Projecting BYU Football’s Depth Chart: End Of Fall Camp Edition

PROVO, Utah – BYU football’s “Camp Kalani” has officially ended.  All focus and preparations now zero in on the rivalry game against the Utah Utes.

Two weeks ago, here at KSL Sports, we put out a projected BYU football depth chart after one week of camp.

BYU will likely put out a depth chart at the Monday press conference in preparation for the Utah game, but nothing will truly be official until the Cougars line up against the Utes on August 29th at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

But let’s take a shot at what that depth chart might look like against the Utes one week from now.

Complete disclosure:  This depth chart is NOT OFFICIAL or coming from BYU.  These are projections based on the “buzz” around the program, limited observation periods during fall camp, coaching staff commentary during interviews, and production from the previous seasons.

Quarterback

1. Zach Wilson

2. Jaren Hall

Towards the tail end of fall camp, Wilson’s shoulder was a non-story. On Wednesday, Wilson said to the media that he’s 100-percent and ready to go for the season.

Running Back

1a. Ty’Son Williams

1b. Lopini Katoa

3. Emmanuel Esukpa

High praise from Kalani Sitake for Ty'Son Williams today after the scrimmage. Using terms such as leader, respect, and special player. #BYU #CampKalani

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) August 10, 2019

This is probably a cop-out answer, but Williams and Katoa are both going to see action next Thursday against Utah. Who will end up with the most carries against the Utes is anyone’s guess at this point.

What I do feel confident with is that Williams, Katoa, and Esukpa emerged as BYU’s top three running back options out of camp. After that trio, the Cougars would then look to Tyler Allgeier and Sione Finau.

X-Wide Receiver

1. Gunner Romney

2. Micah Simon

Nothing has changed here from the previous depth chart projections. Very curious to see how Romney performs against Utah’s secondary. A tough challenge right out of the gate for the former four-star recruit.

Z-Wide Receiver

1. Talon Shumway

2. Keanu Hill

Shumway enters his senior season as the most reliable wide receiver BYU has heading into the 2019 campaign. True freshman Keanu Hill was quite the story in camp despite being banged up with a hamstring injury, Hill made plays and appears to be a freshman who could see playing time this fall.

SLOT Receiver

1. Aleva Hifo

2. Dax Milne

Someone asked about which WR's people should watch for on this year's #BYU team.

Holmoe said, "I like to go with experience. Hifo and Shumway."

Holmoe also brought up Dax Milne.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) August 21, 2019

Will be intriguing to see how Jeff Grimes and the BYU offensive staff utilizes Hifo and Milne in this year’s offense. Both players have received high praise from Fesi Sitake and Jeff Grimes for their playmaking abilities during camp.  Hifo and Milne have even caught the interest of BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe.

Tight End

1. Matt Bushman

2. Moroni Laulu-Pututau*

3. Carter Wheat -OR-

Joe Tukuafu

Now that Laulu-Pututau is cleared academically, his health is of the utmost importance for him to be ready next Thursday. He said to KSL Sports on Cougar Tracks earlier this month that if he’s not 100-percent, he won’t play. The Cougar offense needs him because, without him, they would be turning to tight ends after Bushman that have never played a down in a college football game.

Left Tackle

1. Brady Christensen

2. Thomas Shoaf

Left Guard

1. Keanu Saleapaga

2. Kieffer Longson

Center

1. James Empey

2. Caden Haws

Right Guard

1. Tristen Hoge

2. Kieffer Longson

Right Tackle

1. Harris LaChance

2. Chandon Herring

Your 2019 @BYUfootball OL Belly-Flop champion, Harris LaChance. Brings the same intensity no matter the competition. #BlueGrit pic.twitter.com/ELmUi8pdWx

— Eric Mateos (@CoachMateos) June 20, 2019

BYU’s offensive line is big, violent, and still has their best football ahead of them.  Higher expectations are placed on this group compared to last season, but they are one of the most experienced units on the team.

The two position battles during fall camp along the starting offensive line were at right tackle and left guard. Giving the nod to redshirt freshman Harris LaChance at right tackle and Keanu Saleapaga at left guard over Kieffer Longson. Both Saleapaga and Longson have starting experience and I wouldn’t be surprised if either got the nod against Utah, but my hunch is that Saleapaga gets the start.

