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Let's get out to the ESPN the Fan hotline. For
our first guest of the show, we have Casey Luglas
representing VAUSI dot com. Casey, thanks for joining me today.
Speaker 1: Hey, guys, how's it going going good?
Speaker 2: I can't complain. Look, I know it's basketball season, but
it's always football season in the state of Utah here
on ESPN the Fan on Couper Sports, springball is a
month away. BYU added some mid year editions, just one
to first get your thoughts on the midyear editions and
the roster now the bou has that we'll see in
about a month or so.
Speaker 1: I think they've done a really good job constructing this roster.
Anytime you can win twelve games and then return pretty
much every key player that was eligible to return, you
do lose some key seniors like Jack Kelly Tanner Wall.
I think those guys will be hard to replace. But
you have the people on the roster now that could
potentially replace those two. So when you know, go eleven
to one, make the big twelve championship, and then you
bring pretty much everyone back from that team, and then
you add a few players that could potentially maybe take
this team to that next step. I think you have
to feel really good about where By's roster stands. It's
not perfect, obviously, but as it stands in February, it's
kind of weird. We haven't been able to project rosters
this early on in the offseason. That's usually a May
or June activity after the spring transfer window, but since
there's only one window this year, we're kind of getting
an idea for what BYU is going to look like
for spring camp and then for the season in the fall.
Speaker 2: Question on the window, do you like the one window?
Your thoughts and that I know that's something that they
recently changed.
Speaker 1: I think one window makes sense just because the last
few years have been so hectic. With that being said,
I still I don't know what the perfect calendar is.
The calendar doesn't make sense to me with the window
not opening until January. I get that because there's still
bull games going on, but at the same time, you've
got semesters starting, so it feels like it just crammed
everything into a two or three week period. So maybe
Nick Saban's suggestion of one spring transfer window is ultimately
the best place where it could land. On one hand,
I do think that would penalize teams that bring in
transfers because they wouldn't be able to acclimate those transfers
during springball. On the other hand, maybe that's kind of
a way to encourage more roster retention because everyone knows
that that's lacking in college football, and maybe if you
can even ratchet up what kind of an advantage that
can be for your team, then maybe it would incentivize
coaches to keep a few more players around that maybe
they're letting loose in December and January in order to
find a player from another school.
Speaker 2: I like the point that you bring up about springbolld
incentivizing players. You see what BYU is able to do
with the continuity and retention. I definitely think it would
force coaches, So who knows, maybe it might it might not,
but I like that, but it could also penalize, Like
you said, that's a good thought. We're here with Casey
Lunquist representing BAUSI dot Com here on ESPN the Fan
of Cougar Sports on this Thursday, February fifth edition depth charts.
You said they were not able to really predict that
till May or June. Was the prediction depth chart at
running back saw you pin to piece by. You got
a guy back in Makai beck Stead back from a mission.
What do you like about what he adds to the
running back room? That was where BAU I think lacked
the most depth last season.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm certainly not breaking news when I say LJ
will start. That's that's what we. LJ will be the guy,
and I think BYU and LJ Alike, I think they're
going to push LJ to to try to break the
all time rushing record at b YU. I do think,
you know, obviously winning games is priority, but I do
think that's going to be a goal for BYU this season.
Behind LJ Martin, I think it's wide open. I think
going into last year that was job and then he
was unable to go. And not only was he unable
to go, but he suffered a pretty devastating injury and
depending on who you talk to, that that can take
a long time to recover from. So I would still
say is the favorite to back up LJ Martin. But
just yesterday Aaron Rodericks said he would not be surprised
if Devon Ekka makes an instant impact as a true freshman.
He ran for three thousand yards at Lehigh. He's been
one of the best running backs in the state the
last few years. He's enrolled now in January, and he
will have the advantage of participating in spring ball. So
I think he's the name to watch. And then I'll obviously, uh,
Jovessa de Mooney got some run there in the bowl
game as well. I still see him more as you know,
kind of a specialty back with his ability to catch
out of the backfield, and where he had the most
success in that bowl game was kind of as the
running back on a speed option. So I think in
those kind of situations are probably best for Jovesa. But
if I had the guest today, I would I would
say lj then Cione. But I think Devon Ekka is
probably going to at least make it interesting.
