Five Things to Watch for on the First Day of Fall Camp
The BYU football team reported to fall camp on Wednesday. Upon their arrival, they received the 2021 "swag bags" from Nike which included new shoes, gloves, shirts, shorts, and more. On Thursday, they hit the practice field for the first time. Here are x things to watch for on Thursday when BYU kicks off fall camp.
Newcomers
BYU's newcomers can be divided into four groups: returned missionaries from prior classes, 2021 signees, transfers, and grayshirts from prior classes.
Below are the previously signed players that were expected on BYU's 2021 roster.
Dallin Holker - TE
Original Signing Class: 2018
Notes: Holker made an impact as a true freshman before leaving for a mission after his freshman season. If Holker can get shake off the mission rust, he will immediately compete for a spot in the two-deep.
Ethan Erickson - TE
Original Signing Class: 2019
Notes: A tight end out of Hawaii that turned down offers from Utah State and Navy to sign with BYU.
Donovan Hanna - OL
Original Signing Class: 2017
Notes: Hanna signed with BYU clear back in 2017 as a tight. He participated in spring practices as an offensive tackle.
Chase Roberts - WR
Original Signing Class: 2019
Notes: Out of American Fork High School, Roberts was an Under Armor All-American. Roberts returned from his mission in March and has been working to get in shape.
Michael Daley - LB
Original Signing Class: 2019
Notes: Michael Daley is the older brother of 2021 BYU signee John-Henry Daley. Michael led the state in sacks as a senior at Lone Peak High School. Daley will join the program once he returns home from his mission.
Isaac Matua - LB
Original Signing Class: 2018
Notes: Matua is a linebacker out of Kearns High School that participated in spring ball.
Talan Alfrey - DB/LB
Original Signing Class: 2018
Notes: Alfrety signed in 2018 over offers from Air Force and Nevada. He was announced as a linebacker, but he could end up in a few different spots.
Dean Jones - DB
Original Signing Class: 2020
Notes: Dean Jones is a long and fast defensive back out of Arizona. Jones is enrolled in classes and will participate in spring ball.
Cade Albright - DL
Original Signing Class: 2019
Notes: Albright committed to BYU over competing offers from Utah, UCLA, and Utah State.
Josh Larsen - DL
Original Signing Class: 2020
Notes: Larsen signed with BYU in 2020. He used his gray shirt last season and is enrolled in classes.
Brooks Maile - DL
Original Signing Class: 2019
Notes: Maile is a defensive lineman out of Saint George, Utah that committed to BYU over Utah State.
Bruce Mitchell - DL
Original Signing Class: 2019
Notes: Mitchell is another defensive line prospect that will join the program this fall.
John Nelson - DL
Original Signing Class: 2020
Notes: Nelson signed with BYU in 2020. He used his gray shirt last season and is enrolled in classes.
Oliver Nasilai RB/LB
Original Signing Class: 2018
Notes: Nasilai signed with BYU over Oklahoma State out of high school. Nasilai played linebacker in high school, he is listed as a RB/LB.
Campell Barrington - OL
Original Signing Class: 2018
Notes: Campbell Barrington is the younger brother of starting offensive lineman Clark Barrington.
Brock Gunderson - OL
Original Signing Class: 2019
Notes: Gunderson signed with BYU in 2019 over offers from Air Force, Utah State, Purdue, and UNLV among others.
Tysen Lewis - OL
Original Signing Class: 2018
Notes: Lewis is an offensive lineman out of Weber High School that signed with BYU over a competing offer from Utah State.
Then, we have the 2021 play-first signees. Below are the 2021 signees that were expected on BYU's 2021 roster.
Elia Migao - OL
Notes: Elia Migao will be a staple on the BYU offensive line in the future. He moves very well at his size. I think he could crack the two-deep at OL as a true freshman.
Enoka Migao - DL
Notes: Enoka is Elia's twin brother. Like his brother, Enoka has the talent to become a major contributor during his time at BYU.
Dylan Rollins - OL
Notes: Rollins was a three-star OL prospect out of Montana with competing offers from Minnesota, Oregon State, and Utah State among others. Montana isn't known as a recruiting hotbed. In fact, it's been seven years since a player from Montana signed with an FBS program according to 406 MT Sports. The Montana FBS recruiting drought ended when Rollins committed to the Cougars.
