BYU football: Six sophomores who will have a big impact this season
BYU football has plenty of talented youngsters on the roster. These are the five sophomores who will have the biggest impact in 2017-18.
It’s not very often that we’re discussing BYU football and talking about all the young talent on the roster. Or, at least, the young talent that’s already came made an impact.
Last season the Cougars featured a ton of young players – particularly on defense. That’s exciting for BYU football fans, as they can start thinking about when the young group comes together as upperclassmen.
But fans might not have to wait much longer to see more improvement. As the roster currently stands, there are plenty of underclassmen who are going to be making their presence felt for the Cougars.
We’ll get to impact freshmen later, but for now here are the five sophomores who will make the biggest impact for BYU football.
Honorable Mentions
Micah Simon, WR
Simon looks to be one of the featured wide receivers in the offense this year. Coaches have raved about his athleticism and size (6-foot-1, 185-pounds). The Texas product was a quarterback in high school, but switched to wide out after getting to Provo. He’ll be able to play inside or outside.
Riley Burt, RB
There’s a lot to like about Burt, particularly his speed. Still, outside of one great run from two seasons ago, we don’t have much to go off of. But, the coaching staff said great things about him throughout spring ball – and his top-end speed is obviously something you can’t teach. I don’t know where exactly he’ll fit into the backfield, but he’s got the talent.
Austin McChesney, DB
It was a big blow for the secondary when McChesney went down last season against Cincinnati. He was playing well, and while he’s coming off ACL reconstruction, he’s got the chance to contribute again this season. The BYU secondary is stacked (haven’t been able to say that in awhile), so McChesney doesn’t have to prematurely rush back.
Wayne Tei-Kirby, OL
Tei-Kirby makes the honorable mentions list simply because his status for this season is in flux. He is seeking a waiver from the NCAA so he can play immediately, but there’s been nothing official yet. If he can play, he’ll rotate into the offensive line at either guard or tackle.