BYU Football Depth Chart Quick Hits For Utah Week
Sep 6, 2021, 2:51 PM
(Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – The BYU football depth chart for the rivalry contest against Utah is now out. Let’s dive into some quick hits to set the stage for what should be another fun chapter in the BYU-Utah rivalry.
-OR- at wide receiver
With the injury to Gunner Romney that forced him to leave the Arizona game on crutches, the senior is now an -OR- with Chris Jackson. Head coach Kalani Sitake said that Romney was “doubtful” for Saturday’s game against the Utes during his Monday press conference.
Gunner Romney left #BYU's game against Arizona on crutches. The latest on the senior wide receiver heading into the rivalry game.#BYUFootball #GoCougs https://t.co/fNg1mBHW7f
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 6, 2021
Last year, Jackson, a JUCO transfer, had one catch for two yards in the 24-16 win over Arizona.
The other wide receivers include Neil Pau’u as the starter above Keanu Hill. Then at the third receiver spot, an -OR- is still in place for Puka Nacua -OR- his older brother, Samson Nacua. After Saturday’s win over the Wildcats, Sitake said he “feels good” about the Nacua brothers playing against Utah.
Keenan Ellis is off of the BYU football depth chart
After suffering a scary injury in the first quarter of the Arizona game, cornerback Keenan Ellis is off of the depth chart. However, his return to the field isn’t the top priority at this point. Even Kalani Sitake noted that football isn’t something they are worried about. They want Ellis to be healthy.
On Sunday afternoon, BYU spokesperson Brett Pyne provided the following update on Ellis’ recovery.
Update from #BYU on Keenan Ellis:
CT scans conducted Saturday night on Keenan Ellis were normal. He spent the night at University Medical Center in Las Vegas for observation and additional testing. Keenan is out of bed, walking and reports no neck or back pain. @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 5, 2021
“CT scans conducted Saturday night on Keenan Ellis were normal. He spent the night at University Medical Center in Las Vegas for observation and additional testing. Keenan is out of bed, walking and reports no neck or back pain.”
Ellis, who was a starter at cornerback, is now replaced by Isaiah Herron. Herron was listed as a backup after the other starter D’Angelo Mandell headed into Arizona’s game. He was the first man off the bench when Ellis went down.
Behind Mandell and Herron is Shamon Willis and Oregon State transfer Kaleb Hayes.
Jake Oldroyd still listed
No “ORs” next to Jake Oldroyd’s name as the kicker. It was a surprise for fans not to see the sophomore kicker out there against Arizona. But it was a surprise for coaches too. Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick pointed out in his Coordinators’ Corner interview he didn’t realize it wasn’t Oldroyd on a 40-yard field goal on Saturday.
BYU answers back with this 40-yard FG from Justen Smith!
BYU – 24
Arizona – 13🏈 @ArizonaFBall vs @BYUfootball
📍 @AllegiantStadm
📺 @espn
📊 https://t.co/nfG6smi8AK
#LVBowl | #OnlyVegas pic.twitter.com/kQ0OxuXAdx— SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl (@LasVegasBowl) September 5, 2021
Oldroyd was participating in warmups, but he was a late scratch.
The man who made the 40-yard field goal against Arizona was freshman Justen Smith. Smith played a little bit in relief of Oldroyd in 2020, but he struggled. So stepping into that moment for Oldroyd against the Wildcats was big for BYU.
ROVER
Linebacker Max Tooley practiced last week and was on the travel roster for BYU-Arizona; he participated in warmups and was dressed. However, he had a right knee brace on in pregame, and he didn’t play against the Wildcats. In replace of him was redshirt freshman Ben Bywater.
Ben Bywater getting the start at linebacker in replace of an injured Max Tooley. #BYU #BYUvsAZ #BYUFootball @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 5, 2021
Bywater, who dealt with a season-ending injury midway through last year, started in relief of Tooley and racked up 10 tackles, eight of which were solo. A former Olympus High standout, Bywater was a player in 2019 that his defensive teammates were raving about as a young promising player on the scout team.
On BYU’s depth chart, both Tooley and Bywater have an -OR- in between their names at the ROVER spot.
BYU Football Depth Chart for Utah Game
Quarterback
Jaren Hall
Baylor Romney
Jacob Conover
Running Back
Tyler Allgeier
-OR- Lopini Katoa
Wide Receiver
Gunner Romney
-OR- Chris Jackson
Wide Receiver
Neil Pau’u
Keanu Hill
Wide Receiver
Puka Nacua
-OR- Samson Nacua
Tight End
Isaac Rex
Dallin Holker
Fullback
Masen Wake
Left Tackle
Blake Freeland
Brayden Keim
Left Guard
Clark Barrington
Seth Willis
Center
James Empey
Connor Pay
Right Guard
Connor Pay
-OR-Joe Tukuafu
Right Tackle
Harris LaChance
Campbell Barrington
Defense / SE
Lorenzo Fauatea
Gabe Summers
Defensive End
Tyler Batty
Blake Mangelson
Tackle
Earl Tuioti-Mariner
Gabe Summers
John Nelson
Nose
Atunaisa Mahe
Caden Haws
John Nelson
Outside Edge
Uriah Leiataua
Pepe Tanuvasa
Fisher Jackson
JACK
Pepe Tanuvasa
Drew Jensen
FLASH
Payton Wilgar
Jackson Kaufusi
MIKE
Keenan Pili
Josh Wilson
Drew Jensen
ROVER
Max Tooley
-OR- Ben Bywater
CINCO
Morgan Pyper
Ammon Hannemann
NICKEL
Jakob Robinson
-OR- Caleb Christensen
Jacob Boren
Strong Safety
Chaz Ah You
Mitchell Price
Ammon Hannemann
Matt Criddle
Free Safety
Malik Moore
Hayden Livingston
Jared Kapisi
-OR- Javelle Brown
Cornerback
D’Angelo Mandell
Shamon Willis
Cornerback
Isaiah Herron
Kaleb Hayes
Jaylon Vickers
Specialists / Kickoffs
Jake Oldroyd
Justen Smith
-OR- Cash Peterman
Place Kicker
Jake Oldroyd
Justen Smith
Cash Peterman
Holder
Ryan Rehkow
Hayden Livingston
-OR- Talmage Gunther
Long Snapper Place Kicks
Britton Hogan
-OR- Austin Riggs
Long Snapper Punts
Austin Riggs
-OR- Britton Hogan
Punter
Ryan Rehkow
Cash Peterman
Kick Returner
Caleb Christensen
Hobbs Nyberg
Punt Returner
Hobbs Nyberg
Talmage Gunther
Samson Nacua
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.