Defensive End

1. Zac Dawe

2. Trajan Pili

Nose Guard

1. Khyiris Tonga

2. Earl Tuioti-Mariner

Defensive Tackle

1. Bracken El-Bakri -OR-

Lorenzo Fauatea

Outside Edge

1. Devin Kaufusi

2. Uriah Leiataua

MIC'D UP with @khyiristonga 🔊⬆️
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/5aryCWNi6d

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) August 13, 2019

BYU could go to a 3-4 defense as mentioned by Associate Head Coach Ed Lamb on Cougar Sports Saturday (KSL Newsradio), but for now, we will keep this projection focused on a four-man defensive front.

The defensive tackle spot is the position that is a flip of the coin. Like running back, both El-Bakri and Fauatea are going to see significant amounts of playing time. The interior defensive linemen for BYU this year are the best they’ve been in years and they could give Ilaisa Tuiaki the flexibility to go to a 3-4 because of how versatile many of them are.

Field Linebacker

1. Zayne Anderson

2. Chaz Ah You

Anderson heads into his senior season and has said that this team is closer than previous ones he has been on during his BYU career. He’s been “penciled in” by Ed Lamb since the beginning of camp as BYU’s starting flash.

Middle Linebacker

1. Keenan Pili -OR-

Kavika Fonua -OR-

Payton Wilgar

Ed Lamb said on #BYUCSS that Kavika Fonua is now at 213 pounds and working to get to 215 lbs. Also notes that all four players are still battling to be the starter at middle linebacker (Fonua, Payton Wilgar, Keenan Pili, and Jackson Kaufusi). #BYU #CampKalani

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) August 17, 2019

BYU doesn’t need a star to emerge at middle linebacker. The Cougars have two talented players on the outside. They just need someone who is consistent.

Redshirt Freshman Keenan Pili has been seeing a lot of time as of late with the first team defense. Coaches are high on Kavika Fonua’s potential at linebacker if healthy and Payton Wilgar is one of the best stories out of camp.

This position will likely remain a fluid situation that won’t be settled until someone performs well in games.

Boundary Linebacker

1. Isaiah Kaufusi

2. Max Tooley

Like Anderson, Kaufusi is emerging as a leader of the defense and has been penciled in by Lamb as a starter all off-season.

Left Cornerback

1. Dayan Ghanwoloku

2. Dimitri Gallow

Right Cornerback

1. D’Angelo Mandell

2. Isaiah Herron

The depth at cornerback has been tested during fall camp due to injuries and attrition. Junior College transfer Dimitri Gallow has received a lot of praise for his man-to-man coverage skills since he was cleared to practice. Dayan Ghanwoloku and D’Angelo Mandell would be a solid tandem to start at cornerback.

Free Safety

1. Austin Lee

2. Austin Kafentzis -OR-

Hayden Livingston

Strong Safety

1. Sawyer Powell -OR-

Malik Moore -OR-

Beau Tanner

Hard to get a clear read on the strong safety battle during camp. My initial feeling would be that Sawyer Powell, the oldest player on the team gets the nod to start to begin the season. But Malik Moore is someone that safeties coach Preston Hadley is very high on because of his speed and Beau Tanner might be the biggest surprise of fall camp.

At free safety, Austin Lee is ready to become a star of BYU’s defense in the backend because of the physicality he plays the game with.

Kicker

1. Jake Oldroyd

2. Skyler Southam

Punter

1. Jake Oldroyd

2. Danny Jones

Long Snapper

1. Mitch Harris

2. Britton Hogan

Holder

1. Hayden Livingston

2. Jaren Hall

The leg of Jake “The Make” Oldroyd could be used quite a bit to open up the 2019 season. Oldroyd has appeared to be the leader throughout camp to handle placekicking and punting duties. Kickoffs could be handled by Skyler Southam, but Oldroyd, a former walk-on who’s now on scholarship is likely the guy who BYU will entrust for big kicks and punts.

Have to give love to the long snappers and holders on this edition of the projected depth chart because THE Longsnapper Matt Foley called me out last time. Mitch Harris is a guy you don’t know and that’s a good thing because he’s doing his job really well.

Then Hayden Livingston will likely get the start as the holder on field goal team.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.