BYU Cougars Banking on True Freshmen in 2010

Jake Heaps at Spring Scrimmage

During his first five years at the helm, BYU head football coach Bronco Mendenhall and his staff have worked toward developing a program that doesn’t rebuild, but reloads each year.

So far, so good.

Mendenhall’s impressive resume includes four straight 10-plus win seasons and five straight bowl appearances.

However, this year’s challenge will be the most difficult for Bronco and his staff. The Cougars will take the field in 2010 having to replace their all-time win leader at quarterback in Max Hall, their all-time leading rusher in Harvey Unga, and their all-time leading receiver in Dennis Pitta.

In each case it appears as if true freshman will play significant roles in trying to replace these all-time players. In fact, Cougar fans can expect several true freshman from BYU’s recent top-25 recruiting haul to make on-field contributions during this upcoming football season.

There are as many as nine true freshman I see making contributions this year, including seven from the 2010 class. They are ranked according to the level of impact I expect them to make.

1. Jake Heaps

I believe I was one of the first reporters covering the Cougars to go on record stating that Jake Heaps should be the starting quarterback at BYU. Now, most everyone is on the Heaps bandwagon (including, I believe, the Cougar coaching staff). He has everything you want in a college quarterback except D-1 playing experience.

Straight from high school, Heaps has all ready shown that he is a tremendous leader, has great vision, moves like a veteran in the pocket, makes solid reads, and can make every throw. He is well beyond his years.

The reports from recruiting sites claiming that he has average size and arm strength are nonsense. Perhaps his arm is average if you’re comparing him to Brett Favre. And at 6′2″, 205 pounds Jake is bigger as a freshman than Steve Young was as a senior. You have to go back a long way to find a BYU QB that throws as nice and as accurate a long ball as Heaps does right now as a freshman.

As far as his battle with Riley Nelson goes, you would expect a quarterback that was four years older, started several D-1 games, and had a year in the BYU program would be able to hold off a kid coming in straight out of high school. But that hasn’t happened. That’s not so much a knock on a Nelson as it is the fact that Heaps is such an unusual talent and arrived on campus with most of what you look for in a BYU quarterback already in place.

2. Zac Stout

It’s no secret that Stout is going to be counted on heavily this coming season. He is one of the best inside linebackers in the country coming out of high school. It’s unfortunate that he was unable to graduate from Oaks Christian early so that he could have participated in spring practice. He was just one class shy of being able to graduate early.

Zac is the type of player that I believe can come in having missed spring ball and make a difference in the fall. He has All-Conference and even All-American written all over him. It’s crucial for the inside linebackers in the 3-4 defense to be play-makers and control the middle of the defense, and Stout is more than capable. Athletically and physically he is a huge upgrade over Bowman and Doman, and I see him earning a starting position next to the under-sized, but motor-always-on Brandon Olgetree.

3. Joshua Quesada

The loss of Harvey Unga will thrust Quesada into action sooner than expected. I don’t expect to Josh be the starter at running back to begin the 2010 campaign, but by mid-season you may see him take over that role. Until then expect to see Bryan Kariya and JJ Di Luigi carry most of the load in the BYU backfield with a sprinkling of “Juice” mixed in.

Quesada was very impressive during spring practice both running and receiving. The big question is how quickly he picks up his blocking assignments. I believe as soon as Lance Reynolds feels comfortable with his abilities in pass protection, Josh will become the featured back in the BYU offense.

4. Devin Mahina

Mahina is going to be a stud at tight end at BYU. He is all of 6′6″, has long arms, and good hands. I expect him to develop into a real beast in the red zone. Devin was highly touted coming out of high school, but chose to serve his mission before enrolling at BYU. He’s a little raw right now in terms of his route running and understanding how to play the postion the way the Cougars employ their TE’s, but he has huge upside.

Devin should start fall camp in the rotation with another freshman, red-shirt freshman Mike Muehlman. With the lack of experience at the position and a stable of veteran wide receivers on the roster, it remains to be seen if the Cougars will continue to employ two tight ends as much as they have in the past. Devin may also see competition from Richard Wilson and Austin Holt. However, there has been some talk of Wilson switching to linebacker, while Holt will likely redshirt since he returns from his mission a few weeks before fall camp begins.

5. Thomas Bryson

Bryson was a 2009 signee that gray shirted last season. He came in during the spring and worked his way into the rotation along with Vic So’oto and Matt Putnam.

Thomas came to BYU as a bit of a hidden gem and late bloomer on the recruiting scene. He led the state of Utah his senior year at Layton High School with an incredible 23 sacks. He will be in the rotation at defensive end, and adds additional athleticism to the field of play for a BYU defense that should be considerably more athletic in 2010 and beyond.

6. Graham Rowley

Graham Rowley also has a real chance of coming in and making the two-deep at defensive end. He is an explosive athlete with a body that is ready right now to compete at a D-1 level and a body-type that is perfect for the 3-4 defense. Athletically, he is an upgrade to both Brett Denny and Jan Jorgenson (not saying he is as good as player as Jan right now though).

Rowley’s opportunity lies in the fact that there are questions about Matt Putnam’s ability to be an every down player. There are no such questions about Graham’s game. He plays the run and pass well enough to project him as contributor on the field as a frosh.

7. Kyle Van Noy

A lot of Cougar fans may be surprised to see Van Noy ranked this low on the list. But I find myself holding my proverbial breath hoping that Van Noy can keep his nose clean at BYU. He is a freakish athlete with so much potential that it’s scary, yet his run-ins with the law in high school and his suspension this spring causes one to wonder if he has the maturity to make it at BYU.

I also get the feeling that the Cougar coaches were somewhat disappointed in Van Noy’s performance during the spring, making comments regarding his lack of aggression and the failure to understand how to play like a “BYU player."  With all that said though, I believe that Kyle will make the two-deep at outside linebacker with Pendleton and Atkinson as the starters, and has the ability to be a disruptive force against opposing offenses. The sky is the limit for this kid; it’s all up to him.

8. Drew Phillips

The moment Drew Phillips steps on campus in Provo he becomes one of the fastest players on the team. In addition to his prowess on the football field, Drew was also one of the fastest track athletes this year in the state of Alabama.

The Cougars have plans to look at him at slot receiver as well as a at running back, but where many think he will make an immediate impact is in the return game. I expect him to be teamed with JD Falslev returning kickoffs and punts. He has shown the ability to take it the distance every time he touches the ball, something BYU really hasn’t had since James Dye finished his career 14 years ago.

I also believe that his presence will allow the Cougars to relieve O’Neill Chambers and McKay Jacobson from return duties, and allow them to concentrate on helping out a new starter at quarterback.

9. Ross Apo

Apo is at the bottom of the list because I get the feeling that he could be a candidate to red shirt this year. He is coming back from offseason shoulder surgery, and BYU all ready has a strong and experienced receiver rotation with Chambers, Jacobson, Ashworth, and Hofoka.

Make no mistake about it though, we’ve never seen a wide receiver at BYU like Ross Apo. He’s pushing 6′5″ now and has amazing athletic gifts. Think a poor man’s Randy Moss (with character) in a BYU uniform. I believe he has the potential to be the first BYU receiver to be an early-round NFL pick. He and Heaps are going to be a deadly combination for Cougar opponents in the future.

Everyone feel free to make comments about this list and let us know if you feel there are others worthy of being on it.

-Brett