Camp Cougar, Day 12

The BYU Cougars neared the two-week mark in camp with another day of two-a-days on Friday.

The morning session (which reporters observed for the final 20-25 minutes) concluded with three series of 11-on-11 work; quarterbacks Taysom Hill, Ammon Olsen and Jason Munns each led one drive.

No touchdowns were scored in the no-shoulder pads, no-hitting "team" session.

During the second series, cornerback Adam Hogan came on a corner blitz, and in taking on a blocker, crumpled to the ground. With his hands covering his face, and in some distress on the turf, Hogan appeared to have suffered a right leg injury, and was soon taken off on a cart.

Head coach Bronco Mendenhall delivered comparatively good news in his post-practice interview however, saying that early indications were only "maybe a quad strain, maybe a quad contusion."

Hogan's injury is just the latest in a months-long wave of health-related setbacks at the corner spot; the coach said today's development is "not at the right position."

"We'll take recommendations or tryouts for any of who you might have some eligibility, who might be able to help us at corner," Mendenhall told reporters after practice. "Three-o-clock today, report with your cleats out on the field, and we'll see what you look like out there."

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Making the team will be the only way a member of the media can watch Saturday's scheduled stadium scrimmage, as the exercise will be closed to reporters. Mendenhall says it will be very limited in its scope, and will be focused on "some of the younger players, and how we'll use them for the upcoming year."

"We won't use hardly any (regular players)," said Mendenhall on Friday. "We were pretty limited in the first scrimmage, and in this one we'll be even more limited than that."

The coach said he "would like to get some more live kicks--especially field goals. Justin Sorensen is separating himself over the last couple of days, so that gap is widening, not narrowing."

"He's doing a really nice job, but I'd like to see him more under pressure, with live rushes in the stadium tomorrow. And I'd like to see the punt game get some work."

In Friday's morning session, in kicks observed by the media, BYU reported that Sorensen was 2-for-3 from 43 yards, while Trevor Samson made his lone attempt from 33 yards.

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Asked about the multitude of injuries at cornerback and the need to protect the position moving forward, Mendenhall said "we're working hard in practice just to protect it now."

"We've modified formats in about every way possible," said Mendenhall, "with extending warm-up time, with adding treatment time, with adding different movement patterns, with less hitting, with being on the grass almost every day."

"With the depth issues, and possibly schematic things, there might have to be some consideration there."

Mendenhall said "hopefully within two weeks, we can get some bodies back and decide which are the best combinations."

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Mendenhall said Tyler Beck and Manoa Pikula are "almost dead even" at Buck linebacker, "with even a possibility of Spencer Hadley playing at Buck, because Alani Fua is playing so well on the outside."

At Mike linebacker, Uani Unga is a locked-in starter; of the BYU defense, he says "I honestly do believe we can do better than last year."

"It's going to be hard to do what they did last year," said Unga on Friday, "but I feel like this year we have the talent. If we work hard enough we'd be able to that."

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Kyle Van Noy and Hadley were playing with the first-string at outside linebacker on Friday; Van Noy just returned to near-full activity on Thursday, after sitting out since the opening of camp with a mild hamstring strain. Hadley has also been out recently with a hamstring issue.

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In blue-zone "skelly" work, cornerback/safety Mike Hague was on the field; he too, is working back from injury, having sat out most of camp with an IT (knee) band issue. Mendenhall says Hague has a follow-up medical appointment on Monday; "that will give us a great of idea of where he is how he might be able to be used."

"Mike can play boundary corner, possibly could be a decent field corner, used the right way," Mendenhall said. "Plus, he knows all the safety spots and nickel. I hope that it's good news (on Monday)."

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Mendenhall said he could see traveling four quarterbacks this season. He said if Jason Munns were not the third-stringer, he would be inclined to take him "just for his commitment to the program. He has tried so hard, and has had a really unique set of circumstances here." The coach added that BYU's "unique signalling system" might make a fourth QB handy on the sidelines.

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Offensive line positions remains up for competition. Offensive line coach Garett Tujague, asked if any starting spots have been nailed down, said "not even close."

"Everyday they come into my office to see who's gonna get to go with the 'firsts.' We don't want anybody getting comfortable...that would be bad."

Today, the offensive line depth appeared relatively unchanged in the two-deep:

LT: Ryker Mathews/Brad Wilcox/Thomas Shoaf

LG: Solomone Kafu or Manaaki Vaitai*/Tui Crichton/Quinn Lawlor

C: Terrance Alletto/Brayden Kearsley/Tim Duran/Parker Dawe

RG: Brock Stringham/Kyle Johnson/Josh Carter

RT: Michael Yeck/De'Ondre Wesley/Addison Pulsipher

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Notes: Pleasant Grove HS product Parker Dawe has been moved from nose tackle to center; his jersey number changed from 92 to 54.

* Manaaki Vaitai had been running with the 1s and 2s at center and/or guard but I did not notice him on the field during today's media observation period. BYU reports that Vaitai is not injured, and was dressed out, so my failing to register his presence is nothing to worry about.

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Coaches are still looking for a backup deep snapper to Kevin O'Mary. Matt Relei did some long-snapping in the media observation period.

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Projected starting NT Marques Johnson played some snaps at defensive end today. The first string defensive line had Bronson Kaufusi, Eathyn Manumaleuna and Remington Peck across the front, left to right. Former tight end Austin Holt is in line to be a second-stringer at end. He has noticeably bulked up from his days on offense.

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With neither Jamaal Williams nor Michael Alisa taking part, the offensive skill-position three-deep (11-on-11 and/or skelly) today looked like this:

QB: Taysom Hill/Ammon Olsen/Christian Stewart or Jason Munns

RB: Paul Lasike/Adam Hine/Nate Carter/Algernon Brown or AJ Moore

WR: Cody Hoffman/Mitch Mathews/Michael Davis

H/Y (big or small slot): JD Falslev/Stehly Reden

WR: Skyler Ridley/Ross Apo/Colby Pearson

Y (TE): Devin Mahina/Richard Wilson/Terenn Houk

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Hoffman says "I think everything is falling into place (offensively); we're ready to go. I think if it needed to be, we could play tomorrow and compete. We're just going to continue to get better and focus on the little things."

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You can hear post-practice interviews with Mendenhall, Tujague, Hill, linebacker Uani Unga and receiver Cody Hoffman, in "Cougar Cute," top left.

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