Speaker 1: It's on ko v O probo k U d d
H D two one O three nine at ninety eight
three ESPN, so Fan. This is Cougar Sports with Ben Kretel,
and it's time for the Cougar Bet. Getting the dish
from the local reporters that cover Cougar athletics.
Speaker 2: Welcome back Cougar Sports one of three nine ninety eight
point three ESPN The Fan. I've been critical broadcasting from
our Vanderwealth Studios Vanderwealth dot com. Get on that free
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Utilize that he just being coupon code. Let's get out
to the hotline. Welcome in the best golfer. Maybe out
of the media members we got Jay Drew on the
line of the Desertight News. Jay, how you living?
Speaker 3: I'm doing great? But you're way too kind on that
golf analogy or analysis to whatever you want to call it.
Speaker 2: Amongst those that cover BYU, aren't you the best? Though?
Like that? Truly? Like cover BYU consistently? I mean who
who I mean? Maybe me? Maybe I could beat you?
You know, maybe me, like if I you know.
Speaker 3: Okay, now you're going too far.
Speaker 2: I mean, come on, I mean, I I mean I
can maybe give you a run for your money. I mean,
I haven't golfed in a minute.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I guess i'd say among the guy. I don't
know that a lot of us golf. I don't think
Darnell golfs. I know, Kevin Reynolds and just.
Speaker 2: Take you take Gurney.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I'm not really afraid of Gurney on the links. Now.
I'm afraid of Gurney elsewhere, but not not on the links.
So let's put it that way.
Speaker 2: Yeah, the golden, the golden Gurnwos was a sniper on
the basketball court I heard back in the day, so
you'd have to watch out for him from the perimeter.
But I think the only I mean, Ronald the three
man Weaver has improved. You know, he's been going to
the range a little bit more. He improved significantly. I
don't know if he's in your ballpark just yet. I mean,
Dick Harmon, he's not really covering the coups as consistently
as he once did. Right. Is he officially.
Speaker 3: Retired now he's not. He's semi retired. He still contributes
a couple columns a week or a newsletter for for
us at the Desert News. So I would say he's uh,
he's not officially retired. He's still contributing now and then
and doing a great job at it.
Speaker 2: Yep. Yes, indeed, Jay Drew. No, no, no, Ronnie's getting
better though. Ronni's getting better. And uh, but have you
tried out the Premo golf apparel yet? Jay? Have you
have you tried the fine Twin Lennon's of Primo.
Speaker 3: I have not purchased anything. I have looked at some
of their website or their website and different things, and
I'm contemplating a couple purchases. So yeah, I hear nothing
the great things about it. So I show up in
June at the BYU Golf Day hope hopefully they have
it at Cedar Hills in June. I should be squaring
some new Premo golf stuff.
Speaker 2: We'll get you hooked up, get you looking good, feeling
good golf and good. Not that you need it, Not
that you need it, Jay, Jay Springball camp Killate is here.
What have been the storylines that you've been watching that
you've been intrigued by?
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think the main ones and you know, caveat
I've been with BYU basketball and before that I was
on a cruise, so I have I have yet to
be at a spring practice. I plan on being there
tomorrow afternoon for the one that's open to the media.
But yeah, the storylines I think are pretty obvious. That
the receiver, in my opinion, is the biggest storyline. How
they're going to replace Parker Kingston and then which was
unexpected obviously, and then Chase Roberts, which was expected. So
I think that's a huge story. Uh how how good
can Kyler Casper kind of move in and fill a role?
And can these guys Jojo Phillips and Cody Hagen and
guys who have been in the program for a little
while now, can they reach their potential and play like
play like the coaches have said that that they should
be able to play. Kay Nakua is another guy I
guess you could throw in there, and I'm probably a
Reggie frishnak would be another. So that's a big storyline.
Another one, obviously is the defense and Kelly Papinga come
as a defensive coordinator replaced Jay Hill and what will
happen there. I think he fell into a really good
spot with the defense, there's very very few holes. There's
a couple of good players with Tanner Wall and others
that they're replacing. But I think that's a big storyline
is just how will this defense kind of keep on
picking with a new guy at the helm there with
Kelly Papinga, And then I'm really interested to kind of
see this offensive line. They've got some really nice talented
pieces back, but they are replacing Isaiah Jatta and Weather
and Lapoa Ho and Austin Leusa, I think are the
three main ones that they're replacing. So that's you know,
if you're basically they brought in some really great players
that looks like on that offensive line. So I guess
a big storyline would be how those guys mash and
which of those guys can be able to step in
and start right away.
Speaker 2: Love to break down, Jay Drew, who's your favorite right now?
