BYU Football: Five big questions as fall camp kicks off
By Shaun Gordon
BYU Football starts fall camp, and with less than a month until the first kickoff, the Cougar still need answers to some pressing questions.
Football is finally here.
On Thursday, BYU Football will begin their fall camp, just less than a month before they’ll kick off against Arizona in the opening game.
While fans won’t be able to watch the practices, we’ll get reports as things progress. That’ll be especially important this season, as the Cougars enter camp with a handful of unanswered questions.
One of those is well-known, but some others that need to be resolved before the season starts have flown under the radar.
Let’s take a look at the five biggest questions facing BYU Football heading into fall camp.
No. 5: Special Teams Battles
Everything is up in the air this season when it comes to special teams.
Starting at kicker, we could see one or more of four different players attempt field goals in 2018.
Last season, Rhett Almond (Sr.) was unspectacular as the primary kicker. He hit 13 of his 19 attempts, with a long of 46 yards. He’s a serviceable option, but wouldn’t turn the kicking game into a reliable weapon unless he shows improvement.
Andrew Mikkelsen (Sr.) attempted one field goal last year and hit it, a 35-yarder. The Oregon State transfer manned kickoff duties in 2017, and he seems more suited to keep that role. He could impress in camp though and steal the field goal duties too.
In the media day depth chart, Jared Kapisi (So.) was also listed as a possible kicker (and punter). He’s listed on the roster at defensive back and he’ll compete there, but he kicked and punted in high school and will get a chance to earn a spot with his foot.
Then there’s the wild card. Former 4-Star recruit Skyler Southam (Fr.) returned from his mission in January, and he’s working to get back into kicking shape and form. He was one of the top kickers in the nation in high school, and if he regains that form before September 1st he’ll get the job. Of all of the candidates, Southam is the only one with the potential to become a true weapon for the Cougars.
The punter spot is wide open too. With Jonny Linehan gone, look for a camp battle between Almond, Kapisi, Southam, and Danny Jones (Fr.). Jones is an Australian with a rugby background, so he’ll have to prove that he’s adjusted to football in order to win the battle.
The return game is even more up in the air. The media day depth chart listed seven different Cougars as possible punt and kick returners: Micah Simon (Jr.), Aleva Hifo (Jr.), Dayan Ghanwoloku (Jr.), Trey Dye (Sr.), Michael Shelton (Sr.), Matt Hadley (Sr.), and Dylan Collie (Sr.).