Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
PROVO — BYU football's spring practice session is here, and with it several ensuing position battles that will warrant a lot of attention throughout the next month and into the offseason.
Most eyes will be focused on the quarterback position, and deservedly so, but other position groups have much to sort out between now and the opening game of the 2024 season.
From my perspective, cornerback is one of the more intriguing position groups on this current BYU roster, considering the amount of open spots coupled with some young and intriguing talent being coached up by position coach Jernaro Gilford.
The landscape
BYU operated with three cornerbacks the majority of the time under new defensive coordinator Jay Hill's system. Those three, with very little variance throughout the season, were Eddie Heckard, Kamden Garrett and Jakob Robinson.
It was a position group generally viewed as a strength, with some assigning Heckard, Garrett and Robinson as the best group of players within the entire Cougars defense.
The good news is that Robinson returns for the 2024 season, bringing a wealth of experience and versatility that will no doubt aid BYU's defensive prospects considerably. Robinson contributed heavily to all cornerback positions throughout the past two seasons, and even at free safety on occasion, affording coaches a plethora of options on where to employ him during his final season in Provo.
Both Heckard and Garrett are gone, however, with the task to replace either player a formidable one.
Consider everything Heckard brought to the Cougars defense, where his extraordinary playmaking ability as both a slot and outside corner provided the type of boost rarely seen from his position at BYU. Garrett, meanwhile, showed little weakness in helping lock down the side of the field opposite Robinson.
While overlooked by some, perhaps, both Caleb Christensen and Jacob Boren are two players who BYU will have to do without this season. Both players saw plenty of playing time throughout their football careers in Provo and added valuable depth.
Also gone as an option is Quinton Rice, who transferred to Kansas State in the offseason.
First two up
Jakob Robinson (5-11, 170 Sr.): Robinson was flat-out one of BYU's best defenders throughout the entire 2023 season, and will undoubtedly be looked at as a major contributor this season. The only question surrounding Robinson will be if he reprises his role as outside corner this coming year or moves over to play primarily at slot corner as Heckard did last season.
Mory Bamba (6-3, 180 Jr.): Bamba has tremendous upside, given his superior athleticism and size. He enters spring practices with some good playing experience that should warrant him the No. 2 slot opposite Robinson, at least initially.
Next up
Jayden Dunlap (6-0, 173 Jr.): The JUCO transfer from a season ago battled through injury throughout last season, precluding much of any contribution during his first year in Provo. The hope is that those issues are now behind him in providing the essential third option to the cornerback ranks, with the possibility of manning the nickel corner position.
Evan Johnson (6-0, 175 Fr.): Johnson, much like Bamba, possesses elite athleticism that, if realized, could prove extremely beneficial to his position group. Johnson lacks playing experience, however, but should be afforded plenty of opportunity this spring to develop and prove himself as a top option within the secondary.
Wild cards
Tre Alexander (6-3, 170 Fr.): Alexander is in Provo after signing on with the Cougars program in December, and coaches are excited about his prospects. His size and speed combination is intriguing, to say the least, and he should be afforded plenty of opportunity to rise up and break into the two-deep roster.
Zion Allen (6-1, 160 Fr.): Allen showed promise during last season's fall practice session, and like Alexander, could certainly work to disrupt the assumed two-deep depth chart heading into spring practices.
Projects
Kevin Doe (6-3, 190 Fr.): Doe practiced at receiver last season as a true freshman, but has switched over to the defensive side of the football where coaches hope to tap into his tremendous upside.
Koa Eldredge (5-11, 195 Fr.): Eldredge, like Doe, practiced at receiver last season before making the switch to corner. Eldredge is looked at as a potential option at both the outside and slot corner positions.
Injuries and other variables
Marcus McKenzie (5-11, 172 So.): Unfortunately, McKenzie is expected to miss the entirety of spring practices due to injury. Many noted his superior speed and game-changing ability on special teams last season where he consistently made an impact as a gunner during punt and kick coverage.
McKenzie should be a full-go come the fall practice session and certainly holds the potential to disrupt whatever depth chart is in place after spring.
Marque Collins (6-0, 170 Jr.): Collins is a Weber State transfer who brings a lot of experience with him. Unfortunately, BYU will have to wait until fall to see how that experience enhances the cornerback group as he's set to sit out spring with injury issues.
Dylan Flowers (5-11, 180 Jr.): I liked what I saw from Flowers during the open sessions of fall practice last season. He'll look to reprise that promise come fall after likely sitting out spring with injury.
Micah Harper (5-10, 192 Jr.): Harper is going to play a big role within the Cougars defense, much like he was set to do last season before tearing his ACL during the fall practice session. It's generally anticipated that Harper will play at safety, but considering his skill-set and experience playing at corner as a freshman, he could provide the best option for the Cougars defense at slot corner, which is why he's necessarily listed among this group.