Who are your favorites to really step up and make
uh make their mark in that wide receiver room.
Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a good question. You know, I'm I've been proposing.
You know that they still need to go out and
get more help there. I I know that the transfer
portal still you can still get guys out of the
transfer portal. You just can't have guys enter the portal.
But so maybe there's not a lot out there. I mean,
obviously Bay he coaches no more than me. But I'm skeptical.
Ban I'm gonna be honest. I don't know that there's
a guy on this received wide receiver on this roster
right now that that can be a wr one that
can be a go to guy. And you know, I
hope Jojo Phillips, so we've heard a lot about him
that he could step up. But but uh, I don't
really have a guy that I'm thinking is a can't
miss type of guy right now. Even Tyler Casper from Oregon.
You know, he was injured a lot of his three
years there at Oregon and didn't do much. Coaches are
high on him. Aaron I saw an interview with Aaron
Roderick the other day where he said that he was
he was capable and a good player, and they really
wanted him out of high school and didn't get him. So,
you know, I guess he might be the one, but I,
you know, color me right now a little bit skeptical
of the whole wide receiver room. I think it's a
big issue.
Speaker 2: It's definitely a question mark. The other question mark I
have had is and we haven't really talked a whole
lot about this. We've been focused more on the positions,
the players, right the attrition there. You had coaching attrition
in the secondary, in fact, three coaches. You had Jay
Hill leave the Michigan, Gerald Gilford leave the Michigan, Gavin
Fowler leave the Weaver State. You only technically have one
retained coach in that secondary, and that was Wes Johnson,
who just got elevated to assistant cornerbacks coach. You have
Damorial Warren safety's coach, passing and coordinator, Lewis Walker cornerbacks coach,
and then Danny Sorenson now is helping coach up to
the same. Uh, what's your expectation for that safety and
cornerback room considering there's so many new coaches.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think if you didn't have talent there, you'd
have an issue or you didn't have experience there. But
you do with Paula Telsatuala at safety and and then
at corner you got you know, Evan Johnson, back schmev
And and Trey Alexander and others. I think Jonathan Kebeya
tell me process or others that are back. So I
think I think I think it'll be a pretty seamless
transition there, just because they've already got a lot of
experience and a lot of talent already there. And from
everything I've read, you know, Damario Warren and Louis Walker
outstanding coaches. I think they'll be fine. Uh. We should
also mention that Eddie Hecker, who was contributing a little
bit this past season, is has joined the staff at
Weaver State as well. Uh, and I'm excited to kind
of follow his career. I think he's going to be
a real good coach. He's obviously was a fantastic player.
So that's another one that that they're going to have
to kind of find or replace.
Speaker 2: Yes, indeed, it's going to be difficult, no doubt about it.
But you know it's crazy. Maybe the biggest win of
the U of the off season was the fact that
so many coaches left in the secondary, but none of
the players left with them. Would you agree with that?
Speaker 3: Absolutely huge? Oh yeah, absolutely huge. Player retainment was was
really telling. I think. I mean, I when I saw
Jay Hill going to Michigan, Oh, there goes three or
four guys, you know. Uh, And the fact that really
they lost the backup linebacker. His name escapes me right.
Speaker 2: Now, the one that went to Michigan. Oh oh yeah,
Max Alford.
Speaker 3: Yeah, Max Alford, who wasn't you know until he got hurt.
He was contributing for the BYU defense last year, so
you know, he was a player that probably could have
helped him. But but yeah, not lose Keanutanovasa and Folatao
and Evan Johnson. They kept all these guys as really
really remarkable in this day and age, and I think
that speaks to the culture that Kilani has established. That
and also the fact that, you know, Kilani kind of
let Jay Hill take a lot of credit for the
defense and in the background, and what people have kind
of told me is that this is still Kilani's defense.
This is still He's still the mastermind behind this. And
I think that was proven out in a way with
all the guys that did stay and didn't follow Jay Hill.
Not a knock against j Hill by any stretch, but
but these guys staying says a lot about the culture
that Kilani has established there.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think staying on the defensive side of things.
Last year, late in the season, you started to see
the defense get a lot more sacks, and I'm actually,
I actually think that the defensive line is a little
bit underrated going into this year. And and Kelly Papina
seems like a very aggressive play caller. Do you think
that Sachs becomes more of a focus for and more
of a staple for this BYU defense under Kelly Papinga.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think so. I think he's probably gonna be
a little more aggressive as a play caller. That was
kind of the reputation Jay Hill had and and sometimes
that came to fruition, other times it didn't. But yeah,
I agree with you. I think I think there. I
think they've got a lot of guys that Lucy uh
Lucy t I'll call him and to Salia Kana, there's
a lot of guys with a you know, a big
upside keeping body skewing over UH as well was big.
