Cougar/Ute Players you expect to take a big step up in 2009

[Ruby Soho]

Cougars:
On Offense I think Chambers will have a nice Sophmore season, similar to Reed's sophmore year, nothing All-MWC worthy, but nice. I also like our OG's (Speredon and Brown), I think they will fill in nicely from the holes left by Feinga and Bright. I'm not a believer in DiLuigi or Te'o, they seem like role-players and not playmakers, we'll see.

On Defense I expect both Rich and Bradley to take big steps up and whoever the guy is that replaces Howard. I dont think Pendleton will really shine until the 2010 season and Bauman, Clawson, Doman, Hooks are all role-players. If the DT replacement for Tialavea can play at the RT 06'/Manu 07' level then I expect both Denney and Jan to be allowed to rush the QB instead of occupy blocks for the LB's. If the DT is consistently overpowered I expect lackluster, statwise, years from both starting DE's. I expect Putnam to shine in 2010, unless injury strikes either starting DE in 09'.

For the Utes, I honestly don't know their roster that well, but I expect on Offense for Aiona Key to shine. I like David Reed, but IMO that kid has already stepped up and is a known asset. I also think Shakerin will be a very good RB when Asiata graduates/suffers injury. On Defense Shelby will go from MWC unknown to All-MWC level DE, I think he has more potential than Misi. I also think that Conroy Black will be the next great Ute DB when his time comes.

[Indy Coug]

No one will step up for BYU, and I don't care enough about Utah to even hazard a guess.

[byu71]

Cougars:
On Offense I think Chambers will have a nice Sophmore season, similar to Reed's sophmore year, nothing All-MWC worthy, but nice. I also like our OG's (Speredon and Brown), I think they will fill in nicely from the holes left by Feinga and Bright. I'm not a believer in DiLuigi or Te'o, they seem like role-players and not playmakers, we'll see.

On Defense I expect both Rich and Bradley to take big steps up and whoever the guy is that replaces Howard. I dont think Pendleton will really shine until the 2010 season and Bauman, Clawson, Doman, Hooks are all role-players. If the DT replacement for Tialavea can play at the RT 06'/Manu 07' level then I expect both Denney and Jan to be allowed to rush the QB instead of occupy blocks for the LB's. If the DT is consistently overpowered I expect lackluster, statwise, years from both starting DE's. I expect Putnam to shine in 2010, unless injury strikes either starting DE in 09'.

For the Utes, I honestly don't know their roster that well, but I expect on Offense for Aiona Key to shine. I like David Reed, but IMO that kid has already stepped up and is a known asset. I also think Shakerin will be a very good RB when Asiata graduates/suffers injury. On Defense Shelby will go from MWC unknown to All-MWC level DE, I think he has more potential than Misi. I also think that Conroy Black will be the next great Ute DB when his time comes.

I think we have some nice or even very good players on defense. However, I don't think we have enough good players to carry the balance of the load. I fear our defense being on the field.

The good news is, I am about as good as ex-ute or Catblue at predicting these type of things.

[SeattleUte]

Cougars:
On Offense I think Chambers will have a nice Sophmore season, similar to Reed's sophmore year, nothing All-MWC worthy, but nice. I also like our OG's (Speredon and Brown), I think they will fill in nicely from the holes left by Feinga and Bright. I'm not a believer in DiLuigi or Te'o, they seem like role-players and not playmakers, we'll see.

On Defense I expect both Rich and Bradley to take big steps up and whoever the guy is that replaces Howard. I dont think Pendleton will really shine until the 2010 season and Bauman, Clawson, Doman, Hooks are all role-players. If the DT replacement for Tialavea can play at the RT 06'/Manu 07' level then I expect both Denney and Jan to be allowed to rush the QB instead of occupy blocks for the LB's. If the DT is consistently overpowered I expect lackluster, statwise, years from both starting DE's. I expect Putnam to shine in 2010, unless injury strikes either starting DE in 09'.

For the Utes, I honestly don't know their roster that well, but I expect on Offense for Aiona Key to shine. I like David Reed, but IMO that kid has already stepped up and is a known asset. I also think Shakerin will be a very good RB when Asiata graduates/suffers injury. On Defense Shelby will go from MWC unknown to All-MWC level DE, I think he has more potential than Misi. I also think that Conroy Black will be the next great Ute DB when his time comes.

Good post. Thanks. My dark horse pick is Jordan Wynn, maybe the best Ute QB recruit since Scott Mitchell.

[SeattleUte]

No one will step up for BYU, and I don't care enough about Utah to even hazard a guess.

Ostrich.

[Hot Lunch]

I expect to see some things from Brett Thompson. I have heard nothing but really good things about this kid and what he has been doing this summer with the team. With some other things happening at Wide Receiver this year for BYU, i expect Brett to make and impact this fall.

[Hot Lunch]

I also think that Conroy Black will be the next great Ute DB when his time comes.

Is Black the kid that played opposite Aguierre?

If so, then I agree with you on that kid. I feel a little dirty endorsing a JC kid though because it goes against the way I typically feel about JC guys.

[RockyBalboa]

Is Black the kid that played opposite Aguierre?

If so, then I agree with you on that kid. I feel a little dirty endorsing a JC kid though because it goes against the way I typically feel about JC guys.

Yes that's the kid. Many people feel the reason why Aguirre was able to lead all of JUCO in INT's the past 2 years combined was because of Conroy Black, because no one threw to his side of the field...ever.

