Five Questions For BYU Football Entering 2021 Season

PROVO, Utah  – With training camp in the rearview mirror and game week here, the 2021 BYU football season could be another fun one for Kalani Sitake’s program.

The past month of practices was a great opportunity for the coaching staff to gain some answers with this year’s team. But what questions remain?

Here are five questions/concerns that I’m thinking of for the Cougars heading into the opener against Arizona on Saturday night.

Can BYU have similar success against a tougher schedule?

This right here is what makes BYU potentially one of the interesting storylines in college football this season. From a national perspective, very few believe BYU could come anywhere close to the 11-win campaign they put together a year ago.

With Zach Wilson now starting at quarterback for the New York Jets and seven Power Five teams on the schedule. It’s easy for many to assume that BYU goes back to its 7-6 ways. The 2021 schedule has name recognition, but on paper, it doesn’t appear to be the toughest slate the Cougars have faced during their unique path of Independence.

But, if they can navigate the 2021 schedule with an 8 or 9-win record in the regular season, it could set the table for a lot of national buzz in 2022 and beyond for Kalani Sitake’s program.

Should depth along the offensive line be a concern?

What a luxury BYU had last year to pair a generational talent at quarterback with an elite offensive line. Brady Christensen, Tristen Hoge, and Chandon Herring are all gone. But BYU has the pieces in place for a quality starting five, plus one.

Blake Freeland and Harris LaChance, both of BYU’s starting offensive tackles, check in at 6-foot-8 and have the potential to be future NFL draft picks in their own right. James Empey is the anchor of it all at the center spot. He’s a captain and an All-American candidate this season.

Aaron Roderick on #BYU's offensive line.

"We have a good offensive line. I keep getting a lot of questions about our depth there, and I don't really get it. A lot of those guys have played a lot of football."#BYUFootball @kslsports

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 2, 2021

But after the first six guys, you could say there are questions about how ready those guys are due to the lack of game snaps. That’s where the concerns potentially lie with this unit.

However, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick is not concerned about the depth along the offensive line.

Brayden Keim and Campbell Barrington have bright futures ahead of them at the tackle spots, but they lack snaps. So it’s an area to continue monitoring throughout the season.

How good is the defensive line?

Over the course of Camp Kalani practices, the defensive line garnered a lot of praise from BYU players and coaches. None of the personnel in that room right now are household names, but they have the talent to surprise many people.

Just how good are they?

Sacks are not the primary focus for defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Ilaisa Tuiaki. Instead, its points allowed and yards per play. BYU was one of the best in college football last season in limiting explosive plays. If BYU’s defensive line with Tyler Batty, Uriah “Lopa” Leiataua, Atunaisa Mahe, and Earl Tuioti-Mariner can create havoc upfront, this defense can potentially be the best since Tuiaki took over in 2016.

But for right now, they have to prove it on a week-in, week-out basis. So the first three weeks will be great tests for this group.

Who are the players after Ah You and Moore at safety?

BYU found answers during camp with Chaz Ah You and Malik Moore locking down the starting spots at safety. But after them, there remain some concerns. BYU safeties coach Ed Lamb likes the room that he has and noted that Ammon Hannemann was a player that made a lot of progress during camp.

#BYU got some much needed answers over the past month at the biggest position battle on defense.#BYUFootball #GoCougs https://t.co/jVYCM2IHrA

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 31, 2021

Moore trained hard over the off-season in California and with Ah You, Keenan Ellis, and D’Angelo Mandell. He’s ready to step into a spotlight role.

After Moore and Ah You, is where the questions remain. Mitchell Price climbed the depth chart during camp, and Hayden Livingston has starter experience. Both Ah You and Moore have a history of injuries, so if they can stay healthy throughout the 2021 season, that would go a long way in BYU potentially replicating the success they had on defense a season ago.

Will BYU football have a return game in 2021?

Last year, BYU football ranked 105th in punt returns and 59th in kickoff returns. This season Hobbs Nyberg returns as the starting punt returner. Along with coaching the safeties, Ed Lamb also serves as the Special Teams Coordinator. He puts a large emphasis on having sure-handed players at the returner spots. Nyberg fits that bill.

But if BYU can have a threat in the return game, it would pair up nicely with a pair of elite specialists the Cougars have in Jake Oldroyd at kicker and Ryan Rehkow at punter.

Caleb Christensen was a dynamite return specialist in high school up in the Cache Valley. He’s going to be a starting kick returner with Nyberg against Arizona. So keep an eye on him to possibly provide some fireworks.

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

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