So yeah, I think the talent is certainly in place,
and I think I think they're gonna be a little
bit more disruptive than they were uh last year. And
I think they learned their lessons playing against Texas Tech,
where that's kind of the calling card. Texas Tech had
to beat by US that disruptive defense that created a
lot of chaos and havoc, and I think BYU needs
to turn the tables on a few teams to kind
of get in that same realm.
Speaker 2: J Drew deserat News, Jay, what do you be working on?
You have any articles you're gonna be publishing here shortly
at the Desrat News.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm kind of been following the obviously the basketball team,
and I just got back from the trip to West
Virginia and Cincinnati with them. I've got a little feature
on the new guy or the guy that's kind of
the bright spot last couple of weeks, Alex Coke Costitch
coming out soon and then just you know, kind of
a piece preview in the Big twelve tournament that starts
next week.
Speaker 2: So how would you describe BYU basketball right now?
Speaker 3: Boy, that's a tough question, and it's uh, I don't
know if the word is depressed or there's certainly lackluster.
There's certainly some things going on. I've seen some media
members question the effort, and I watched the last two
games World Games, I was there. I still think the
effort's good. I think the buy in is still good.
The body language of the players. I do think that
the two key players are getting worn out. I think
that's what I'm talking about AJ and Rob Wright. I
you know, I guess they're obviously they know it. I'm
not saying anything new, but I still think the buy
in is there. I still think Kevin Young has this team,
has control of this team, He has their hearts and minds. Still,
let's face it, some guys just have not gotten better.
Some guys have just not lived up to their billing.
I'm not talking about any of the big three. I'm
talking about the others. I don't want to call anybody out,
but if you, if you ask me, why is by
U kind of gone into the telspin. It's just that
these other guys have just not improved and they've not
stepped up and filled the gap where we all knew
when Richie went down that other guys had to step up.
They couldn't rely even more on Rob and AJ, and
these other guys just haven't done it for whatever reason.
I don't know if it's lack of talent, I don't
know if it's lack of confidence, but I would just say,
if I were to describe the BYU team in one
world right now, I would just say non confident. They
just don't believe in themselves anymore for some reason.
Speaker 2: And that's something that Kay Wise stated. He's like, Hey,
what's the message that he's trying to disseminate to his
to his team. He's like, they're a good team, they're
good players, Like they just need confidence. So does this
team need to sit down and rather than watching tape
and being critical of their lack of efficiency, their lack
of execution, do they just watch like the highlights of
the season, like all the great games that they've won,
great sports movies that inspire you. Yeah, all the great
like just all of the great games. And you know
it's just all positivities, like look at you guys, you're
good enough, you're smart enough, and dog on it. People
like you.
Speaker 3: I think there's something to that. And by you spend
invests a lot of money in their athletic department, in
sports psychologists, and uh, you guys know that as well
as I do. And you know it's time for those
guys or gals to make their money. I know in football,
Braiden Brown, I don't think he does much with basketball.
But I may be wrong, but you know, I think
Braiden Brown is a guy like that can really instill
confidence and get people back to playing or or practicing
even as they were before. So, you know, I probably
should know who the sports psychologist is for the BYU
basketball team. I don't.
Speaker 2: I think it's great.
Speaker 3: It might be. I know, he's kind of stretched, really
stand across a lot of different sports teams. Maybe it
is him, But yeah, I think that. I think their
issues are as mental as they are physical right now,
and and it seems to me like those are issues
that can be fixed. And and job one right now
with the BA basketball team's defense, they just got to
play better defense there. You know, you just can't match
team's bucket for bucket. You can't just say hey, we
got aj he can he can score almost every night
I'm on the court. You just can't rely on that.
You got to stop people. And I think, obviously I'm
not saying anything new. Kevin Young knows that, and the
coaching staff knows that, and that's just that's got to
happen or they're going to have a you know, an
early exit next week in the Big Twelve tournament.
Speaker 4: I think there are some positives though to be gained
from from the game since Richie has gone down. I've
said I think that heading Boop and Alexei Kostitch are
Kevin Young's next development projects where he tries to turn
them into something because I've seen just a little bit
of a flashes of potential. Do you see the same
thing in those two? Is there are there any other
positives that you see coming out of what's been a
rough stretch for BYU.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I do, And I think those two have gotten
more more minutes and U and had plays ran for them,
especially alex Colostitch. I you know Kadeem h the other day,
he had a couple I think they were sagging off him,
giving him a three pointer and he wasn't able to convert.
I know he's made some of those in the past.
I think that's kind of the next step for him.