Speaker 2: Yah heard from another person who joined our show. Came in.
I think in like one eighty two into b he's
one ninety one right now, so he's already put on
lean mussel. That's a guy that jamal Or Williams, former
Uyu run back as raved about. So that's think that's
a guy everybody has their eye on because last year
the running back room Baron LJ. I'll just be honest,
I don't know if you could run that again and
try to win a big toial title and get to
the college fotball playoffs.
Speaker 1: You're gonna need depth there and staying on the.
Speaker 2: Top of a debt. Where's the role do you see?
Maybe for Preston Rex, they raped about him in fall camp.
I remember you being down there. We were in the
huddles and he got dinged up and it just seemed
like he never really found his place.
Speaker 1: Yeah, Preston, and I failed to mention Preston. I think
he'll probably be in the mix there as well like
he was last year. He would probably to me, I
think he's kind of been in the description that I
just had for Joe Vessa de Moony, kind of a
receiving running back. I don't know that he'll ever be
a guy that is really comfortable running between the tackles.
He didn't do that in high school. He was a
safety and a wide receiver. So while he did play
on both sides and in high school he did not.
He did not ever play running back, so I would
say he's probably you know, third or fourth in there
kind of by Devon Ekka. But is in terms of
just being able to hand a ball to a back
and giving them the full playbook at theitter disposal, I
think Eka probably probably is is that to be option
right behind Sione Mo. Yeah.
Speaker 2: I like what Pruss and Rex bring. We'll see what
he's able to do springball, faul camp, see how healthy
guys are coming back, definitely once we get to March.
Let's go now to obviously the additions that by you adds.
We talked about retention, Katie Luave, Walker Lyons, Roberts, Yellapinga.
Who is the best transfer that BYU has added? We
had the debate yesterday. Your thoughts on the matter. I
like what Kate brings. I think he can give you
what Jack Kelly can give you, even though I think
Nucy will be in that role maybe a little bit more,
because I mean he's a number one lineback out of
the portal. But by you need a tight end like
walker Lyon and he can elevate the offense.
Speaker 1: What say you, Casey, Yeah, I like a lot of
the transfers they brought in. Klanie mentioned it yesterday. Their
foundation is going to be on high school recruiting and
player development, and I think that is long term the
best way for BYU to sustain sustain long term success.
And I think the ratio that they found this January
of retaining players bringing in you know, eight to twelve transfers,
I think that's the ratio where they would like to
be in the long run. So I think they've they've
kind of found the sweet spot that they're in right now,
and I think we can expect more from that in
the future if things go as Klanie Satake would like
them too. Secondly, to answer your question, I love Walker
Lions fit in this BYU offense. Carson Ryan came and
in one season he tripled his production, and I think
there's a real scenario where Walker Lions could do the same.
He was, you know, a highly touted pass catcher coming
out of high school and he's developed as a blocker
USC and that's that's one area where Carson Ryan just
made BYU so much better last year was his ability
to do both. And I see Walker Lions being able
to do that. So to me, I'm I'm most high
on Walker Lions. I think he'll he'll make a Carson
Ryan type impact this year. And then Kadu Luave is obviously,
he's really good, He's NFL good and it's really hard
to replace Jack Kelly with Kate. Lave is the type
of player that can do that. Jack Kelly was obviously
you know, he was BYU's leading pass rusher, Yes, and
he got pressure on the quarterback about thirty percent of
the time when he rushed the quarterback. Kate was only
used sparingly as a as a pass rusher at Cal,
but he got to the quarterback. I think it's forty
eight percent of the time, whether it was a hurry
or a quarterback hit or a sack. So he was
one of the best and most efficient pass rushers from
the linebacker spot last year, and I do expect BYU
to utilize him more that way than he was a Cal.
So I see him, you know, sliding quite nicely into
that Jack Kelly role.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I love the takes for both. Walker with the
full spring ball, with Bear a full off season. You
gotta love that. You gotta love a quarterback who has
a potential to throw for four thousand yards. I don't
think that's hyperbole with these weapons and Carson Ryan one
of the highest graded I think it was the highest
graded actually tight end per a Pro Football focus, Like look,
this is I like to take and I like Cad.
