As spring football camps go, the one BYU will stage at the end of the month carries very little intrigue, as far as the depth chart is concerned.
That's especially true on the offensive side, as BYU's top quarterback, top running back and top receivers — with one possible exception — all return.
In other words, there's no starting quarterback derby in Provo in 2025, as rising senior Jake Retzlaff has clearly established himself as the man after leading the Cougars to an 11-2 record and Alamo Bowl victory over Coach Prime's Colorado Buffaloes in late December.
Rising junior LJ Martin is RB1, for sure , while senior Chase Roberts — who briefly entertained a departure for the NFL — is back as the Cougars' top pass-catcher. At that position, the biggest question is whether Darius Lassiter will be able to return via the new junior college eligibility rule, or if he even wants to put his NFL dreams on hold and stay in Provo.
It should be noted that despite a court ruling giving Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia more eligibility, several recent waiver applications have been denied.
There is some uncertainty at the tight end spot, as Jackson Bowers transferred to Oregon State, Ryner Swanson departed on a two-year church mission to Kenya , and Ray Paulo, Mason Fakahua, Mata'ava Ta'ase and Keanu Hill graduated.
BYU landed Utah's Carsen Ryan from the transfer portal and he appears to be the starting tight end entering camp, based on experience alone. Others waiting in the wings at that spot include Ethan Erickson, Noah Moeaki, Anthony Olsen and Nason Coleman.
How second-year offensive line coach TJ Woods handles the openings created by the departure to the NFL by tackles Caleb Etienne and Brayden Keim and center Connor Pay remains to be seen, but Woods should have plenty of options. Most notably, returnees Weylin Lapuaho, Isaiah Jatta, Bruce Mitchell, Austin Leausa and Sonny Makasini have remained in the fold. And the addition of Michigan transfer Andrew Gentry, if he can come back strong from a Lisfranc injury, could be huge.
The bottom line, Sitake said last week while announcing his 2025 recruiting class, is that expectations will be much higher this season than last, and the Cougars will have to rely on their "stay humble and hungry" mantra to replicate their surprising success.
"We have a really good team," Sitake said. "We are not going to make a lot of statements about what is going to happen this fall, but we are excited about the program and where we are at."
Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said BYU's biggest challenge in 2025 will be to handle the expectations that are suddenly being heaped on the squad. BYU will probably be picked to finish in the top three of the Big 12 and ranked somewhere between No. 10 and No. 15 in the country .
What will the BYU offense do for an encore? The Cougars' offense in 2024 was better than expected, but not dominant. There were flashes of explosiveness, but when the Cougars really needed to do something special to stay undefeated, they faltered a bit.
That 17-13 loss to Kansas in which the Cougars committed a costly turnover in the red zone, then failed to finish a last-minute drive, obviously kept BYU out of the College Football Playoff. It was devastating, and the offense was to blame.
"You gotta put the losses behind you, and the wins as well, but try to use it all as momentum-building (opportunities) and understand that we are going to have a target on our backs here," Roderick told the KSL Sports Zone on Jan. 24. "We are not going to sneak up on anyone. The next step is how you one-up yourself when people are expecting you to be good. That is going to be the challenge this offseason, is handling success."
The Cougars finished 59th in the country in total offense (392.3 yards per game) and 40th in scoring offense (31.2 points per game).
"We have a chance to be good on offense," Roderick said. "I think we should take another big step forward."
For starters, they need to get better on third down. They were 98th in the country in third-down conversion percentage (37.3%), but it should be noted that Roderick often uses third down to set up something on fourth down. BYU was fifth in the country on fourth down, converting 75% of the time.
With the start of spring practices a little more than two weeks away, here's the Deseret News' annual pre-spring ball glance at BYU's projected offensive depth chart for the 2025 season:
Quarterback:With Retzlaff the unquestioned starter — even if coaches claim the position is wide open — all eyes in spring camp (which begins Feb. 27) will be on the competition for the backup job. Western Michigan transfer Treyson Bourguet and Utah State transfer McCae Hillstead are the candidates, after 2024 signee Noah Lugo entered the transfer portal and landed at UTSA. Walk-on Cole Hagen appears to be in line to be the scout team quarterback.
"McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet are both good players. Those guys have improved a lot. I think coach (Jay) Hill will tell you that both those guys gave our defense fits last season in practice, and I got great reports. They kind of alternated weeks going against the defense, and I think they are both coming along," Roderick said at last week's signing day news conference. "I have confidence in both of them. They both got real game experience under their belts. … They are both good players and I have a lot of confidence that we could win with either one of them."
Running back:Martin ran for 718 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games last year and is clearly BYU's best running back. He showed that with a standout performance in the bowl game.
BYU running back LJ Martin runs against the Colorado Buffaloes during the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
While true freshman Pokaiaua Haunga got a lot of attention in training camp last fall, former Timpview star Sione I. Moa emerged as the primary backup to Martin and Hinckley Ropati, rushing for 144 yards and three touchdowns despite being saddled by an injury.
Look for Moa and Haunga (18 carries, 81 yards) to contend for the RB2 spot, along with perhaps Enoch Nawahine. True freshman Cale Breslin could also push for some carries, especially if injuries sideline the top three, as they always seem to do at BYU in this critical position.
BYU finished 68th in rushing offense (161.0 yards per game) last year, a marked improvement from 2023. An improved offensive line, Retzlaff's ability to run, and a solid running back corps were the reasons why.