And I think frankly, that's what's holding uh Keebocata back
a little bit, is his inability to score outside of
six feet. Other teams know that, you know, almost and
when that lob play is taken away, then you don't
have much left. So so yeah, I agree, those two
guys seem like they're too that you can get a
little bit more out of and moving forward. And I
think Kevin knows that he put Kadeem in the starting
lineup the other day, and I think Alex at the
start of the second half in the West Virginia game
and place with Mihilo. So yeah, it seems as if
those two could be really big keys if by he
isn't going to turn this thing around.
Speaker 2: Jay Drew Desert Red News talking BYU Basketball. Do you
think they get to win versus Texas Tech?
Speaker 3: Wow, that's a tough question.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I do.
Speaker 3: I you know, I do. I haven't. I think the
talent is there. I've said this a million times to
you guys and others. There's nothing like home court advantage
in college basketball. Mediocre teams somehow can rise up and
play well on their home floor. I thought back to
back these last two games at West Virginia and Cincinnati,
very mediocre teams that on their home court, spurred by
their home fans, can really find another gear and start
following their confidence growth and they're got spurred by the
home crowd and they take off. And I think YU
can do that again. So yeah, I think I think
they can beat Texas Tech on Saturday, and then I
really do.
Speaker 2: J Drew Deseret News. We appreciate you, Jay, Thanks for
hopping off for a cougar beet.
Speaker 3: My pleasure anytime.
Speaker 2: Thank you. Yeah, we always like having you on, Jay.
We like to have you on every week. It's the
J Drew Segment, the J Drew Cougar Beat.
Speaker 3: Baby, I love it. Let's do it.
Speaker 2: Thanks Jay, appreciate you. With slute you follow Jay, follow
jy on x and read all of his content at
the Deseret News Desratnews dot com. That segment was brought
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Let's go to break, Let's get into a little SCIONI
moa RB two conversation Ronald three Man. We was able
to catch up with Kalani Setzaki.
Speaker 1: Part in Utah's ESPN Radio Network on the go by
tapping that app. Download the ESPN the Fan app from
the Apple App Store or Google Play. Today, let's get
to know the Cougars student athletes. Get a player profile
segment here on one oh three nine at ninety eight
three ESPN the Van.
Speaker 2: Welcome Back Cougar Sports one of three nine ninety eight
point three ESPN The Fan. I've enfittal broadcasting from our
Vanderwild Studios, Vanderwell dot Com. Get on a pre q
and a O obligation to invest QNA with our tax
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stay at Ruby's In. All right, So, Ronald the three Man,
we was able to catch up with Shieldeyma b Yu
running back RB two. Ronnie, how do you feeling once
your preview this interview for us.
Speaker 5: Yeah, caught up with more. Just to preface you guys
a little bit. Forgot to ask if during the inter
of you asked him right after a tourn of camera.
I was like, oh, dude, didn't you ask her? You
running with the ones, running with the twos. He's doing
a little bit of both right now. Biggest thing I
don't want to spoil it. I'll let you let him
explain of what it is is. He just wants to
start and finish, you know, the best way possible. And
now we'll tease the interview he highlights obviously Devon Ecky
talks about where Bert Bachmeyer improved and just what.
Speaker 6: He learned from the sideline.
Speaker 5: Look, when you're not playing, sometimes it's it's tough, and
sometimes you make a mistake. He talked about specifically, you know,
coming back and maybe that shouldn't have been the right move.
And that's difficult, right Ben, because you want to play
at the for your boys, you want to play out
there for yourself or your family, and sometimes when things
are nagging, aren't going well, maybe you shouldn't. And he
discusses all of that very humble young man. As always
a privilege should be able to interview. Who could be
RB two, but he's definitely had taking reps out there.
Speaker 2: Let's get into it. Running back by.
Speaker 5: U, running back b A running back? She only just
what does it feel like to be back in spring ball?
Speaker 6: Find me again?
Speaker 7: It feels great, man, it was.
Speaker 8: It was a tough five months, tough recovery process, but
it feels good to be running back at the boys
and just being able to feel like myself a little
bit more. And I'm excited just for the rest until
fall camp, the rest of the springball, just to be
back to myself.
Speaker 6: What if you don't mind, what was the injury? Take
us through that? Just how was all of that in
the recovery process?
Speaker 2: Yeah?
Speaker 7: So I had a compartment syndrome in my quad and
it was honestly tough. I never heard of it, and
so a lot of people in the trainer never heard
of it.
Speaker 8: Well they have, but never really worked with it. And
so it's kind of a tough recovery process.
Speaker 7: But we're here now.
Speaker 8: My recoverage team has been awesome. My my wife, she's
a nurse, so she's been taking care of me at home.
