,
Also so that is a big part of me committed.
There and being so close to. Home so having a
place with a culture like that and so, close it's
just it's too.
Speaker 2: Good love that any any plans we you, KNOW i
always get this, Question so that's Why i'm asking fans always, Asking,
hey any plans on mission after the first year or
the second? Year any plans?
Speaker 4: There, no that's not WHAT i was planning. On i'm
not playing on to go on a mission or anything like.
Speaker 2: That, Okay so we're gonna get you midyear and you're you,
know you may be playing this first year and we
may get you for four five. Years that's not always
what happens with THE byu student. Athletes at least fifty
percent of them go on. Mission so that's WHY i
ask the Question Devon ekka here ON espn The fan
getting to know him by you running back for the
twenty twenty six. Class you mentioned legend glasger guys a.
Baller what are we getting in legend as a wide
receiver and?
Speaker 4: Athlete, uh he saw one who just. Works you, Know
he's not worried about all the outside. Noise he's just
he's gonna get their. Work and when you need someone
to make a, play you could for sure usin to do.
That so, yeah he think we got a dog coming
in our receiver.
Speaker 2: Here love That legend's gonna be a legend hopefully in
that wide receiver. Room and as you WATCH byu over
the last couple of, years when your recruitment started to
get started to heat, up going eleven and, two eleven
and two with an opportunity to win a bowl game
versus a ranked opponent In Georgia, tech what if you
say that you liked about the football program and how they're.
Speaker 4: WINNING i, Like i'm really liking you, know they're staying,
consistent they're not worried about all the outside. Noise you,
know maybe like with stuff like a coach by the,
league they weren't worried about none of. That they're just
worried about the next week and getting it. Done after they,
win they're not. Satisfied they're always ready for more wins
Than that's a PROGRAM i want to be a part.
Speaker 2: Of Who who's your maybe favorite player you've loved watching
over the? Years is a as a as a maybe
a fan football player watching The? Boers do you have
any favorite?
Speaker 4: Players i've BEEN. Lj, honestly WATCHING lj player is always.
Fun he's been a dog for, years so he's for
sure probably my favorite player to.
Speaker 2: Watch lj's nice, Man he's A he's a great football.
Player who do you try to model your game? After
is there anybody you look at your, height your, weight
your skill, set your, ability your, Vision ANY nfl guys
or college guys you try to?
Speaker 4: Mimic for, Sure Jamal. Williams you, KNOW i trained with,
him you, know So i'm trying to soak in as
much stuff as i can from, him because, yeah he's
he's a BY. Uk SO i would, Say, jamal what.
Speaker 2: Type of impact Has Jamal williams had on you as your?
Coach he's been coaching you up a little.
Speaker 4: Bit, yeah it's, been it's been, way it's it's. Big you.
Know he helps me get the little stuff you, know
people don't quite. See and, yeah it's it's hard. Work
so every day he's there to, work no matter the
time or. Whatever they're there. Ready so it's. Good it's
good to be behind people who are always there to.
Speaker 2: Work so, well Lu khan trained him and has been
training him for a long. TIME i, Know, uh Master
yoda Lu, khan he's, uh he's a great coach. Too
how has he impacted? You impacted you as?
Speaker 4: Well he's been impacted me too. Much you. Know he's
just he's always there making Sure i'm doing the right,
thing trending us to trending us to get to the
point where we need to. Be and he believes in.
Us so it's always going to have someone who believes
in you that makes you want to work. Harder so
love that.
Speaker 2: Perspective you need great mentors and both those guys are fantastic.
Mentors uh to guys like yourself future running backs FOR
Byu Cougar. Football Out outside of, football what do you
like to? Do where do you spend your?
Speaker 4: TIME i like to hang out with my, friends you,
know play. Basketball we face a little, bit so, yeah
that's probably my biggest. Thing just hang out on that
boy at the.
Speaker 2: Time are they mostly on the football team you hanging
out with most of your football?
Speaker 4: Buddies, yeah my football, BUDDIES i got. SOME i got
some buddies outside of, football but, yeah mostly the.
