Jeff Grimes Is Excited About BYU’s Wide Receivers ‘As A Whole’

PROVO, Utah – BYU’s offense looks poised to take a step forward in the 2019 season.  The one position group that raises some question marks right now is the wide receiver unit.

There’s talent in that group, but not much production heading into the season.  Also, the legal troubles of junior Neil Pau’u also pose concerns as well and his status with the team going forward.

Those concerns are there for those on the outside looking in at BYU football.  For BYU offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, he’s not worried.

“I think we’ve got a really good stable of wide receivers,” said Grimes on the Cougar Tracks podcast.  “Honestly, I felt like that position probably had -of all positions- the best performance throughout the spring.  From day one to day 15, those guys showed up every day and worked really hard. From top to bottom, I felt like that group outperformed a lot of others.”

BYU’s top three wide receivers heading into fall camp consist of seniors Talon Shumway and Aleva Hifo at the Z-receiver and SLOT-receiver respectively.  Then sophomore Gunner Romney, who is currently Zach Wilson’s roommate at the X-receiver spot.

Shumway and Hifo saw significant time last season while Romney would have seen more time had it not been for injuries that plagued him during his freshman campaign.

“I give Fesi (Sitake) a lot of credit,” said Grimes. “He’s doing a great job coaching those guys and motivating them and teaching them.  There is a lot of experience coming back.  Some guys who have been here for three years, some guys who have been here for one year.  But we’ve got a lot of guys who have played in games now. That certainly helps.”

Despite the uncertainty around Pau’u there is experience returning after the top three players.  Sophomore Dax Milne, who received a scholarship last January, is expected to make significant contributions this year along with senior Micah Simon.

“Our game is one that I think experience really matters,” said Grimes. “…maybe even more so than in other sports.  I think that’s certainly true on offense.  There’s so much strategy involved in the game and knowledge makes such a difference.  I’m excited about them as a whole more so than just one individual player.”

If you bring the whole wide receiver position together for BYU you also have to include redshirt freshman Brayden Cosper.  Cosper is still recovering from a knee injury he suffered last season.  True freshman Talmage Gunther who was a heralded quarterback at Lone Peak High participated in spring ball this past March.  Then Luc Andrada and Javelle Brown are added to the mix as well.  Both Andrada and Brown arrived on campus this past weekend.

Listen to my conversation with Jeff Grimes in the Cougar Tracks podcast below.

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.