So it's been a tough journey, but definitely something that
I needed to go through.
Speaker 7: To be here where I'm att and I'm excited.
Speaker 6: What did you learn the most about yourself from the
sidelines last season?
Speaker 7: Uh? I learned to just be patient. You know.
Speaker 8: I was so eager to come back. I came back
for the Big Toe Championship game. Wasn't the best idea.
I kind of reinjured that again the first play, and
so throughout the whole time, it was just I was
just learning how to be patient, just wait for my time,
just trusting God and just hope that he has the
best plan for me. And so that's probably the best
or the thing that I learned the most. When I
was sitting on the sideline watching the boys play.
Speaker 7: What was it like?
Speaker 5: You know, in the process of watching LG. Martin did
obviously wanted to be out there and help. But a
guy that rushes for a thousand yards and has a chance.
Speaker 8: To break the all time rushing record, Yeah, I was
so excited when he when he took the rings of
the offense last year.
Speaker 7: Just putting putting everybody on his back and just running.
Speaker 8: How he does you know, it's nothing new, It's nothing
that we don't know that he's capable of and so
it was exciting for him to showcase it, for everyone
to shove one that he's the best running back in
the league. And so it was cool to see that
and just for him to take the whole load on.
Speaker 5: Take us through the emotions of the running back room
coach Harvor when he was announced the Big Twelve Offensive
Player of the Year.
Speaker 7: Oh man, all of us were excited for him. He's
a quiet guy.
Speaker 8: He didn't like to show emotion, but we knew that
he was happy and he enjoyed the recognition.
Speaker 5: But she deserves So what is it like been watching
him grow from a freshman you know, starting now to
you know, coming back for a senior year.
Speaker 6: He's growing into a leadership role Percolawne, Yeah.
Speaker 7: No, for sure.
Speaker 8: When I watched him his freshman year, I was great shirting,
but it was cool to see him like he was
running with like I think it was Brooks. I forgot
the running backs in front of him. But he after
year after year got better and better. And just to
see him interact with the younger boys like Micah and Devon,
it's cool to see leadership role that he took on
teaching these boys, even teaching Bear I know Bear had
a great season, a lot of it because his mentors.
Speaker 7: Like LJ or like the older guy teaching how to
do that. So it's been cool to see him growing
to the player that he is now.
Speaker 5: You mentioned Bear, how impressive was it for you to
watch a true freshman come in midway through June, when
the starting job in August and then lead by YouTube
you know, one of its best ones in program Mystery.
Speaker 8: Yeah, it was a great feeling, so relieving for sure.
Obviously everyone else we're kind of in the mix up
in the off season, and then when Bart came in
and learned their offense and took over, it was awesome
to see him throughout the games just continue to progress
and get better and better. And so I'm excited for
him this upcoming season. He's gonna take a huge step.
Speaker 7: I'm already knowing.
Speaker 5: And Yeah, what do you like about Enig, Watson, Tracy
Bourget the rest of the quarterback room?
Speaker 8: Yeah, saying they all just uplift each other. I always
see them like working out here by themselves or like
together by themselves and just learning off of one another.
Speaker 7: Tracon learning from their Enig.
Speaker 8: Learning from those two, and even those two learning from
Guenich and so it's cool to see them all interact
with each other, connect with one another, and the way
they connect with us boys too.
Speaker 5: Let's transition more towards you. What do you want to
accomplish in these fifting practice here at springtball?
Speaker 7: Man? I just want to get healthy, you know what
I'm saying.
Speaker 8: I want to get back under my feet, just to
be able to move how I was starting to move
and then obviously the injury happened.
Speaker 7: But I just want to be back to my one.
Speaker 8: Hundred percent self and we're getting there. It's it's basically
almost there. So I'm excited to see how that feels again.
Speaker 6: Would you say you're between eighty ninety percent.
Speaker 7: Then yeah, yeah, that was definitely just Yeah.
Speaker 5: How does it feel with the strength and conditioning staff?
You know, they put you guys through the ringers, They
post these videos. You guys have like these Olympic like
lists going on. How's that in the off season?
Speaker 7: It's awesome to just have that fun environment.
Speaker 8: Uh, not only is it fun, but it's also like
we're all focused, We're all ready to attack every single
workout that they have for us with a competitive mindset.
So while we're having fun, we're still competing with one
another trying to be better than the next guy.
Speaker 7: And so it's it's just a cool environment to be
a part of.
Speaker 8: I'm so grateful for our weight and conditioning staff, and
I think we have the best of the best, and
so we're we're blessed.
Speaker 6: And needs you to remind Kubernation and what skill set
do you add to this running back room?