Speaker 2: Love That Devon ekka here ON espn the FAN byu
running back for the twenty twenty six, class getting to
know him a little bit. Better what do you want
to study AT? Byu is there anything of interest?
Speaker 4: THERE i don't quite know one hundred PERCENT i want to,
do but probably get into like maybe sports medicine some
in that. Field so, YEAH i don't find all though.
Speaker 2: Yet so you like anatomy and physiology and, uh exercise.
Physiology is that something maybe that's down your?
Speaker 4: Path, yeah that's what that's for sure SOMETHING i want to. Look, yeah,
OKAY i like.
Speaker 2: That uh and so uh OBVIOUSLY byu is a great academic,
institution so you, Can i'm sure you get your generals
out of the way and then you can get into a.
Major they do have a couple of different pathways. There
when you when you get to B, yu right and
you start. Competing what do you think is going to
be the most difficult, thing uh to? Do like as
you're acclimating to that new college football regiment of being
at a high LEVEL p four, UNIVERSITY.
Speaker 4: I think the thing, is you know there's no days
Off like in high. School you know some days you
may you, know feel a little, lazy you feel like
you take days. OFF i, Know i'm by. You and
in college there's there's no days off if you're trying
to really go do, something really be. Great so you,
know maybe just flipping that switch and just know you
got to come and compete every. Day so that's probably
the biggest.
Speaker 2: Thing love that. PERSPECTIVE i want to go back to your.
Class this is a monumental class that you're a part.
Of uh did You i'm trying to think of your schedule?
Now and and these other guys actually legend you know
him very. Well but there's a lot of local products
that are part of this. Class Bot mulitalo At Long.
Peak you Have Brock hair From, Pineview Adam bywater At,
olympus you Have Jared, Pula Lopetti mowala At Orum Jam
pule At loan Pe Kennon poole At Loan, PEAK i
believe Uh Kawe akhana At, Orum legend At, lehigh Ridgeline Has, Graham.
Livingston all these guys, there, dudes great football. Players the
the in stinate talent continues to get. Better any of
those guys really stand? Out seat did you play against
any of? Them or we're on sevens with? Them watch
film on? Them what do you make of?
Speaker 4: It? YEAH i mean all those, guys there's some there's
some real life. Guys you Know. Bo i've played Against
bo SINCE i was. Young he's always been someone you
don't want to line up, against you. Know and, Yeah,
legend The Pula. Twins you, know we've seen the catch they. Made,
Yeah kennon. Made you. Know there's some dogs all, around you,
Know Litt, graham some, speed all. Them so it's a
great constant to be a part. Of just it's great
to see people From utah, too all Your utah people
you be around and to go play with. Them so
that's a big no doubt about.
Speaker 2: It, like so who did it come down to for your? Recruitment?
Uh you, know OBVIOUSLY dyu was the place that you,
Chose but did you have like a final three final.
Speaker 4: FOUR i, mean BESIDES byu Like San Diego, state that
was a bit that was a good, one you, KNOW
V i was talking to him a little, bit but
B yu, once ONCE i was able to get that,
GOING i just stayed with. That so that was my main.
SCHOOL i was focus.
Speaker 2: On what do you like About Harvey? Yunga the way
that he recruited you and the relationship that you've been
able to be With. HARVEY i like.
Speaker 4: That he he kept it riding me the whole recruitment.
Process you, know everything he said he. Met you, know
a lot of these other coaches they might you, know
lie to you or just say what you need to.
Hear but Coach harvey was strayed up with me the whole,
process you. Know and that's that was probably the biggest.
THING i made everything go smooth. Smoothly so, yeah.
Speaker 2: Well harv's a former B yu great as. Well have
you have you checked tape On harvey?
Speaker 1: Yet your?
Speaker 2: Coach?
Speaker 4: Oh, yeah he was a.
Speaker 2: Dog, yeah he had a unique skill. Set he can
catch the ball in the. Backfield he's great in the
past Pro he's a he was a complete. Back you,
know high. Bar how how can you become a complete. Back,
well you got to be able to be if you
if you lean in on you, know Master, yoda my,
Guy Luke, kahan Obviously jamal And. Harvey you, guys you
got some good mentors there to lean on to become
a complete.
