BYU Football’s Depth Chart For USF Game Has Some Subtle Changes

PROVO, Utah – The first BYU football depth chart of the 2022 season is out. BYU faces the USF Bulls to open their final Independent tour this Saturday in Tampa, Florida.

Head coach Kalani Sitake when he addressed the media on Monday around Noon (MT), didn’t initially release the depth chart. He put out a challenge to the media to try and forecast what the two and three deep would look like, and see if they could come close to his list.

Kalani Sitake had issued a challenge to the media earlier today to come up with the depth chart. Not needed, #BYU ended up releasing their two/three deep for USF week.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) August 30, 2022

Sitake has been known to put out those challenges to the media, but this time, he and BYU’s media relations ended up putting out a depth chart anyway.

There weren’t any wholesale changes from the offseason depth chart BYU released in June to this week’s listing. But there are some subtle changes.

BYU Football depth chart for USF game

Here’s the BYU football depth chart for their week one game against USF on Saturday.

Offense

Quarterback: Jaren Hall / Jacob Conover

Running Back: Chris Brooks / Lopini Katoa / Miles Davis

Wide Receiver: Gunner Romney / Kody Epps

Wide Receiver: Puka Nacua / Chase Roberts

Wide Receiver: Keanu Hill / Brayden Cosper

Tight End: Isaac Rex -OR- Dallin Holker -OR- Masen Wake

Left Tackle: Blake Freeland / Campbell Barrington

Left Guard: Clark Barrington / Tyler Little

Center: Connor Pay -OR- Joe Tukuafu

Right Guard: Joe Tukuafu -OR- Campbell Barrington

Right Tackle: Harris LaChance -OR- Kingsley Suamataia -OR- Brayden Keim

Defense

Defensive End: Tyler Batty / Fisher Jackson / Logan Lutui / Alden Tofa

SE: Earl Tuioti-Mariner / Blake Mangelson -OR- John Nelson / Alden Tofa

Tackle: Gabe Summers -OR- Lorenzo Fauatea / Bruce Mitchell  -OR- Hunter Greer

Nose: Caden Haws / Josh Larsen -OR- Atunaisa Mahe / Joshua Singh

Outside Edge: Tyler Batty / Alden Tofa -OR- Fisher Jackson / Aisea Moa

WILL: Ben Bywater / Jackson Kaufusi / Josh Wilson

FLASH: Max Tooley / Tavita Gagnier / Morgan Pyper

MIKE: Keenan Pili / Pepe Tanuvasa / Bodie Schoonover

ROVER: Payton Wilgar / Jackson Kaufusi / Tate Romney

CINCO: George Udo / Matt Criddle

NICKEL: Jakob Robinson / Jacob Boren -or- Caleb Christensen

Strong Safety: Ammon Hannemann / Micah Harper / Ethan Slade

Free Safety: Malik Moore / Hayden Livingston

Cornerback: D’Angelo Mandell / Jakob Robinson / Jacob Boren

Cornerback: Kaleb Hayes / Gabe Jeudy-Lally / Chika Ebunoha -OR- Korbyn Green

Specialists

Kickoffs: Jake Oldroyd, Justen Smith -OR- Cash Peterman

Placekicker: Jake Oldroyd, Justen Smith -OR- Cash Peterman

Holder: Ryan Rehkow, Talmage Gunther, Hayden Livingston

Long Snapper: Austin Riggs / Britton Hogan

Punter: Ryan Rehkow / Cash Peterman

Kick Returner: Hobbs Nyberg & Talmage Gunther

Punt Returner: Hobbs Nyberg / Talmage Gunther

****

Here’s a breakdown of some subtle changes to the depth chart from the one dropped at Media Day in June.

At running back, all of the ORs are gone. Miles Davis won the third running back spot. Davis received much praise throughout camp from BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick.

The tight end spot added an OR next to Masen Wake. While also removing the fullback position altogether.

In the least shocking development of fall camp, BYU removed the OR at left tackle. Potential first-round NFL draft pick Blake Freeland, and now team captain, won that spot decisively. That’s putting it lightly.

Over on the defensive side at defensive end, Fisher Jackson and Weber State transfer Logan Lutui moved above Alden Tofa.

Ilaisa Tuiaki gives high praise on Coordinators' Corner that Weber State transfer Logan Lutui had a productive camp and that he is "going to help" at the OE spot.

Lutui is Jack Damuni's son-in-law.#BYU #BYUFootball @kslsports

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) August 29, 2022

Then at the tackle spot, Alema Piliami was removed altogether, and in replace of him was Bruce Mitchell, a returned missionary from South Summit.

A significant development was at this position, where Lorenzo Fauatea earned an OR next to Gabe Summers and him. Fauatea had an excellent camp and is one of the top players along the line for BYU entering the season.

#BYU DC Ilaisa Tuiaki says Tyler Batty and Fisher Jackson are the top OE players for BYU's defensive line.#BYUFootball @kslsports

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) August 29, 2022

Finally healthy, after dealing with an off-season back injury that sidelined him, Fauatea appears ready to make an impact as a full-time defensive tackle.

The flash linebacker position added Tavita Gagnier. A former Tooele native, Gagnier has been trending up the depth chart since he suffered a season-ending injury last year. Gagnier took the spot of Chaz Ah You, who is not on the depth chart but is still with the program on the 124-man roster.

Talented freshmen linebackers Bodie Schoonover made the depth chart at MIKE, and Tate Romney checked in at the ROVER linebacker spot.

A subtle but interesting development is at strong safety. Former Orem High defensive back Ethan Slade earned the third string spot over Talan Alfrey.

Slade has earned high praise from Ed Lamb as one of the most improved players in the program. Last year, he had two interceptions in a scrimmage, and this year he showed playmaking ability throughout camp.

On the perimeter at cornerback, Evan Johnson and Zion Allen, a pair of young freshmen, were removed. In replace of them were Jakob Robinson and speedster Jacob Boren.

Over on special teams, Talmage Gunther moved up to second-string holder over Hayden Livingston. At kick returner, Miles Davis and Jacob Boren were removed in favor of Hobbs Nyberg and Talmage Gunther.

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 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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