Speaker 7: Man? They got everything. I'm just I just you know,
I feel like I'm a north and south runner. I'm
not agile like LJ and Devon and Joe Best and
all those guys. But if you need two or three yards,
I got you. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 8: But I'm obviously trying to work on my past games too,
just catching out the backfield, just any way that coach
a Rod needs me to hop out in the offense.
I'm just there so hopefully I can adapt to whatever
new things come.
Speaker 5: So is that what the coach a Ron is, you know,
communicated to you pass game, but out.
Speaker 7: Of that pass proach?
Speaker 8: Yeah, yeah, most definitely being being a good blocker for him,
being a good like I said, catcher for him.
Speaker 7: We all I think he saw that clip on the converse.
Speaker 8: Absolutely know what I'm saying, Like, I got to protect
the most valuable player. So that's our job being the
six lineman, and so you have to take pride like
that dude said, just take pride in it and just
try your butt off to protecting the best way you can.
Speaker 6: I don't know if I asked you. This is they're
a running back. You model your game after someone you liked.
Speaker 7: Now, I loved watching Asia Peterson.
Speaker 8: My uncle, uh followed he was a fullback during that time.
But I was watching my uncle and I was watching
Adrian Peterson. He became my favorite running back, and so
I try to model his his game for sure.
Speaker 5: As a native of Chicago and all about Adrian Peterson
and the Viking. So you don't have to tell me
about to here with bo you running back, a couple
of things and we'll, you know, let you get out
of here. Just the transition, you know, a marriage. Last
time I told you you'll see you're having the wedding
in July. How's that been?
Speaker 7: It's been awesome.
Speaker 8: Like she she deals with a lot with me, you
know what I'm saying, Uh, And she she's such a warrior.
But when I got injured, I was always at home
and she was taking care of me. She was by
my side the whole time. And so it's awesome to
have that person right next to me every step of
the way. And it's been great this past seven months,
eight months, eight months. Tomorrow, actually, I got to remember that.
If I forget tomorrow, I remember today.
Speaker 5: Take us through after you know, the season was over.
What you do any family activity over the break, you know,
before you picked it back up.
Speaker 8: Yeah, I just took the time, went to Hawaii, visits
of my family with my in laws too, and just
my parents are just over here in Utah, and so
spent some time with him all the time.
Speaker 7: It was just something that I needed to uplift my spirits.
Speaker 8: Obviously, I missed the whole season basically, and so being
around my family and just all my loved ones definitely
helped me a lot.
Speaker 7: And so that's that's kind of what we did throughout
the off season before coming back.
Speaker 6: What do you like about newcomer Davon ech Or What
does he answer the room?
Speaker 7: I love him.
Speaker 8: He's a hard worker, He's he's one of you tell
him what to do, he'll process it and he'll go
out there and execute it. And so I'm excited to
see where he goes and how he progresses as a
player and as a man too.
Speaker 5: And so yeah, and then last thing for me, who
do you want to highlight who's stood out to you
since you guys have either.
Speaker 6: Started just a couple of days.
Speaker 7: Ago or when you were doing workouts. Oh I love
this question.
Speaker 8: Obviously my running backs, but outside of my running back room,
I like going with a little freshman. Last year, I
said La Mason. This year, I like, I like Terrence Terrence. Yeah, yeah,
he's smooth. The freshman class we have, honestly, every position
they're they're they're great.
Speaker 7: Athletes, and so I'm excited for all of them. But Terrence. Yeah,
Terrence cot my eye. He's just moved right there.
Speaker 5: So I'm excited for He got some speed for sure,
got a look out for him. And who from the
defensive side newcomer, who'd like to highlight? Ooh, overturn newcomer.
I'm out for sure. K.
Speaker 8: You know, it's it's cool going like we go against
the linebackers every practice and so just being able to
see him on the other side of the balls, it's cool.
We obviously lost Jack last year and all these other
great linebackers, and it's so it's cool to have these
newcomers replace that and fill in their spot. And he's
definitely that kind of tear player, and so I'm excited
to continue to go against.
Speaker 7: Him and to get better with each other.
Speaker 5: I will get you out of this Jack cade. Whether
the similarities, the different system skill sets you see between
those two.
Speaker 7: Guys, both of them were just ballers.
Speaker 8: Man. Obviously it's day two. I haven't seen too much
of kid. Obviously Jack has a lot. It's a big
shoot a field, you know what I'm saying. But I
think it's it's he's capable of doing it for sure.
Speaker 7: So I'm excited I can answer that maybe in a
couple more weeks. I have to come back to that.
Speaker 6: Yeah, I think Jack is still faster too.
