CFI Recap: Las Vegas Bowl – BYU 44, Oregon State 20

On the first series of the second half, down 23-7, Oregon State called a fake punt. Their two previous punts into the wind traveled a total of 12 yards, so why not? Punter Johnny Hekker connected with Lance Mitchell, who had room to run and pick up the first down. However, the safety slipped as he turned to run. Had he converted, the play would have been called back on illegal shift anyway; it was that kind of night for the Beavers. You can blame it on the wind, a defensive scheme adjustment by BYU (far more man-to-man coverage than was expected) or a letdown for Oregon State (the loss to rival Oregon in their final game cost them a Rose Bowl bid)—any way you slice it, the Cougars dominated the Beavers.

* The Quarterbacks: Max Hall outplayed Sean Canfield: The BYU quarterback completed 19-30 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns (no interceptions), while the left-handed Beaver was just 19-40 for 168 yards and an interception (no touchdowns).

The undersized Hall offers much more than meets the eye. Not only has no BYU quarterback won more games than the senior field general, but he’s also an accurate passer that can tuck it and run in the face of heavy pressure. It took some time for Hall to brave the howling Las Vegas winds, as a couple of early throws floated on him. Once the 6’1” Cougar adapted, however, he began throwing darts in those same windy conditions on rollout plays to elude the rush. Hall primarily lined up in the shotgun and put good touch on a few of his throws in the red zone by placing the ball to where only his receiver had a chance of coming down with it. The heady quarterback immediately recognized a wide-open Dennis Pitta running to the end zone on a well-timed post pattern, which put the Cougars up 30-7 in the third quarter. While Hall doesn’t quite have the arm to consistently fire the ball in tight windows over the middle, he displays a quick, compact delivery and impeccable accuracy in the short and intermediate passing game.

From the first possession it was evident Canfield was off his game. The senior did not make good decisions with the football and appeared confused at times, which caused him to be hesitant. He rushed his throws and sometimes flat-out missed his target, often by a wide margin. The wind could have played a role, but even with the wind at his back in the first quarter he only completed one pass. Moreover, when he was right, his passes cut through the wind. So to blame his performance on the conditions would be too simplistic.

When he is at his best, the southpaw signal caller displays touch, accuracy and anticipation, which he did from time to time against BYU…but not nearly often enough. The way this game went for OSU it’s not surprising that Canfield’s best pass of the night was an incompletion that fell harmlessly in the end zone. Just before the half he hit H-Back Joe Halahuni in the hands, but the sophomore dropped the ball. Halahuni took a big hit from a BYU defender but should have caught it. The throw showed Canfield’s great touch, and that’s what the scouts came to see.

Despite the lopsided performance, we still rate Canfield ahead of Hall on the list of senior quarterbacks for the 2010 Draft. Canfield has the better size and arm-strength, and was a consistent performer for the Beavers throughout the season. In his first campaign as a full-time starter, the California native was impressive enough to earn first team All-Pac-10 honors. One game shouldn’t wipe that all out, although it will make his performance in the Senior Bowl more important. As for Hall, he did the most he could with his last opportunity as a collegian to impress the scouts. Although the aspiring pro probably won’t follow in his uncle’s footsteps as an every-week starting NFL quarterback (see White, Danny), he has the physical and mental tools to be a fine backup at the next level.

* Best Pro Prospect OSU: DT Stephen Paea – 2 Tackles, 1 Tackle for a Loss

The game’s first series was an example of why stats can be deceiving when it comes to defensive tackles. Junior Stephen Paea recorded a tackle for a loss on the first play of the game, but came in virtually unblocked—he displayed great quickness to get into the backfield, but it didn’t take much effort for the man from the Tongan Islands. BYU learned quickly that it would be smart to double-team the All-Pac-10 performer, which they did on the very next play. The result? The other defensive tackle, Brennan Olander, made a tackle for a loss. That is what the top defensive tackles do…they make the players around them better.

OSU used wide splits on their defensive line and moved Paea around—he lined up on the right side and the left side. He also showed the ability to play on the inside shoulder of the guard, as well as the outside shoulder. When he was closer to the center (guard’s inside shoulder), Paea displayed the ability to bull rush and overpower the blocker. When he was closer to the tackle (guard’s outside shoulder) the junior used his speed and quickness, almost like a defensive end coming off the edge.

