As we draw nearer and nearer to the kickoff of BYU's 2025 football season, we as Cougar fans are filled with hopes of great things to come. As we look forward to what could be a special season, here are superlatives for five of BYU's most important players:
Most Likely to Succeed - Chase Roberts, WR
Even with the quarterback position up in the air, Chase Roberts is a special player who is poised for a monster senior season. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound receiver flirted with the NFL Draft after the end of BYU's outstanding 11-2 season last year, but ultimately chose to return to Provo for one more year of college football.
While BYU won games last year with Jake Retzlaff under center, Retzlaff's passing numbers weren't all that impressive. He averaged just 227 yards per game, a number that could be equaled if not surpassed by whoever wins this year's quarterback battle. Last year, Chase Roberts hauled in 52 receptions for 854 yards, and with his NFL stock hanging in the balance this year, he could exceed 1,000 yards.
Most Likely to Be President - Keanu Tanuvasa, DT
Since transferring to BYU from rival Utah this year, Keanu Tanuvasa has been an exemplary leader in Provo. He has an aura of humble confidence. In media interviews, he's insightful, can explain the big picture, and has a quick wit about him. The redshirt junior arrived at BYU coming off an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention campaign last year despite playing an injury-shortened season. According to coach Kalani Sitake, Tanuvasa has been "a leader from Day 1".
Plus, the President of the United States has to be comfortable with making decisions that will receive criticisms, complaints, and contempt from about half of the country. Given the tensions that arise between BYU and Utah fans any time a player transfers between their programs, Tanuvasa is currently navigating those waters.
Most Dependable - Will Ferrin, K
Field goal kicking in college football is usually a crapshoot. Football fans who regularly watch the NFL get spoiled by watching the 32 best kickers on the planet regularly drill 50-plus yard field goals with ease. In college football, sometimes even extra points can cause sphincters to tighten.
But BYU fans have the rare pleasure of having a kicker in Will Ferrin who is heads and shoulders better than most college kickers. There's a reason he is a 2025 preseason All-American this year after last year being named Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year: Will Ferrin is Mr. Dependable.
Biggest Flirt - LJ Martin, RB
Ah, LJ! His tantalizing potential makes the hearts of BYU fans swoon. But up to this point, LJ has been more of a flirt than a steady relationship. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior running back clearly has 1,000-plus yard potential, but injuries continue to limit his production. While he has played in 20 games in two seasons for the Cougars, he has been hampered by shoulder and ankle injuries.
Even then, he has carried the ball 246 times for 1,236 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging just over five yards per carry. Martin could have a breakout season this year, well exceeding 1,000 rushing yards, if he can stay fully healthy and carry the load for a new starting quarterback.
Biggest Enigma - BYU's defensive ends
Going back to BYU's previous defensive coaching staff, the Cougars' defensive ends have not been able to regularly pressure quarterbacks and rack up sacks. Since Jay Hill's arrival prior to the 2023 season, things have been looking up, and the foundation is more solid, but the process has yet to bear fruit.
BYU's defensive ends possess talent, but few of them are experienced and even fewer have been productive at the Power Four level. Guys like Bodie Schoonover, Logan Lutui, Tausili Akana, Hunter Clegg, Ephraim Asiata, and Viliami Po'uha will be competing for snaps this year. It remains to be seen if just how effective this unit will be, giving them the "biggest enigma" label.