BYU football: Cougars’ mid-season award winners
BYU football has had a forgettable 2017 season. However, there have still been a few bright spots for the Cougars. Here are the mid-season award winners.
BYU football’s 2017 has been filled with disappointment, injuries, poor play and overall sourness. No one really expected the Cougars to fall off the map in year two under Kalani Sitake, but here we are.
After starting the year 1-6, things can only get better for BYU football.
Still, even with the worst start since 1968, there have been a few players worth recognizing. Sure, we may be trying to find silver linings here, but what’s left for Cougar Nation to do?
So here’s the good (and the bad, and the ugly) from the first half of BYU’s 2017 season.
Best Defensive Player – Fred Warner
Fred Warner has played like a man possessed this season. Even when BYU football is out of the game, Warner has continued to go hard. It’s been impressive to watch. He also appears to be the Cougars’ lone vocal leader in the locker room. It certainly looks like he’ll be in the NFL soon, so we should enjoy the rest of his time here – because he’s been truly great.
Honorable Mentions: Dayan Ghanwoloku and Khyiris Tonga
Best Offensive Player – Matt Bushman
Matt Bushman has been one of the lone true bright spots of BYU’s offense. The freshman tight end turned heads during the spring game, but carried over that momentum into the regular season. He currently leads BYU football in receptions (24) and yards (252) by far and seems to be the safety blanket of Tanner Mangum.
Honorable Mentions: Tejan Koroma and Ula Tolutau
Best Defensive Newcomer – Khyiris Tonga
Tonga isn’t even in great shape, still working back into condition following his mission – and he’s still shown flashes of dominance. It seems like he can win a one-on-one battle with just about anyone. I can’t wait to see what he does next season.
Honorable Mention: N/A
Best Offensive Newcomer – Matt Bushman
If he’s the best offensive player, he better be the best newcomer. It was tempting to give this to Ula Tolutau, but ultimately his fumbling issues kept him from taking it. Instead, Bushman will get twice the recognition.
Honorable Mention: Ula Tolutau
Biggest Defensive Disappointment – Sione Takitaki
Last season, BYU struggled to get a consistent pass rush. With Sione Takitaki’s return, most figured he’d provide the spark the team missed a year ago. Unfortunately for the Cougars, it hasn’t happened. There’s still not enough pressure getting generated – and that falls on the shoulders of the defense’s sack specialist.
Honorable Mention: N/A
Biggest Offensive Disappointment – Tanner Mangum
Not counting injuries, Tanner Mangum has been a massive disappointment this season. After an offseason of speculation concerning his future, he’s played his way out of any NFL shot this year. Knowing he’ll be back for his senior year is good – because I still believe he’s a talented quarterback. But he hasn’t looked right since 2015. This year he has seven interceptions to just three touchdowns.
Honorable Mention: Jonah Trinnaman
Best Coaching – Ed Lamb
BYU’s special teams units are some of the best in the nation – just like they were a season ago. That’s the group Lamb focuses on, so he deserves a ton of credit. Outside of the special teams, Ed Lamb truly was a huge get for the Cougars. I’m not sure how long he’ll remain in Provo – because bigger schools will come knocking eventually – so we need to appreciate him while he’s here.
Honorable Mention: Steve Clark
Worst Coaching – Ben Cahoon
I’m sure many believe this should be Ty Detmer, but I just don’t think I can go that far yet. I know the offense has been terrible – but I still think he needs time. I think Detmer trusts the coaches on the offense to let him know their best players, and there’s a glaring lack of talent at wide receiver. Cahoon’s first tenure at BYU paired him with Cody Hoffman (that is to say, it’s easy to look good with a player like that) and then he was out of coaching until Sitake came calling. Maybe there was a reason for it. The receivers aren’t getting better – incredibly disappointing when you consider how big of a get Jonah Trinnaman was supposed to be for the Cougars.
Honorable Mention: Reno Mahe, Ty Detmer
Biggest Head Scratcher – Riley Burt’s Usage
On the season, Riley Burt has two carries. That’s the same as Koy Detmer and Beau Tanner. In an offense that’s struggling to find a spark – and with a sophomore running back who was a track star – I don’t understand how he hasn’t gotten more looks.
Honorable Mention: Mangum’s fall from grace