The receiving corps has disappointed for BYU football over the past few years. A mix of returners and fresh faces will look to change that this season.
To say that the receiving corps has been underachieving for the last two seasons would be an understatement.
In 2017, the offense accounted for 230 receptions for a measly 2,573 yards, ranking No. 82 in the nation. The season before, the squad grabbed 245 catches for just 2,573 yards, putting them at No. 90.
The wide receivers must increase their production to have any chance at getting BYU football back to its winning ways. A glance at recent history proves the point.
During Bronco Mendenhall’s tenure, four teams finished the season ranked in the AP Top 25. Of these, all gained 3,659 receiving yards or more, and ended in the nation’s Top 20 in this category.
Let’s examine the candidates that will attempt to change the fortunes of the Cougar receiving game.
The Returners
Three contributors from last year, Aleva Hifo (37 rec/437 yds), Micah Simon (27 rec/ 386 yds) and Talon Shumway (25 rec/ 257 yds), have all made a claim for playing time. It appears all three are still in the running to be in the rotation this fall.
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All three showed flashes of brilliance in 2017, but will need to do more than the status quo if they plan on contributing next season. To have success, the program must gain more yards through the air.
Hifo has impressed coaches early. During the Idaho Falls Fan Fest, new wide receivers coach Fesi Sitake said, “(we) love Aleva and think he’s going to do really well this season.”
There is no doubt that he is an athletic specimen. He has incredible quickness, and an uncanny ability to get open in small windows on the field.
Hopefully he is developing the parts of his game that were lacking last year. Though he leads these returners in receiving yards, he also had some costly drops that cost the Cougars in some crucial moments last season.
Neil Pau’u and Akile Davis have done enough to stay in the conversation as well. Both had minor roles in 2017, but demonstrated ability and potential to make a bigger mark this time around. Inoke Lotulelei appears to be developing into a nice option at the slot receiver.