Paea is quick off the snap and is also able to power through to split double-teams. He is very tough to block one-on-one; he tossed the BYU left guard out of his way and nailed BYU’s Hall as he threw the football. That’s what happens when one man is asked to block him.

There is speculation that Paea could declare for the 2010 Draft and should he choose to do so, expect the Beaver to be a second-round selection. He is a bit undersized for a defensive tackle at 6’1” and 285 pounds, but should be an effective three-down player. He also could be an intriguing talent for teams searching for a 3-4 end, adding to his value come draft weekend (either in 2010 or 2011).

* More Oregon State Defense: Other than Paea, not many Beavers stood out. Senior linebacker Keaton Kristick had a solid game, recoding eight tackles. He was active, but the BYU offense lacks speedy playmakers so Kristick’s lack of speed was not an issue. The SAM had Hall in his sights on a third down draw, but missed the open field tackle on the BYU signal caller, who is not exactly a great running quarterback.

Junior cornerback James Dockery struggled. He was beaten more than once in one-on-one coverage and was also flagged for a pass interference penalty. On a BYU touchdown, Dockery gave ground to Luke Ashworth and was out of position, with no chance to make a play on the ball. Add a slip and he whiffed on the tackle as well, which allowed Ashworth to waltz into the end zone.

Young safeties Lance Mitchell and Cameron Collins, a pair of sophomores, appeared to be a step too slow for most of the game. On third and goal from the 17-yard line, Pitta spilt the two and neither was really that close to making a play.

But have no fear Beaver faithful—Kristick is the only senior starter on the defensive side of the ball and players like Dockery, Mitchell and Collins do have ability. Expect this unit to bounce back and be among the best in the Pac-10 conference, if not the nation in 2010.

* Best Pro Prospect BYU: TE Dennis Pitta – 5 receptions, 45 yards, 1 TD

The athletic tight end was every bit the showstopper everyone expected him to be versus Oregon State. The facility with which he extended to make a one-handed diving catch in the first quarter, while also keeping the ball away from his nearest defender, was truly a sight to behold. While Pitta did also drop a couple of easy throws, he also exhibited the ability to consistently beat man coverage by running precision routes. The senior playmaker was particularly at ease executing curl patterns. Pitta, moreover, has a little toughness in his game, as evidenced by a couple of second-half plays in which he pushed off smaller defenders to create space for himself downfield. In addition, the John Mackey Award finalist gained tough yards in traffic on underneath screen passes. In the running game, Pitta is a willing and sometimes effective blocker, but isn’t quite big or strong enough to be utilized as a lead man. The 6’5” weapon seems to have a good grasp of offensive schemes, which allows him to often be at the right place at the right time. His ability to play through pain will also endear him to NFL talent evaluators. Pitta definitely has the talent to be a starting tight end at the next level.

* More BYU Offense: Harvey Unga (24 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD) pounded Oregon State’s defense into submission by making deft moves in tight spaces, displaying great vision along with his overall shiftiness. The big 239-pound back set the tone early in the contest by spinning his way out of tackles, changing directions, and carrying a pile of players with him when necessary. The only blemish on the underclassman’s performance was his fourth-quarter fumble that came about as a result of him pumping his legs and twirling for extra yardage. Unga’s ability to run block allows BYU to line him up in tandem with fellow back Manase Tonga.

Pitt isn’t the only BYU tight end who might be playing on Sundays in 2010, as fellow senior Andrew George recorded four receptions for 46 yards. The unheralded second-team tight end is a big, mobile target that catches the ball in his hands and masterfully uses his body to shield defenders away from the football. Much like Pitta, George ran crisp routes all night.

Sophomore Matt Reynolds manhandled his adversaries all game long. In the pass protection, the gifted left tackle took good angles to neutralize pass rushers trying to get by him on the edge. The sophomore trenchman showed off his good mechanics by adjusting to the pass rusher’s moves and using his long arms to keep his opponent at bay. In the running game, Reynolds kept his feet moving to clear the path for Unga and Tonga.