Speaker 4: Back yeah. Exactly.
Speaker 2: Yeah not everyone has access to that type of, resources
those type of people in their. Lives so you definitely
blessed to be in that, situation no doubt about. It
so you're gonna roll at B. Y when do you
arrive on? Campus?
Speaker 4: Uh january?
Speaker 2: Third right around the, corner, man you gotta have you
you already scheduled with classes right? What? What what it's
your twelve? Credits thirteen? Credits what are you?
Speaker 4: TAKING i don't know that off my head right, now but,
Yeah i'm Gonna i'm gonna have to see. That, yeah hey,
man it's.
Speaker 2: Right we still got. Time you Got christmas breaks, still
what are you gonna be doing For christmas?
Speaker 4: Break to get ready to get ready to come? Down
coming down has been the only thing really on my?
Mind so, YEAH i love. It.
Speaker 2: Man, well you've been training. Hard i've been getting feedback
From luke And jamal about your. Training where do you
think you've made the most process progress since the end
of the football.
Speaker 4: SEASON i feel Like I'm I'm i'm really conditioned right.
Now you, know before every every workout we get a
sprint in, sprinting you, know. Conditioning so that's that's something
THAT i feel Like i'm good at right. Now like my,
heart you, Know i'm in a Good i'm in a
good place to start to go.
Speaker 2: Into good cardiovascular health is an, imperative especially as you
get into springbo and you're trying to earn your keep
in that running back, room no doubt about. It Devon
eka here on Your UTAH Espn Radio NETWORK b while
you're running back a part of the twenty twenty six.
Clash uh are you currently wearing one nineties at where you're?
At five five eleven one? Ninety where's the weight at right?
Speaker 4: Now, yeah, Sir i'm probably like one eighty eight right. Now,
yeah one, Ninety So i'm creeping her right around. There.
Speaker 2: Nice how's the weight? Room do you like the weight?
ROOM i don't know if you've done any of your
max lifts or anything like. That what do you? Lift
what do you push?
Speaker 4: Bench i'm like two five SQUAD i got like four.
Thirty you.
Speaker 2: Know.
Speaker 4: Nice, yeah so that's about WHERE i am in the
weight room bench of. Squad so weight room that's SOMETHING
i for sure need to really really fall in love
with WHEN i get to. College but, YEAH i like
to like you.
Speaker 2: Guys Asked jamal And luke about the weight. Room, man
they hit it. HARD i believe going into his senior,
year transform that. BODY i think he. Was he was
tote in the rock at like two twenty his his senior.
Year he. Was he was, big he was, strong he was.
Fast that's. Sair so you got to fall in love
and put with pushing, weight no doubt about that as. Well,
Devon it's been awesome getting to know you. Men, uh
congratulations on all your. Success can't wait to watch you
and cover you and uh and and get to know
you a little bit better as you you you find
your path there at B. Yu but, uh final thing
before we let you, go what message do you have
For kugarnation as you becoming a part of the become
a part of the The cougar football.
Speaker 4: FAMILY i can't. Wait i'm working my butt. OFFS i
can't wait to see y'all down.
Speaker 2: There love, It Devon echa ladies and gentlemen doan thanks
for joining us.
Speaker 4: Today, Brother, yes, sir appreciate.
Speaker 2: It thanks for having me therego Devon, eka ladies and,
gentlemen by. You running back three star out Of Lehigh
High school baller chose B yu Over San Diego, state
unl V, Uh San Diego, State San Jose, state un L,
V Utah state and many, others had interest from other
schools and, Decided, HEY i want to be a B Yu.
Cougar love that. THAT i love his. Film, honestly his
film was. Fantastic check it, out check out the. HUDDLE
i think you're going to be. Impressed. Guys by the
way it's getting into the holiday. Season want to remind
you guys out there In cougar country if you have
because we've been given them. Much we too much. GIVE
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inviting you to help those at the road home this
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