So how does a player from Montana become the first player in years to attract so many FBS offers? Well, his frame certainly helps. Listed at 6'6 285 lbs., Rollins fits the mold of an FBS OL with room to put on more weight. In particular, he fits the mold that BYU has looked for in their OL prospects - long, lean, and physical. The other attribute that stands out about Rollins is his 81" wingspan.
Quenton Rice - DB/WR
Notes: Quenton Rice is the son of former BYU great Rodney Rice. Quenton is long and fast - he could end up playing either wide receiver or defensive back for the Cougars.
Tyler Little - OL
Notes: Little is an offensive tackle prospect with high upside. Little played basketball in high school, but he enrolled at Butte CC to play football after arriving home from his mission. Before committing to BYU, he was hearing from the likes of Utah and Boise State.
Cade Parrish - OL
Cade Parrish is a transfer from Snow College who committed to BYU over offers from the likes of Oklahoma State, Arizona, Hawaii, UTSA, and UNLV.
BYU was very active in the transfer portal this offseason. Here are the FBS transfers that are expected to be on BYU's roster
Puka Nacua & Samson Nacua - WR
BYU added two dynamic weapons to their offense in Puka and Samson Nacua. Puka, a transfer from Washington, and Samson, a transfer from Utah, are the brothers of former BYU great defensive back Kai Nacua. Now, the two younger brothers will follow Kai's footsteps in wearing the white and blue.
Unlike their older brother, however, Puka and Samson play on the offensive side of the ball at wide receiver. Through two seasons (one of which was abbreviated due to COVID-19) at Washington, Puka had 319 receiving yards on 16 receptions and three touchdowns. He was in line to be one of Washington's top receivers this season before he decided to enter the transfer portal. In four seasons at Utah, Samson had 1,105 receiving yards on 82 receptions and 11 touchdowns.
Samson has one year of eligibility remaining and he will be eligible to play immediately as a graduate transfer. Puka will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Kaleb Hayes - DB
Shortly after he entered the transfer portal in January, Oregon State cornerback Kaleb Hayes heard from BYU cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford. It didn't take long for Coach Gilford to rekindle the connection he made with Hayes when he recruited him in high school. Kaleb Hayes shut down his transfer recruitment shortly thereafter and committed to BYU. "I felt comfortable," Hayes said. "Something about the program, something about those coaches, something struck within me. That's where I wanted to be at."
By the time he stepped onto the field as a redshirt freshman at Oregon State, he was one of the best cornerbacks in the PAC-12. According to Pro Football Focus in 2019, Hayes had the lowest catch rate allowed of any returning PAC-12 cornerback at 45.7%. He also "limited receivers to 88 yards after the catch."
Jakob Robinson - DB
Jakob Robinson committed to BYU back in February. Robinson is a transfer defensive back from Utah State. BYU recruited Robinson out of high school when he prepped at Orem High School. Due to limited scholarships, however, BYU offered Robinson as a grayshirt. Utah State offered Robinson an immediate spot later in the process, and Robinson committed to the Aggies. After one year in Logan, Robinson entered the transfer portal.
BYU was quick to reach out when Robinson hit the portal, and their existing relationship made the Cougars the clear favorite.
Cade Fennegan - QB
Fennegan is a quarterback that BYU fans might remember from the Cougars' dominant victory over Boise State in November. After starting quarterback Jack Sears suffered an injury on the first drive of the game, Fennegan entered the game as his backup. BYU went on to win 51-17.
Fennegan completed 15/26 passes for 182 yards against BYU including two touchdowns and one interception.
Nick Billoups - QB
Nick Billoups transferred to BYU from Utah after the Utes moved him to play defensive back. Billoups is a super athletic quarterback that could be very dangerous if he cleans up his throwing mechanics.
Missing Names on the Roster
Every season, newcomers that were expected to arrive run into hurdles and miss fall camp. There will be more this season.
Position Battles
We did an extensive breakdown of the most important position battles heading into fall camp. You can read that here.
Health Statuses
On the first day of fall camp, we usually find out which injured players are fully cleared for practice, and which players will be forced to miss time due to injury. BYU is expecting multiple players back from injury that suffered season-ending injuries last season.
Fall Camp Clichés
"The defense was flying around"
"He's the first player to arrive and the last one to leave"
"Player X is in the best shape of his life"
"We're just taking it one day at a time"
You've heard them before! Fall camp clichés. It wouldn't be fall camp without some good ole coach speak.