BYU game week: Will captain Puka Nacua, WR Gunner Romney play vs. USF?

PROVO — In the final weeks and days of BYU training camp ahead of the 2022 season, several names were noticeably withheld from practice.

Two of them — wide receivers Puka Nacua and Gunner Romney — were unexpected. The wide receiver duo who project as two of BYU quarterback Jaren Hall's top targets this season practiced little, at least during the final 20 minutes that media is permitted to watch.

So when the Cougars kick off the season Saturday against South Florida at Raymond James Stadium (2 p.m. MDT, ESPNU), will Nacua and Romney be in a uniform?

Head coach Kalani Sitake said no player has been lost for the season, which is when BYU coaches generally confirm a players' injury status.

OK, but what about Saturday?

"On Wednesday, we'll know more about everyone," Sitake said during his first game-week press briefing of the season Monday. "But we're planning on guys playing. No one is lost for the season right now. We still have some work to do in the next couple of days."

Let the speculation commence — or continue, as it were, because the internet exists.

The Cougars will practice Tuesday on campus, when reporters will be permitted to talk to BYU coordinators and players ahead of Saturday's season opener. After that, they'll hold a closed practice Wednesday and leave for Florida on Thursday to acclimate to the Eastern time zone, increased heat and humidity of South Florida. But will the two wide outs be with them?

That seems likely after the Cougars released the first depth chart of the season, which includes Nacua as one starting receiver, Romney as another, and WR3 still in possession of Keanu Hill — though we know from training camp that Chase Roberts, Brayden Cosper and Kody Epps have made a strong push for that position.

"I like the guys we have to work with," offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said during his Coordinators' Corner program on BYUtv. "I'm excited to see Brayden Cosper, Kody Epps, Chase Roberts; it's going to be fun to see how those guys react when the lights are on."

If there's one position battle that was cleared up by the release of the season's first depth chart, it was on the offensive line. Blake Freeland seems to have solidified his spot at left tackle, with Campbell Barrington as his top backup.

That moves Kingsley Suamataia over to right tackle, where he is competing with Harris LaChance and Brayden Keim to start. All three are listed as co-starters at the position, along with Joe Tukuafu and Campbell Barringotn at right guard, and Tukuafu with incumbent Connor Pay at center.

Of course, offensive line coach Darrell Funk has said through August that he'll likely expand his rotation from the usual 5-6 linemen to 8-11. Perhaps "starter" is merely semantic in the trenches.

"If I was a betting man, that is what I'd say would happen," Funk said. "We just have too many good players that have played and know what they're doing. We'll be pretty polished by the end."

Miles Davis has joined Chris Brooks and Lopini Katoa on the running back depth chart, and Masen Wake is now listed as potential starter at tight end, alongside Isaac Rex and Dallin Holker.

Speaking of Rex, who suffered a brutal lower leg injury in last season's regular-season finale at USC, the 6-foot-6 redshirt-sophomore will have a role on the team Saturday in Tampa, his offensive coordinator said.

"We're not going to try to keep it a secret: he's going to play in the first game," Roderick said. "I thought it might be this season, but he looks great and he's going to play in the first game."

One player not listed on the depth chart is Chaz Ah You. The former Timpview High standout reported to training camp at flash linebacker after missing four games during the season with an injury, but did not play during any of the media-viewing portions of practice.

Ben Bywater, Max Tooley and Keenan Pili are listed at the primary linebacker positions, with Payton Wilgar at "rover," and George Udo and Jakob Robinson listed as starters for the hybrid "cinco" and "nickel" positions, respectively.

Ammon Hannemann and Malik Moore are starting safeties, with D'Angelo Mandell and Kaleb Hayes leading a deep cornerback room.

Captaining the ship

Sitake also announced the Cougars' captains for the 2022 season, including four each on offense and defense.

Leading the team on offense will be preseason All-American offensive linemen Clark Barrington and Freeland, along with Hall and Nacua.

On defense, the Cougars will be captained by linebackers Pili and Wilgar, cornerback Kaleb Hayes and defensive lineman Lorenzo Fauataea.

"It's an honor for these young men to be recognized by their teammates to lead our team," Sitake said. "We are fortunate to have a lot of quality young men in our program who bring unique leadership experiences to the team."

Romney, Holker, Pay, Katoa and Brooks will serve as assistant co-captains on offense; Bywater, Tyler Batty, D'Angelo Mandell and Malik Moore will take the same position on defense; and punter Ryan Rehkow was voted an assistant co-captain representing special teams.

First game fashion

The heat and humidity of South Florida will be kind to BYU in one area: game gear.

The Cougars unveiled their uniform for Week 1 against the Bulls, and it includes an all-white look, with white helmets and navy trim on the jerseys and pants.

It's the same uniform combo the Cougars wore last season against Washington State, a 21-19 win in Pullman that helped power BYU to a 5-0 record against the Pac-12.

But it's also the uniform combo worn against USF in 2019, when Hall started his first game before exiting with an injury en route to a 27-23 loss to the Bulls.

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