* The Rodgers Boys: You hate to say it, but this was the worst performance we’ve seen from Jacquizz and James Rodgers. Neither brought their A-game to Las Vegas. They were not the playmakers we expected to see and for the most part, they were bottled up by the BYU defense. On the first two plays of the second half, Canfield connected with both James and Jacquizz on completions, yet the Beavers were still left facing a third down and 10; two completions for a net gain of zero yards…that tells you the whole story.

As did a backwards pass to Jacquizz Rodgers. He failed to pick it up, assuming it was an incomplete pass and the lateral was returned for a touchdown by BYU. He simply didn’t have the same sense of urgency as the BYU players did in going after the football. Quizz also needs to do a little less dancing; he’s at his best when making a quick decision with the football. You can understand the sophomore back was trying to make something happen, but there’s a little too much “Barry Sanders” at times and he ends up losing big yards—in the second half he turned a 3rd & 3 into a 4th & 10 in an obvious four-down situation.

That is not to say the 1,000-yard back didn’t have his moments. He always makes the first man miss in the open field and you have to love the way he runs between the tackles—quick cuts, moving up-field. His 29-yard third quarter run was a thing of beauty and displayed his speed, quickness, vision, balance and power—everything it takes to be a great back.

James Rodgers didn’t make plays on balls you’d expect him to catch and was a non-factor in the passing game—four receptions for 30 yards. His best play came on a fly sweep for 17 yards. The junior receiver is a very effective runner and like his little brother, is stronger than you might think.

* More OSU Offense: Senior wide receiver Damola Adeniji had a solid game, grabbing seven passes for 102 yards and a score. Many of his numbers came after BYU had jumped out to a big lead, but that’s not his fault. At 6’3” and 213 pounds, the Eugene native has an NFL frame and knows how to use it to shield off defenders. He doesn’t need much separation to make the catch and displayed the ability to make plays with defensive backs draped all over him. Adeniji was also very comfortable catching the football on the move. Due to his lack of separation and game-breaking speed, the senior may not get drafted come April, but should find himself in an NFL camp with a chance to make a roster.

Halahuni, the Beavers’ H-Back, made a nice grab near the sidelines as he went up and caught the football with his hands and got his foot down in bounds—impressive athleticism for a man of his size (6’2”/249 pounds). He also had the aforementioned drop in the end zone. The Washington native is just a sophomore and figures to play a bigger role in the Beavers’ passing game in the years to come. It is unclear where he will ultimately end up—H-Back, fullback or tight end—but he has two more seasons to polish his game.

Canfield, Adeniji and right guard Gregg Peat are the only senior starters on the offensive side of the ball. If they can replace Canfield—be on the look out for red-shirt freshman Ryan Katz—Oregon State could be even better on offense next season. The offensive line will return four starters and true freshman left tackle Michael Philipp could be ready to be one of the premier linemen in the Pac-10.

The BYU Defense: Defensive end Jan Jorgensen packed his lunch and came ready to rumble in this one, as the high-effort lineman used an assortment of spin moves to prevent blockers from moving him off the ball. He maintained good gap discipline throughout the night and helped keep Oregon’s running attack in check. The stay-at-home end doesn’t possess the quickness to get around tackles and consistently rush the passer, but he did do a phenomenal job of tracking down Jacquizz Rodgers on one running play in which the senior defender ran from one side of the line to the other in pursuit of his man.

From the outset it was pretty evident that SAM Jordan Pendleton was the fastest player in BYU’s front seven. Early in the first quarter, Pendleton made his presence felt by blitzing Canfield and forcing him to get rid of the ball. At the end of the quarter, he instinctively recognizes a screen play and alertly jumps all over Jacquizz Rodgers, and separates the player from the fumbled ball, allowing teammate Matt Bauman to scoop it up and run it in for a score. The promising sophomore is a sideline-to-sideline difference maker who can also cover backs and tight ends.

Scott Johnson is an intelligent defender that reads the quarterback eyes and anticipates passes, which allows him to constantly be around the ball. In the second quarter, the 6’2” free safety perfectly times his deflection when helping a teammate in breaking up a pass into the end zone. He’s also a headhunter when coming up to lay the wood on helpless backs in the running game. Johnson does occasionally get overaggressive by leading with his head (as he did one play, which resulted in an unnecessary roughness penalty in the fourth quarter), but he’s always willing to put his body on the line to prevent his opponents from catching the ball.

