BYU WR Gunner Romney Provides Update On Status Entering USF Game

PROVO, Utah – After week one of BYU camp, the media didn’t see much of wide receiver Gunner Romney.

Along with being off to the sideline, signaling in plays during media observation portions of practice, Romney was also a consistent holdout in the three closed scrimmages BYU held during camp.

Due to Romney’s absences in camp, there have been questions about his availability on Saturday in the season opener against USF (Saturday, 2 p.m., ESPNU & KSL NewsRadio).

Romney gave an update on his availability as game week rolls on. The fifth-year receiver from Chandler, Arizona, hopped on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone for his weekly appearance on Jake & Ben (Tuesday, 11:05 am).

Gunner Romney is “hopeful” to play against USF

Right off the bat, Romney was asked if he knew his status for this week.

“No, not at this point. I think we’re kind of taking it game-by-game,” said Romney to KSL Sports. “I’m hopeful and I’m hoping that I get to play this weekend. But you know, we’ll see come game time what the decision is overall.”

Throughout his BYU career, Romney has dealt with numerous injuries. Last season, he had a healthy fall camp but then suffered an injury in the opener against Arizona that limited him from being at his best.

#BYU WR Gunner Romney just now on @kslsports Zone said he's "hopeful" that he will play against USF this Saturday.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) August 30, 2022

But he showed a unique ability multiple times last season to bounce back quickly from injuries. After the Arizona setback that saw him end the game on crutches, one week later, he was catching a touchdown pass to help BYU defeat Utah for the first time in 12 years.

The NFL is a goal of Romney’s and that’s why he came back to take advantage of the extra COVID year. Entering this season, Romney is one of four BYU players on the Senior Bowl watch list. But he also wants to contribute to BYU maintaining a high level of winning in his final year.

As far as when he could be cleared or when a decision is expected, that’s still to be determined.

“I’ve been running around, feeling really good, and been doing everything. But it’s mostly just the health concern,” Romney said. “…I have a team of doctors, coaches, and training staff. It’s everybody that we have to come to a final decision and the final thing that works for everybody regarding my health and safety and regarding, you know, being able to want to play.”

BYU’s offense will be going up against a new look USF defense

Last season against USF, Romney had a season-high performance racking up 119 yards on five catches, including a 49-yard touchdown pass from his brother, former BYU QB Baylor Romney.

So it’s a team that Romney and this BYU offense are familiar with.

 

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But the Bulls have 15 transfer portal players into their program, including a pair of Power 5 cornerback transfers in Aamaris Brown from Kansas State and Christian Williams, Jr. from Miami.

“It’s a completely new defense,” Romney said. “They have a new defensive coordinator and they have nine defensive transfers and you know, probably, five or six of them are going to be starters. So, it will be a completely different defense than what we saw last year. They’ve changed up a ton. I think they have new energy in that program.”

Through his first four seasons with the Cougars, Romney has racked up 117 catches for 1,900 yards. If he gets 942 receiving yards this year, he could crack the top five in career receiving yards in BYU football history.

He just has to get on the field to climb that all-time ladder.

No. 25 BYU at USF

Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)

Kickoff: 2 p.m. (MT)

TV: ESPNU

Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM – Extended pregame begins at 10 a.m.)

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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