BYU Football Depth Chart Quick Hits For Utah Week

PROVO, Utah – The BYU football depth chart for the rivalry contest against Utah is now out. Let’s dive into some quick hits to set the stage for what should be another fun chapter in the BYU-Utah rivalry.

-OR- at wide receiver

With the injury to Gunner Romney that forced him to leave the Arizona game on crutches, the senior is now an -OR- with Chris Jackson. Head coach Kalani Sitake said that Romney was “doubtful” for Saturday’s game against the Utes during his Monday press conference.

Gunner Romney left #BYU's game against Arizona on crutches. The latest on the senior wide receiver heading into the rivalry game.#BYUFootball #GoCougs https://t.co/fNg1mBHW7f

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 6, 2021

Last year, Jackson, a JUCO transfer, had one catch for two yards in the 24-16 win over Arizona.

The other wide receivers include Neil Pau’u as the starter above Keanu Hill. Then at the third receiver spot, an -OR- is still in place for Puka Nacua -OR- his older brother, Samson Nacua. After Saturday’s win over the Wildcats, Sitake said he “feels good” about the Nacua brothers playing against Utah.

Keenan Ellis is off of the BYU football depth chart

After suffering a scary injury in the first quarter of the Arizona game, cornerback Keenan Ellis is off of the depth chart. However, his return to the field isn’t the top priority at this point. Even Kalani Sitake noted that football isn’t something they are worried about. They want Ellis to be healthy.

On Sunday afternoon, BYU spokesperson Brett Pyne provided the following update on Ellis’ recovery.

Update from #BYU on Keenan Ellis:

CT scans conducted Saturday night on Keenan Ellis were normal. He spent the night at University Medical Center in Las Vegas for observation and additional testing. Keenan is out of bed, walking and reports no neck or back pain. @kslsports

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 5, 2021

“CT scans conducted Saturday night on Keenan Ellis were normal. He spent the night at University Medical Center in Las Vegas for observation and additional testing. Keenan is out of bed, walking and reports no neck or back pain.”

Ellis, who was a starter at cornerback, is now replaced by Isaiah Herron. Herron was listed as a backup after the other starter D’Angelo Mandell headed into Arizona’s game. He was the first man off the bench when Ellis went down.

Behind Mandell and Herron is Shamon Willis and Oregon State transfer Kaleb Hayes.

Jake Oldroyd still listed

No “ORs” next to Jake Oldroyd’s name as the kicker. It was a surprise for fans not to see the sophomore kicker out there against Arizona. But it was a surprise for coaches too. Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick pointed out in his Coordinators’ Corner interview he didn’t realize it wasn’t Oldroyd on a 40-yard field goal on Saturday.

BYU answers back with this 40-yard FG from Justen Smith!

BYU – 24
Arizona – 13

🏈 @ArizonaFBall vs @BYUfootball
📍 @AllegiantStadm
📺 @espn
📊 https://t.co/nfG6smi8AK
#LVBowl | #OnlyVegas pic.twitter.com/kQ0OxuXAdx

— SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl (@LasVegasBowl) September 5, 2021

Oldroyd was participating in warmups, but he was a late scratch.

The man who made the 40-yard field goal against Arizona was freshman Justen Smith. Smith played a little bit in relief of Oldroyd in 2020, but he struggled. So stepping into that moment for Oldroyd against the Wildcats was big for BYU.

ROVER

Linebacker Max Tooley practiced last week and was on the travel roster for BYU-Arizona; he participated in warmups and was dressed. However, he had a right knee brace on in pregame, and he didn’t play against the Wildcats. In replace of him was redshirt freshman Ben Bywater.

Ben Bywater getting the start at linebacker in replace of an injured Max Tooley. #BYU #BYUvsAZ #BYUFootball @kslsports

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 5, 2021

Bywater, who dealt with a season-ending injury midway through last year, started in relief of Tooley and racked up 10 tackles, eight of which were solo. A former Olympus High standout, Bywater was a player in 2019 that his defensive teammates were raving about as a young promising player on the scout team.

On BYU’s depth chart, both Tooley and Bywater have an -OR- in between their names at the ROVER spot.

BYU Football Depth Chart for Utah Game

Quarterback

Jaren Hall

Baylor Romney

Jacob Conover

Running Back

Tyler Allgeier

-OR- Lopini Katoa

Wide Receiver

Gunner Romney

-OR- Chris Jackson

Wide Receiver

Neil Pau’u

Keanu Hill

Wide Receiver

Puka Nacua

-OR- Samson Nacua

Tight End

Isaac Rex

Dallin Holker

Fullback

Masen Wake

Left Tackle

Blake Freeland

Brayden Keim

Left Guard

Clark Barrington

Seth Willis

Center

James Empey

Connor Pay

Right Guard

Connor Pay

-OR-Joe Tukuafu

Right Tackle

Harris LaChance

Campbell Barrington

Defense / SE

Lorenzo Fauatea

Gabe Summers

Defensive End

Tyler Batty

Blake Mangelson

Tackle

Earl Tuioti-Mariner

Gabe Summers

John Nelson

Nose

Atunaisa Mahe

Caden Haws

John Nelson

Outside Edge

Uriah Leiataua

Pepe Tanuvasa

Fisher Jackson

JACK

Pepe Tanuvasa

Drew Jensen

FLASH

Payton Wilgar

Jackson Kaufusi

MIKE

Keenan Pili

Josh Wilson

Drew Jensen

ROVER

Max Tooley

-OR- Ben Bywater

CINCO

Morgan Pyper

Ammon Hannemann

NICKEL

Jakob Robinson

-OR- Caleb Christensen

Jacob Boren

Strong Safety

Chaz Ah You

Mitchell Price

Ammon Hannemann

Matt Criddle

Free Safety

Malik Moore

Hayden Livingston

Jared Kapisi

-OR- Javelle Brown

Cornerback

D’Angelo Mandell

Shamon Willis

Cornerback

Isaiah Herron

Kaleb Hayes

Jaylon Vickers

Specialists / Kickoffs

Jake Oldroyd

Justen Smith

-OR- Cash Peterman

Place Kicker

Jake Oldroyd

Justen Smith

Cash Peterman

Holder

Ryan Rehkow

Hayden Livingston

-OR- Talmage Gunther

Long Snapper Place Kicks

Britton Hogan

-OR- Austin Riggs

Long Snapper Punts

Austin Riggs

-OR- Britton Hogan

Punter

Ryan Rehkow

Cash Peterman

Kick Returner

Caleb Christensen

Hobbs Nyberg

Punt Returner

Hobbs Nyberg

Talmage Gunther

Samson Nacua

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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