Photos Courtesy of Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo, College Press Box, Dennis Wolverton/Oregon State, Dave Nishitani/Oregon State, Mark A. Philbrick/BYU Photo

MAACO Bowl Prospect Watch

By Justin Van Fulpen

Here are the following players to keep your eye for the 2010 NFL Draft in the MAACO Bowl.

Oregon State Beavers:

QB Sean Canfield – Canfield has really turned it on this season with a great performance in his first full year of starting exclusively. He is a pocket passer who can move around, but won't beat you with his feet. The southpaw has improved his draft stock this season-coming into the season Canfield had a free-agent grade and has moved up to the 4th-5th round range.

WR Damola Adeniji – Adeniji has good size at 6'3" and 213 pounds, with good hands. He needs to improve his route running and we need to see how fast he really is. Right now he is likely an undrafted free-agent.

DT Stephen Paea - Paea is a junior and might declare early. He has a rugby background from his youth in Tonga. The Beaver is very strong and a disruptive force on the defensive line. At 6'1" and 285 pounds Paea is slightly undersized for a defensive tackle but uses his athletic ability and strength to make plays in the backfield. Right now the junior looks like a late 2nd round pick if he does declare for the 2010 NFL Draft.

Brigham Young Cougars:

QB Max Hall – Hall is a good college quarterback, but doesn't wow you in any specific aspect of his game. He doesn’t have great size or a big arm required to be a starter at the next level, but may possess enough ability to be a back-up quarterback in the NFL, because in part he a very smart player. Right now looks to be a 7th round pick or an undrafted rookie free-agent.

TE Dennis Pitta – Pitta has good size and great hands, he is a pass catching tight end with the ability to block. The Cougar has decent speed, but needs to improve in the blocking aspect of playing along the line of scrimmage to be an all around tight end at the next level. Right now he deserves a 4th round grade.

RB Harvey Unga – Unga is only a junior but there is some thought that he will come out early. While, he is a big physical running back, the junior running back should probably go back to school. If he decides to declare, don't expect him to go higher than the 4th or 5th round pick.

For more NFL, NFL Draft news, you can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jvanfulpen

Photos Courtesy of Ethan Erickson & College Press Box

BCS Busters: Week 5 Preview

By KENNY FRANEK

Game of the Week: Utah State @ BYU
You’ve got to love an in-state rivalry. BYU has won nine-straight against the Aggies since 1994 by an average of 18.8 points. But Utah State is coming off a monster offensive game against Southern Utah where they piled up 53 points and 604 yards of total offense. With that said, BYU is no Southern Utah. They came back after a beat-down by Florida State to pummel Colorado State and now have their sights set on starting up another win streak against the Aggies. Quarterback Max Hall and running back Harvey Unga will need to put on an offensive display to combat the Aggies’ offense. The Cougars’ defense will have their hands full trying to contain running back Robert Turbin and quarterback Diondre Borel. Turbin ran for 104 yards and caught four passes for 116 yards while scoring three touchdowns against Southern Utah. In the same game, Borel went 15-of-21 for 316 yards and three touchdowns. This game will lie heavily on defense; the team that can create the most stops and turnovers should come out the victor. As porous as the BYU defense has been in its last two games, the Aggies have a chances, albeit a slim one. But in the end, there will be too much Hall, Unga, and Dennis Pitta for them to overcome.
Prediction: BYU 42, Utah State 28

Players to Watch
BYU: Max Hall (QB); Harvey Unga (RB); Dennis Pitta (TE); Jan Jorgenson (DL); Brian Logan (CB); Utah State: Robert Turbin (RB); Diondre Borel (QB); James Brindley (S); Paul Igboeli (LB); Bobby Wagner (LB)

Other Games to Watch:

Air Force @ Navy
The Falcons take their solid rush game on the road the play the Midshipmen of Navy. Navy has shown signs of promise, nearly pulling off a monumental upset in their season opener at Ohio State. They will need more from their quarterback Ricky Dobbs if they have a chance at pulling out a win at home.
Prediction: Air Force 26, Navy 17