You know, getting pressure forty percent of the time when
you do rush him when a quarterback is phenomenal. We
saw what Jack was able to do in then the
combination of what excuse mean not Jack Kelly Isaiah Glasker
look forward to seeing what BYU is able to do.
Let's talk about some of the hires, now, get your
thoughts on those. Kline finalizes his staff, promotes a couple
of people internally. I think that's the best type of
decision you can do, is when you're promoted internally, I
think you're elevating your program and people that have succeeded
from the GA level. What do you like about as
What do you like about kiloney staff, which he's finalized
the rest of it yesterday.
Speaker 1: I like the continuity that they were able to bring
back despite losing j Hill. You only lose Jay and Gennaro.
I think what this staff has found is an ability
to collaborate a game plan that helps them win games,
perhaps more than their talent suggests. Like Don't get me wrong,
I think BYU the last two years has been has
put together talented rosters and they're getting more talented every year.
But the you know, the star ratings suggest BYU should
be more like the seven and five to eight and
four category. So I think the kind of the superpower
of the staff the last two years has been to
properly evaluate where they think their deficiencies are going to
be against certain opponents, and then the other side of
the ball will help. You know. For example, if if
BYU is concerned about a team's ability to put up
a lot of points, they will have the offense kind
of go at a slower pace and help limit possessions
for the defense. I think that's the kind of thing
that's worked for this staff. And being able to keep
a lot of the same people in the room that
have been part of those discussions in the past, I
think that's that's an advantage for Kilani and co going
into this year. I also like I do like Kelly Papinga.
I for one, I just think Kilani in his track
record of hiring coordinators, he has a really solid track record,
whether it's promoting from within or finding someone external, he's
nailed it pretty much every time, so I would say
he's had a front row seat to watch Kelly Papina.
And therefore my belief is that Kilannie is, you know,
well equipped to make that decision. He's proven that he
is in the past. So if if he says Kelly
Papinka was his first choice, I believe that, and I
think the defense will be will be just fine, especially
considering the guidance that Kilannie and Gary Anderson will give
Kelly Papinka.
Speaker 2: Excited to see what this is? Springball crazy casey what
four weeks away? Probably a month the seeon it felt
like the Pop Tarts Bowl in BYU's twelve one season
first time and over. I think, you know what, twenty
years it just ended, and here we are thirty days
away and these guys will be starting back up. It'scidding
time in in Provo.
Speaker 1: Definitely should be should be a lot of fun in
the offseason. Probably probably not as many ups and downs
as the last one with Jake Kretzlov and losing a
guy like kill and Marry, and I think it's good
for fans to be able to in January look at
a roster and start to get excited for a season
instead of you know, having to go through the ups
and downs that college football fans have become a custom
to lost few years.
Speaker 2: Yeah, don't think there are gonna be any ups and
downs in relation to that, but you know, shout out
to Jake and kiel and it just shows you Ba's
development was able to Jake left and went to Tulane
and led his team to the college football playoffs. Keelan
played in a national championship. So it goes back to
your main point of how the culture and Kilane staff
and the development of BYU. It showcases that if you
had asked me to put that on my Bengal card
for twenty twenty five, it was not there. But sure enough,
that's just what happens, Casey. Before I let you go,
was the best way we can poor you hear our listeners,
what you're doing, how you do it?
Speaker 1: Yeah, you can find our stuff at b y U
on SI that's just si dot com forward slash college
forward slash b y U, So you can find it
there or on Twitter at Casey Underscore Linquist.
Speaker 2: Get it at b y U SI dot com, follow
on x slash Twitter, whatever the kids call it these
days at Casey Underscore lun Quist. Casey appreciate you brother.
We will catch up with you during springball and see
you down there.
Speaker 1: Okay, thanks guys, have a good one.
Speaker 2: You too, will Let Casey Lundquist go. Now, that was
a cougar Beat segment. It was brought to you by
Central Garage Door. Central Garage Utah dot com. You need
to contact our guy, Kelly at eight zero one six
zero four two nine one nine. That's eight zero one
six zero four two nine one nine at Central Garage Door.
They've probably been serving Utah for over thirty years and
they offer top quality garage products and services. The skilled
technicians dedicate to delivering fast and effective solutions, whether it's
repairing an extensive excuse me an existing garage or installed