BYU Football: Running Back depth chart in June

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PROVO, UT – SEPTEMBER 9: Squally Canada #22 of the Brigham Young Cougars protects the ball as he runs during their game against the Utah Utes at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /

Battle for the top two spots

4. Zach Katoa

Katoa is the dark horse running back of the group. Many are saying that he is already the best of the group. There will be a learning curve, though. The running back position is often considered the hardest position to adjust to from high school to college. He got a lot of carries In spring ball and proved he can play well. At some point, Katoa will get a chance this season to show that he deserves to be one of the two main running backs. When and whether he will take advantage of the opportunity are the biggest questions.

3. Ula Tolutau

If Tolutau returns in the fall, he’ll come with a lot of upside, but also with some baggage. First, his history with discipline with the honor code is a red flag. If things don’t improve, he may find himself in trouble again. Also, he was a fumbling machine last season, coughing up the ball three times (over 4% of his carries). To give perspective, Jamaal Williams fumbled .02% of his carries and Canada has fumbled on .05% of his carries. Tolutau ran the ball well on some occasions and not so well on others. If he can work on his consistecy and hold onto the ball, he could be part of a dangerous one-two punch alongside Canada.

2. KJ Hall

KJ Hall may not be the best running back, or even a top-two running back, but he is the best receiver in this group. In very limited playing time, Hall has15 catches for 189 yards. Hall also has a different skillset than Squally Canada. Hall likes to juke and outsmart defenders, whereas Canada and Tolutau like to run people over. He would probably be the best option against slower, bigger teams like Wisconsin, while Canada and Tolutau would have a tough time running through those defenders.

1. Squally Canada

Squally’s career has been interesting. Some games have been really good, others not so much. One memory that comes to mind is when Canada carried multiple defenders down the field against Michigan State. Other times, we’re left wondering why Canada didn’t run through a wide-open hole. At the end of the day though, the senior’s experience triumphs. He averages nearly five yards per carry and runs powerfully. The biggest downside to Canada may be that he isn’t a good receiver. In three seasons, Squally has a total of six catches for 13 yards.

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Regardless of who gets the start, BYU seems to have plenty of experience and options in the running back position. Of the 1,934 rushing yards the Cougars had last season, 1,893 were by players coming back this year.

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