Southern Methodist @ TCU
The Frogs look to beat the Mustangs for the ninth time in their last 10 meetings. Both teams put up similar numbers in terms of offense, but it is TCU’s defense that will be the difference maker in this one. Not to mention quarterback Andy Dalton has been playing his best ball as of late. The Frogs continue to hop along.
Prediction: TCU 24, Southern Methodist 10

Colorado State @ Idaho
The Rams will try and bounce back after losing to BYU while outgaining them on offense. Quarterback Grant Stucker must protect the ball this week in order to give his team a chance to win. The Vandals escaped with a win at Northern Illinois after nearly blowing an 18 point lead. Vandals’ running back DeMaundray Woolridge will need a repeat performance of last week to keep the modest Rams defense on the field and keep their defense fresh.
Prediction: Colorado State 34, Idaho 23

Arkansas State @ Iowa
The Red Wolves will have their hands full against an amped-up Hawkeye team coming off a huge upset in Happy Valley. Running back Reggie Arnold has been outstanding thus far, averaging 6.3 yards-per-carry with seven touchdowns. They will need to get the ground game going early and limit their turnovers to pull off an incredible upset on the road.
Prediction: Iowa 36, Arkansas State 10

Photos Courtesy of USU Athletic Media Relations

BCS Buster: Week Three Preview

By KENNY FRANEK

Game of the Week: Florida State @ BYU

BYU gets their first home game of the season against a Florida State team that survived a scare against Jacksonville St. Max Hall will attempt to add his name to the short list of Heisman Trophy candidates by beating a second storied program in three weeks. He has thrown for more than 300 yards in his first two games of the season and will look to continue that streak against an inexperienced Seminoles’ secondary that has given up more than 200 yards passing in both of their games this season. It will be running backs Bryan Kariya, J.J. Di Luigi and hopefully Harvey Unga who will need to get the ground game going to control the clock and wear down the solid run defense of the 'Noles, who have yet to allow either team they have faced to rush for more than 100 yards. Although the Seminoles looked rusty in their second game, they are not a team to be taken lightly. They have enough offensive firepower to put points on the board with veteran quarterback Christian Ponder and wide receiver Richard Goodman breaking out of his shell. The Cougars will also have to contain Florida State’s explosive return man Greg Reid, who can be a Devin Hester-like game changer. If the Cougs’ defense can be as strong as they have shown in their first two games, then the offense will do the rest. If they fail to contain the Seminoles’ offense, this could turn into a shoot-out. I believe the defense will come through again.

Players to Watch - BYU: QB Max Hall, TE Dennis Pitta, RB Bryan Kariya, RB J.J. Di Luigi

Players to Watch - FSU: QB Christian Ponder, WR Richard Goodman, CB/KR Greg Reid

Prediction: BYU 26, FSU 19

Other Games to Watch:

Boise State @ Fresno State:

Kellen Moore leads the Blue Turf Darlings to Fresno for their first road game of the season. He has turned into the leader of this team in the season’s early going and will be the key to a Boise St. victory. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs look to get back on track after letting a 14-point lead slip away and losing in overtime at Camp Randall against the Badgers. This will be a fun match-up to watch as the high-powered Bulldog offense looks to put a dent in the physical Broncos’ defense.
Prediction: Boise State 34, Fresno State 24

Tulsa @ Oklahoma:

In-state rivals collide as the Sooners look to make it two straight wins after the injury to Sam Bradford. Red-shirt freshman quarterback Landry Jones will try to repeat his performance of last week where he was 18-of-32 for 286 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. The Sooners’ defense will have its hands full against the high-powered Tulsa offense, which has led the nation in total offense the past two seasons. They have averaged 450 yards in their first two games this season and this battle will come down to the Golden Hurricane offense versus the Oklahoma defense.
Prediction: Oklahoma 45, Tulsa 31

TCU vs. Texas State:

The Frogs’ defense looked sharp in their season opener in Virginia and will hope to build on that momentum. Their offense looked stagnant at times and will try and get it together against a Texas State defense that allowed 28 points to Angelo State in their season opener.
Prediction: TCU 30, Texas State 10

Utah @ Oregon:

The Utes will take the nation’s longest current winning streak to Eugene to take on the Ducks. Quarterback Terrance Cain and running back Matt Asiata look to get the offense back on track after a mediocre performance last week against San Jose St. The task will not be easy, though, as the Ducks are 5-0 against ranked opponents at Autzen Stadium since 1995.
Prediction: Utah 27, Oregon 23

Photos Courtesy of Jaren Wilkey/BYU, Boise St. University

GOW: Las Vegas Bowl - BYU VS. Arizona

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

December 20, 2008 * 8:00 * ESPN
Sam Boyd Stadium (71,500) *
Las Vegas, Nevada

THIS SEASON THE Pac-10 has squared up with the Mountain West Conference seven times with the MWC going an impressive 6-1. Included in that group is two wins by BYU (over UCLA and Washington), as well as a loss by Arizona (to New Mexico. Will the trend continue?

When the ‘Cats Have the Ball

Quarterback Willie Tuitama has had an outstanding year, throwing for 2,763 yards with 21 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. He will face a BYU defense that can be scored on at times – the Cougars have allowed 32 or more points in four of their last six games. BYU has also had trouble pressuring and containing opposing quarterbacks, especially off the edges. This defense is not especially fast and that will also be an advantage for Wildcat running back Nic Grigsby. The sophomore back had his first 1,000-yard season and had an impressive 5.5 yards per carry average. Grigsby can move the chains and while he has not blown the opposition away, he is a threat and scored a touchdown in nine of twelve games. If he can get around the edges, or if the defense is caught over-committing, he could put together some big runs. An effective ground game will set up the Wildcats’ pass offense nicely. Even without it, Tuitama should be able to find his receivers against this defense, but with the run game rolling, the defense would open up more and couldn’t concentrate on simply one phase of Arizona’s offensive game. Tuitama tends to look most often for senior wideout Mike Thomas and like Grigsby and Tuitama, Arizona will need a good game from him if they are to win in the Las Vegas desert. They can also look to red zone target Rob Gronkowski, who leads the receiving corps with 10 touchdowns.

When the Cougs Have the Ball

This is BYU’s fourth consecutive trip to the Vegas Bowl and the Cougars have won the first three. If they want a fourth, they’ll need a big time performance from their star player… the guy they have depended upon all season long. That is, of course, quarterback Max Hall. Hall has been terrific this season, with 3,629 yards and 34 touchdowns with only 13 interceptions. He has thrown for more than 300 yards in three of his last four games, including a five-touchdown game against Colorado State. His favorite target is Austin Collie, who leads the nation with 118.25 receiving yards per game and has a total of 1,419 yards and 15 touchdowns. If the Wildcats are able to slow the Cougars through the air, they’ll still have to contend with the ground attack. While Harvey Unga isn’t quite having the success he did in 2007, he’s still had quite the season. His second consecutive 1,000-yard is supplemented by another 41 receptions and 303 yards through the air. BYU ranks 17th in the nation offensively and Arizona will be hard pressed to contain them, even with a defense which has not performed terribly. The Wildcats have some opportunistic players in their defensive squad and they have been able to grab a total of 15 interceptions, led by Trevin Wade’s four. Hall has turned the ball over on occasion, but not with such frequency that the Cougars should be worried. In all likelihood, the Cougars will just have too much firepower for the Wildcats.

Final Analysis

EXPECT AN EXPLOSIVE offensive showdown, with the Cougars continue their domination over the Pac-10 and winter their third straight bowl.

Inside the Numbers– Pass, Run & Catch:

Arizona Wildcats (7-5, 5-4)
Pass: Willie Tuitama – 2,763 yards, 21 touchdowns
Run: Nic Grigsby – 1,066 yards, 12 touchdowns
Catch: Mike Thomas – 796 yards, 5 touchdowns

Brigham Young Cougars (10-2, 6-2)
Pass: Max Hall – 3,629 yards, 34 touchdowns
Run: Harvey Unga – 1,061 yards, 10 touchdowns
Catch: Austin Collie – 1,419 yards, 15 touchdowns