Speaker 7: Yeah, it's okay, b Y.
Speaker 6: You running back to appreciate your better.
Speaker 2: A lot of good gems from that interview, Ronnie, since
it was yours, I'll let you kind of take over
some of your your your gems that you obtained from
that fantastic conversation with Chione Moa.
Speaker 5: Yeah, Unfortunately it had to be Adrian Peterson. That had
to be his favorite running back. You know, just it
brought back nightment. No, I'm just kidding.
Speaker 2: That's a joke.
Speaker 5: Look, this is one of the most humble people on
the roster. It's always a pleasure and been the reason
why I wanted to see on it Moore, just to
tell everybody. Everyone's been talking about, you know, sanemoy healthy.
People wanted to know what was going on.
Speaker 2: We didn't know what it was.
Speaker 7: Ben.
Speaker 5: I wanted to hear from the horses and mouths of hey,
what were you going through? You know, you know went
through you know, Parkinson syndrome and my quad.
Speaker 6: You never heard of that. We did see him in
the Big twelve Championship. He did come back. He said
to himself, bad idea.
Speaker 5: I needed to learn patients because remember Ben, you know
I was there for the Pop Tars Bowl standing there.
Speaker 6: Wasn't regular close.
Speaker 5: It said, interesting, you played it in the Big Toal
Championship game, but you didn't play in the Pop Tars Bowl.
Speaker 6: Now that explains it. Reaggravated it.
Speaker 5: But you know eighty ninety percent he said, oh yeah, yeah,
like so he is pretty much back there been taking
the reps you've seen him training with the stranded conditioning staff.
His goals wants to be completely healthy. I think that's
a great mindset after you're out for pretty much all
of the season, is to be healthy. This is a
guy ben And when he's in the backfield with LJ,
when they run that two running back set, it's it's
truly dynamic. And you know what LJ brings, but they
never never really had that true RB two that made
people respect them outside of LJ. And when is healthy
and when he's on the field, he is the RB two.
Speaker 2: Nothing.
Speaker 5: This is nothing against anybody else in that room or
who I liked from what they did last season. It
is so I want him to remind people what skill
set does he bring. You know, North South runner. He's
a he's a bulldog. He'll put his shoulder down, he
runs angry. I told him, I still want you to
run mad, you know, like the Asia up a Checkos,
the Warrens of the Steeler. Run run straight and run hard.
And I think Will will be able to showcase that
if he's able to stay healthy this fall camp be
high added obviously, Davon Ecker, the name that's been raved about,
but an interesting name. Said, who's stuck out to you?
He said, obviously the running backs. Everybody's gonna pick our
position group right then, But he said, Terrence Sarion. We've
been discussing wild receivers the entire show. That's been the storyline.
Just got off the line with Jay Drew. He said,
this Terrance there and the slot the speedster. Could he
step up as a freshman? Could he replace the role?
So I loved how he did that. And then on
the defensive side, it's funny he was actually getting interviewed
right behind me Katu Luave the transfer filling big shoes
of Jack Kelly. I think that's super super tough obviously,
but Kay was the number one linebacker out of the
transfer portal. So a lot of good stuff from loved
this interview. This was a gym, was able to get
through a lot and appreciates time and obviously b YU
for the privilege to be at an interview. Who could
be and who a lot of people are saying will
be RB two.
Speaker 2: We surprised he discussed the injury right The injury sustained
and it kind of had a little setback at the
bowl game, trying to make his way back.
Speaker 5: Yeah, honestly, was surprised. Job to ask the questions, and
I don't like to tell people's you know, stories, I do,
but I want them to speak on that. I was surprised,
but I think is at a point where he is comfortable,
you know, talking about it was something I think that
he doesn't want this luring above his head. And you know,
he sounds like, you know, from the patience on the sideline,
it sounds like his faith has taught him that this
is not a setback. You know, this is only going
to make him better, and that he learned a lot, right,
you know, being a leader. I'm on this team right
because this is Lj's last season. After that is a
guy that could be RB one. You know, a lot
of people are gonna say, well, that might be a stretch,
but if if he's able to stay healthy, been and
have a five or six hundred yard Russian season, he
puts himself in the conversation for next year. So I
was a little bit surprised, but at the same time,
I think he's I'm going through this, He's had his
trial of faith, the refiners fire, and he's mature enough
to understand and again appreciate him, letting, letting Cougarnation know
what is going on. And I think he's ready to
hit the ground running and put twenty twenty five behind him.
Speaker 6: He's looking forward to twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2: Love it wants some more of it. Shoni Moa running
back Numero dos behind LJ. Martin taking the baton, getting
a lot of the reps, getting back into the swing
of things. Let's keep this man healthy, Let's keep this
man humble. Yes, but hungry for that pig skin because
I think he can toe the rock well. But guys,
that's our player profile, little si Mo action, and it
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But he's done for little college basketball on Cougar Sports.
