BYU Cougars Football: The 10 Players with the Most to Prove in 2011

It's finally August!

It's sad. The days are getting shorter and the opportunities for golf are ticking down.

But it also means we're close to the end of the time of year when all we have to sate our thirst for sports is the dreadful sport of baseball (and its insufferably stuffy fans) and Tiger-less golf.

But, alas, the end is in sight!

So to prep for the upcoming 2011 BYU Cougars football season, let's take a look at the 10 people in the program who have the most to prove this year.

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Brandon Doman

BYU’s new offensive coordinator Brandon Doman has plenty to prove.

While he’s got plenty of favor from fans, players and the coaching staff, he has yet to demonstrate he has what it takes to be a successful play-caller.

I’m in the camp that play-calling is more art than science; and Doman has to show the world he’s an artist.

Tom Holmoe

Tom Holmoe's importance on the national scale may be bigger than we all can imagine.

After all, he spearheaded this movement to take BYU independent and utilize its own TV broadcast facilities and network to give boost the program and school’s exposure.

And now others are following suit. Texas has the Longhorn Network and is testing the same model. If it works for them, is there any reason Florida, Ohio State and USC wouldn’t follow?

So for Holmoe, it's all on him this season to prove BYU can schedule and win as an independent.

Jake Heaps

OK, seems pretty obvious here; but this season is Heaps’ to make himself a household name.

And with ESPN-televised games against Texas, Ole Miss and Utah early in the season, with stellar play and BYU wins Heaps could find himself just a level below Andrew Luck in the conversation for top QB's in the nation.

That would put him right where he wants as one of the top three quarterbacks in the country heading into his junior season in 2012.

Matt Reynolds

By all accounts, Reynolds is expected to be a first or second-round draft pick. O-lineman aren’t flashy in the first round, but 6’6", 322-pound giants with killer hands don’t come along often.

Not to mention his field vision and knowledge of the game.

In 2011, Reynolds could literally be playing for tens of millions. Second-round picks get roster spots and bonuses, but nothing compared to the top 20 in the draft.

With another outstanding season Reynolds could be close to that big payoff.

McKay Jacobson

It’s unlikely McKay Jacobson plays in the NFL. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have anything to prove this season.

After his freshman season, most Cougar fans expected Jacobson to be the deep threat Austin Collie was and the receiver O’Neil Chambers never became.

And last season he found himself in the cross-hairs of criticism after inexplicably dropping passes and missing routes.

But this season he can secure his place in Cougar lore if he can stretch the field for Ross Apo and Cody Hoffman and bring in a few deep balls.

Justin Sorensen

The kicker position battle in the fall will be interesting to watch.

Sorensen comes into the season after returning from a mission as a sophomore, with a freshman season in which he kicked just a couple times.

A YouTube and local star, Sorensen could, with a strong fall, end up with the starting placekicking job and a chance to show Cougar Nation, and the rest of the nation, that he really can hit 60-yarders.

Terence Brown

Brown isn’t as highly touted as Reynolds, but with the national attention BYU will get playing on ESPN regularly, he may quickly jump up on draft lists.

So pressure is on Brown to keep the pressure off Jake Heaps and the defense away from the backfield. If he can incrementally improve again this season, he may end up in the first day of the draft.

Devin Mahina

The tight-end position at BYU is more up in the air than the cheerleader at the top of the pyramid.

And sophomore Devin Mahina is on the spot to prove he can be the next great in a long line of stellar TE's.

At 6’6", 230, the Upland, CA native has height and size not seen at that position in a while at BYU. With a breakout 2011, Mahina could put himself in position to play for an NFL contract in 2014.

Josh Quezada

Quezada proved a lot last year. He showed the world he was good.

This year, he can introduce his hard-running, side-stepping, burst-finding skills to the nation.

JJ Di Luigi is a perfect complement to Quezada’s style and don’t be surprised if this season propels him to Harvey Unga-like status among Cougar fans.

Ross Apo

Cody Hoffman is the No. 1 target for Heaps, but Ross Apo has more to prove.

After an injury brought his highly-anticipated freshman campaign to a halt and slid it into redshirt status, Apo was almost forgotten.

But spring ball reminded fans and players why the 6’3", 200-pound redshirt freshman was so highly touted as a signee.

This season Apo has to prove it on the field.