BYU Football: Spring Game 2011 Recap

By: Mitch Harper (Twitter: @Mitch_Harper)

5,500 loyal, strong, and true BYU fans braved the snowy conditions this past Saturday to get their first taste of BYU Football as an Independent program.  For those that did brave the conditions, it was a great day.  Everyone who left LaVell Edwards Stadium came away happy and excited about the 2011 season and beyond.

Here’s a few things that stood out from Saturday’s exciting Blue & White Game.

– Exciting Finish

The game went into Overtime after the Blue and White squads were tied at after regulation.  Jake Heaps led the blue team to a touchdown on their first possession in the extra session.  Then Riley Nelson’s White squad converted on 4th down to get a crucial 1st down keeping their possession alive.  Next play a touchdown, putting the White squad down by 1.  They wanted the win.  Nelson to Bryan Sampson in the back of the endzone for the win.  The white squad rushed the field and dog piled on Sampson like it was Andrew George vs. Utah in 2009 all over again.  Great finish.

Sampson a Redshirt Freshman out of Pleasant Grove will now go on a mission this Summer on that note.  Great parting shot.

– Defensive Tackles

Romney Fuga and Jordan Richardson are still recovering from ACL injuries that they suffered last season.  No worries though.  18 year-old Travis Tuiloma and USC transfer Hebron Fangupo will fill in quite nicely this season if Fuga and Richardson never return to full health this season.

Tuiloma was working with the 1s and played like a seasoned vet.  His build is not your typical 18 year old either.  Fangupo was as good as advertised.  Can’t imagine many opposing Running Backs are going to be able to get the second tier of this defense with these beasts clogging up the middle in 2011.

– Secondary is young but very talented

Preston Hadley and Daniel Sorensen are going to be stars on BYU’s Defense this year and beyond.  Hadley is a taller version of Brian Logan.  At 6’0 200, Hadley was a physical Corner who is likely going to be starting when the Cougars play Ole Miss on September 3rd.

Sorensen who converted from Linebacker to his original position of Safety this Spring is wowing everyone with his big hits, and reminding people of another hard hitter in Andrew Rich.

Mike Hague, Robbie Buckner, Travis Uale all looked solid.  Then add in Corby Eason who comes back from an ankle injury in the summer and this Secondary could be a strength once the season starts.

– Talented Quarterbacks

Don’t kid yourselves people.  This is Jake Heaps job.  There is no QB controversy, it’s Heaps’ team.  But Riley Nelson has clearly improved this off-season and did a nice job in Spring.  Would love to see this coaching staff utilize Riley in Blue Zone situations and possible 4th down attempts.  Could be very potent.

Heaps though was impressive.  He has mastered the short pass and is putting better touch on the ball this year.  Seems much more confident this year as well.  This guy never disappoints when you watch him perform.

– Excitement

I’ve been to my fair share of BYU Blue & White Spring Games and never once have I seen so much excitement in the game.  This program is just thrilled about the new possibilities and it’s very obvious to see.

– Depth

The past few seasons BYU hasn’t been able to put on a full Spring game due to a lack of numbers.  Not this season.  There is depth in bunches.  Many players (mostly starters) were sitting out in the game but there was still a plethora of talent to watch out on the field.  As BYU goes into this new world of Independence it’s vital to have depth and the Cougars are clearly building that.  To the likes of which this program has never seen before.

*****

Miscellaneous

O’Neill Chambers was at the Spring Game wearing street clothes.  Chambers of course is not eligible to participate with the team until January 2012.  When at that time he most likely will play at Safety rather than Wide Receiver…..Field conditions looked solid for a snowy day in early April.  None of the turf was coming up.  No signs of a new field design however yet…..No major injuries occured during the scrimmage.  Graham Rowley had a sprained MCL.  Ross Apo had a scary incident nearly doing the splits running a fly route, but walked it off…..After the exciting scrimmage concluded, Bronco gathered the team at mid-field to greet a “Thursday’s Hero” onto the field and cheer him on.  Very cool moment.

144 Days ‘Til Ole Miss!

Subscribe to the Cougar Center Podcast via the iTunes Store.  Search “Cougar Center” at the iTunes Store and it will send you directly to the Podcast.  Leave a rating or a comment while you’re there