AJ to Bonsa, aj to Bonsa. Is it possible? Is
it feasible. Is there hope that AJ would say no
nay to the NBA? Would he really possibly, maybe fingers
crossed come back to Brigham. I don't know if we
have that type of money. I don't think we do.
Maybe we do, maybe b what he does. Maybe the
donor base would rally and say we'll pay whatever it
takes to have AJ. But there's some talk. I don't
believe it, but there's some talk about AJ coming back
next year. You opt onto the Deseret podcast Voices Voices
Deseret Voices podcast and delved into some of these these
situations right now. So this segment got to be brought
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All right, let's see what AJ had to say when
he hopped out with McKay coppin of the Desert Voices podcast.
Speaker 9: You're in touch with a bunch of NBA players. What
kind of advice are they giving you now at this
stage of your career.
Speaker 10: They actually told me I'm not gonna put us aus
on what they would do to me in the NBA,
which I should fix now.
Speaker 9: So they're telling you, like when you get to the NPA.
This is how I'm gonna shut you down. Yeah, you
don't want to talk about it.
Speaker 2: That's a good SoundBite too, though. You know how's how
are you gonna stop? Agent? We're gonna listen to the
other one and then we can recap the how you
can stop a j De Bons? Now, a j De
Bonds obviously on the best scores, if not the best
scorer in college basketball this year. So he's gonna get
his buckets no matter who's guarding him. He had his
worst performance, you can say, shooting versus Cincinnati, but I
feel it in my bosom, feeling in my loins. He's
gonna ball out against Texas Tech just a couple of
days away, and put a stamp on it, put an
exclamation point on it. He as the Big twelve player
of the year. Uh and maybe he is? She gonna?
Is she gonna come back? Vick? Is she gonna come back? Roddie?
This is what you have to say on that podcast.
Speaker 11: Yeah, do you think you will? Well, I might not leave.
What do you mean they all had not leave college?
Speaker 7: Why not?
Speaker 11: No? I just gotta reach out of the season.
Speaker 9: So you you haven't made up your mind that you're
going to go into the draft.
Speaker 11: Now, come, my mom wants me to graduate. Really, yes,
I might not leave, but I might leave.
Speaker 10: I don't know, you know, the fans might might get
into my head talk about you know, one more year,
maybe three more years.
Speaker 11: I don't know, but I'm gonna have to touch my mom.
Speaker 9: So, so your mom wants you to stay and you
get your degree, So I get my degree. Yeah, why
does she think it's important that you get your degree?
Speaker 10: Because you know, as mom, she's thinking like post basketball
and you know, God forbide if anything happens to me,
I should aways have a backup him.
Speaker 9: I think people will be shocked to hear that, though,
because everybody's assuming you're going into the draft after this season.
Speaker 11: I mean, yeah, they can listen. I ain't nice spies anything, Okay,
but this.
Speaker 2: Man can't even keep a straight face as he's saying
I'm gonna come back. He's smiling, he's giggling, he's not
making eye contact with McKay. He's saying it, but he
doesn't even believe in himself. This man no way know
how it's coming back for an additional year. He gives
the reasons of my mom I'm gonna have to talk
to my mom. My mom wants me to graduate. He says,
one three years, the fans may be able to get
into my head, say let's run it back. The corporate
sponsors may come rallying. Right. There's no way that Aj
comes back to Provo. Just not gonna happen. But how
cool would it be if he did? I mean, shoot, man,
would this would shake all of Provo, you know what
I mean? And like the reason why I say that too,
because he quote tweeted Bruce Branch the third I don't
know if you saw this case. I love the Bruce
Branch and I think if like he was thinking pondering
about coming back, he would have kind of like led
on in that tweet about like we about to do
some work, you know what I mean, like something about
like we instead he said like hey, you know Brucey
or my boy gonna do work next year or something
like that. I don't know if you saw that tweet
or not, but anyway, that's kind of how I feel
about this. Couldn't even I mean, you saw the video
Ronald the three man Weaver. He's giggling. Anyway, we'll go
to break, don't go anywhere. That segment was brought to
you by Worthropros of Utahworthroposovuta dot com. Conservative management of
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Orthropos of Utah Orthorposofutah dot com. Coming up next to
Little Sports Cord Handy at Handy handyli Utah dot com.
Let's find out what the latest is on the Parker
Kingston case and what's going on with the NCAA. Trinidad.
Shambliss of Old miss is fighting tooth and nail to
get back