The CFI Prediction: BYU 38, Arizona 27

Photo Credit: Jaren Wilkey, BYU

CFI Radio: Tailgate Show - Bowl Previews

THE TAILGATE SHOW - THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2008

***Click to Listen to THE TAILGATE Show***

5:00 - 7:00 PM EASTERN

Are you ready to go bowling? Let us get you ready for the College Football Bowl Season. Plus a Heisman recap and around the nation in college football. Special Guests: Butkus Award Winner AARON CURRY of Wake Forest, Georgia LB RENNIE CURRAN, DE GEORGE SELVIE of South Florida, Southern Miss LB GERALD MCGRATH, BYU RB HARVEY UNGA and Troy head coach LARRY BLAKENEY. Hosted by College Football Insiders Founder Daniel Mogollon. 2 Hr.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media

CFI RANKINGS: #24 BYU COUGARS

2007 RECORD: 11-2; Mountain West: 8-0
Won Las Vegas Bowl vs. UCLA 17-16
LOCATION: Provo, Utah
STADIUM: Lavell Edwards Stadium (64,045)
HEAD COACH: Bronco Mendenhall
OVERALL: 28-10 (3 seasons)
AT BYU: 28-10 (3 seasons)

In 2006, Utah crashed the BCS party. The Broncos of Boise St. broke through two years ago. Last year it was Hawaii that went big time bowling—could BYU be that team this year? The buzz around Provo and the rest of the nation is yes, they can! The Cougars went 11-2 for a second straight season, ending with a bowl win over a Pac-10 school each time (Oregon in 2006), but they are hoping for bigger and better things in 2008.

WHEN THE COUGS HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Robert Anae (3rd Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 9
KEY LOSSES: Sete Aulai

The offense is stacked. QB Max Hall threw for 26 touchdowns and nearly 4,000 yards while leading the 14th ranked passing offense in the nation. His top targets are juniors WR Austin Collie and TE Dennis Pitta. Pitta is the prototypical BYU pass-catching tight end and Collie is one of those players with a knack for making the right play at the right time. Sophomore RB Harvey Unga was a revelation last season rushing for 1,227 yards and 13 scores, while adding another 655 yards and four TDs as a receiver (44 receptions). The skill players will be able to do what they do because of a stellar offensive line that returns four starters—they are experienced and tip the scales at over 1,600 pounds in total.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) OT Dallas Reynolds (SR), 2) OG Travis Bright (SR)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Jamie Hill (1st Season)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 3
KEY LOSSES: Bryan Kehl, Kelly Poppinga, Corby Hodgkiss, Ben Criddle, Markell Staffieri, Quinn Gooch, Kayle Buchanan

If you’re wondering why the Cougars aren’t ranked higher (No. 17 in the Coaches Poll), you need look no further than a defense that has to replace eight starters including their entire secondary and six of their top eight tacklers—all of which had at least 50 stops. The defensive line should be fine with junior ends Jan Jorgenson (14 sacks, 20 tackles for a loss) and Ian Dulan returning, however, the defensive back eight (they run a 3-4 defense) is loaded with question marks. Coach Mendenhall has faith they will be fine, just like their offense was last season when they replaced most of the unit—we’re talking a wait and see approach.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) DE Jan Jorgenson (JR), 2) LB David Nixon (SR)

THE SCHEDULE

To prove they are BCS-worthy they simply must play better against BCS opponents. Last season they dropped a week two contest at UCLA and two years ago, their two losses came at Arizona and at Boston College. This season, they play at Washington in week two then return home the following week to host UCLA. It won’t get easier for them in conference as they must make trips to Air Force, TCU and Utah in Mountain West play—all three were bowl teams in 2007.

PIVOTAL POINT

The defensive back eight: BYU will score, so how they fare in stopping their opponents will dictate how far they will go. They must break in four new starters in the secondary, but linebackers Bryan Kehl (4th round pick of the NY Giants) and Kelly Poppinga will be the toughest to replace—the duo combined for more than 200 tackles last season. If they can adequately replace them, BYU may very well meet the lofty expectations many have; otherwise they may be a year away from that special season.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

With Hall, a sturdy offensive line and playmakers galore, the Cougars will have a chance every time they step on the field. However, their 10-game winning streak will be challenged early on—they are only 7-6 in September under Mendenhall. Ultimately, a tough road schedule will keep them from running the table and crashing that BCS party at the end of the season. They should make a fourth consecutive bowl game, but if they make a fourth straight trip to Sin City, the Mormon school will feel that lady luck is not on their side.