Tight end:If not for the signing of Ryan out of the transfer portal, the Cougars might be in a little trouble at tight end, given the aforementioned departures. Ryan began his career at UCLA, transferred to Utah, and is now at BYU. He caught 10 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown with the Utes.
Who will back up the American Fork product is tougher to predict. Among the candidates are redshirt freshman Noah Moeaki and veteran Ethan Erickson, whose BYU career got off to a great start but has been hampered by injuries.
Freshman Tucker Kelleher, who signed in December, is already in Provo, but Roderick cautioned reporters to "pump the brakes" on the freshmen (another signee, Jackson Doman, is going on a mission first) and newcomers until they actually do something in a game.
"The guys who are already here, we already know a little bit about what they can do," Roderick said. "It is a good group."
Receiver:This is another good group, with or without Lassiter. Roberts' return is huge, and gives Retzlaff a go-to guy while the others continue to develop.
Keelan Marion, JoJo Phillips and Parker Kingston are also proven commodities, and Marion and Kingston contribute mightily on special teams, as was evident in several games last year.
BYU wide receiver Chase Roberts celebrates after a touchdown by wide receiver Darius Lassiter, right during game against Baylor on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Waco, Texas. While Roberts will run it back in Provo this fall, Lassiter's future is still up in the air. | Richard W. Rodriguez
BYU ranked 60th in the country in passing offense last year (231.3 yards per game), and 11th in yards per completion (13.86).
Who will emerge as the fifth and sixth receivers on the depth chart? Redshirt freshmen Cody Hagen and Tei Nacua saw a little bit of action last year (Hagen caught three passes) and are expected to continue to get better. Watch for true freshman LaMason Waller to push for a depth chart spot, along with perhaps Dominique McKenzie.
Offensive line:There's some rebuilding to do, as Pay, Etienne and Keim move on. But there is also plenty of talent in the pipeline, most notably Colorado transfer Isaiah Jatta, solid and versatile left guard Weylin Lapuaho, and three guys who picked up valuable experience in 2024: Bruce Mitchell, Sonny Makasini and Austin Leausa.
Throw in Michigan transfer Andrew Gentry , a former four-star recruit out of Colorado, and second-year OL coach TJ Woods has some tools with which to work.
Andrew Gentry of the Michigan Wolverines warms up with Derrick Moore (8) prior to their game against Purdue in Ann Arbor Michigan Saturday night, November 4, 2023. The Cougars landed Gentry out of the transfer portal during the offseason. | Brian Nicholson, para o Deseret News
We've got Gentry and Jatta as the starting tackles, Lapuaho and Makasini as the starting guards, and Mitchell as the starting center. But those are just educated guesses.
"Really excited about those guys that are back," Roderick said. "We are going to miss Pay, Keim and Etienne. Bruce Mitchell coming back gives me peace of mind. He played his butt off at center (when Pay was hurt)."
Roderick mentioned that Ethan Thomason is back from his mission and midyear signee Andrew Williams is already enrolled. Others to watch include SUU transfer Kyle Sfarcioc, Jake Griffin, Joe Brown, Trevin Ostler, Kaden Chidester, Weston Jones and Trevor Pay.
"We should not skip a beat there," Roderick said. "That was probably the biggest difference between 2023 and 2024, was improvement at offensive line. We are nowhere near where we want to be yet. But we made a big improvement and I think those guys will take another big step next year."
Specialists:BYU also made a spectacular leap on special teams, as special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga's guys were sensational. Expect more of the same in 2025.
Kicker Will Ferrin, punter Sam Vander Haar and returners Kingston and Marion are all back, making this the easiest depth chart on the team to predict.
Quarterback
Jake Retzlaff — 6-1, 205, Sr.
McCae Hillstead — 5-10, 190, So.
Treyson Bourguet — 6-2, 210, Jr.
Running Back
LJ Martin — 6-2, 225, Jr.
Sione I. Moa — 5-10, 215, So.
Pokaiaua Haunga — 5-11, 200 R-Fr.
Cale Breslin — 5-11, 186, Fr.
Wide Receiver
Chase Roberts — 6-4, 210, R-Sr.
Keelan Marion — 6-0, 195, R-Sr.
JoJo Phillips — 6-5, 205, R-So.
Parker Kingston — 5-11, 185, R-Jr.
Cody Hagen — 6-0, 185, R-Fr.
Tei Nacua — 6-2, 180, R-Fr. or LaMason Waller — 6-1, 178, Fr.
Tight End
Carsen Ryan — 6-4, 256, Sr.
Ethan Erickson — 6-5, 240, Sr. or Noah Moeaki — 6-3, 240, R-Fr.
Left Tackle
Andrew Gentry — 6-7, 327, R-Jr.
Left Guard
Weylin Lapuaho — 6-4, 305, Sr.
Center
Bruce Mitchell — 6-4, 300, R-Jr.
Right Guard
Sonny Makasini — 6-4, 315, R-Jr.
Right Tackle
Isaiah Jatta — 6-6, 320, Sr.
Offensive line backups:Jake Griffin, Kyle Sfarcioc, Joe Brown, Trevin Ostler, Kaden Chidester, Trevor Pay, Weston Jones, Ethan Thomason, Andrew Williams
Kicker
Will Ferrin — 6-3, 175, R-Sr.
Punter
Sam Vander Haar — 6-0, 220, R-Jr.
Punt returner
Parker Kingston — 5-11, 185, R-Jr.
Kick returner
Keelan Marion — 6-0, 195, R-Sr.
BYU's Keelan Marion (17) scores on a kickoff return at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