[RockyBalboa]

I actually like Malosi Te'o a lot and think in time he will become a fan favorite.

I think several at WR have a chance to step up, including Chambers, Jacobsen and....like HL said....Brett Thompson is going to open some eyes.

I'm still bullish on Brandon Bradley and think he'll have a very good year.

I think Andrew Rich will surprise a lot of people and compete for ALL-MWC contention, in the meantime Yewt "fans" will continue complaining about his cheapshot (cough, cough..legal hit) on Braden Godfrey.

I think Thomas Bryson will surprise some as a True Freshman. I think Jordan Pendleton will show everyone why coaches moved him to OLB...and will have a good year...but I think your'e right in that 2010 will be the year he really starts kicking some butt. I also think Coleby Clawson will have a better year than last and be a very good player for us.

I'm not worried about the O-line as a whole. Sure...in the Oklahoma game,,,their first game as starters together they'll probably get their asses handed to them, but other than, our O-line will be fine. There's a lot of talent and depth there.

For the Utes...the one guy on offense that will burst onto the scene is Redshirt Freshman WR Luke Matthews while Sausan Shakerin will give Ute fans a fun glimpse into the future about what he'll be doing for 2010 and beyond. On Defense, hard to pick cause they already have several established players there and I think Misi is already an established and known about talent, so I'll go with what Ruby said and pick Derrick Shelby to have a breakout year.

[Ruby Soho]

Yes that's the kid. Many people feel the reason why Aguirre was able to lead all of JUCO in INT's the past 2 years combined was because of Conroy Black, because no one threw to his side of the field...ever.

This is why I like Aguirre so much. Not only is he a playmaker(5 blocked FG/PAT's, and 17 INT's), but I like kids that capitalize on their opportunities. He's like the opposite of Brandon Howard, and being the opposite of Brandon Howard is a good thing.

[Hot Lunch]

I actually like Malosi Te'o a lot and think in time he will become a fan favorite.

I really like Malosi. I like what I saw this spring when I attended a few practices and I also like what I heard from his teammates. I think he will be a great complement to Harvey this year.

[SeattleUte]

Devonte Christopher.

[Goatnapper'96]

I actually like Malosi Te'o a lot and think in time he will become a fan favorite.

I think several at WR have a chance to step up, including Chambers, Jacobsen and....like HL said....Brett Thompson is going to open some eyes.

I'm still bullish on Brandon Bradley and think he'll have a very good year.

I think Andrew Rich will surprise a lot of people and compete for ALL-MWC contention, in the meantime Yewt "fans" will continue complaining about his cheapshot (cough, cough..legal hit) on Braden Godfrey.

I think Thomas Bryson will surprise some as a True Freshman. I think Jordan Pendleton will show everyone why coaches moved him to OLB...and will have a good year...but I think your'e right in that 2010 will be the year he really starts kicking some butt. I also think Coleby Clawson will have a better year than last and be a very good player for us.

I'm not worried about the O-line as a whole. Sure...in the Oklahoma game,,,their first game as starters together they'll probably get their asses handed to them, but other than, our O-line will be fine. There's a lot of talent and depth there.

For the Utes...the one guy on offense that will burst onto the scene is Redshirt Freshman WR Luke Matthews while Sausan Shakerin will give Ute fans a fun glimpse into the future about what he'll be doing for 2010 and beyond. On Defense, hard to pick cause they already have several established players there and I think Misi is already an established and known about talent, so I'll go with what Ruby said and pick Derrick Shelby to have a breakout year.

I think offensively that the lack of depth at receiver will benefit Spencer George, Malosi Teo and Manase Tonga or Paul Kariya. What I mean by lack of receiver depth is that I think BYU will get to the season with effectively Chambers, Jacobsen and Thompson as its really only capable players. I think BYU will play a great deal of 2 TE sets with George and Brown in addition to Pitta and plenty of two back sets with Malosi and Unga in a double halfback set or plenty of fullbacks with Manase and Kariya.

Defensively, I think Rich is going to be good and I am really interested what comes of Jordan Pendleton. I think the defense this year will be what I somewhat expected last year in that it will start somewhat slow but will get to be decent by the end of the year. I really have no clue what to make of the DL issues so I am just waiting until September to comment on that. I still thought BYU's biggest issue last year was piss poor ILB and safety play. I thought BYU was so exposed up the middle that it forced the outside players to be too focussed on the middle and thus exposed BYU on the edge more than BYU should have been. I think this year BYU won't be as good on the edge as they were with Nixon, but I think the ILB will be improved and I think the safety play will be good. I don't expect it to be the abortion delivered live it was at times last year during the second half of the season, but I am not expecting a surprise like I saw in 2006.

As for Utah they historically reload instead of rebuild.

[RockyBalboa]

I still thought BYU's biggest issue last year was piss poor ILB and safety play. I thought BYU was so exposed up the middle that it forced the outside players to be too focussed on the middle and thus exposed BYU on the edge more than BYU should have been

Absolutely...that was why BYU started slotting Jan to line up more on the inside trying to stop the run instead of unleashing him to do what he does best.....rush the QB.

A lot of people for whatever reason have been hesistant to criticize Russell Tialavea, but the fact is he had a terrible season in 08' and simply just wasn't the same guy after returning from his devastating knee injury. Our Inside Linebackers were just as bad...... Bauman was getting swallowed up, Shawn Doman rarely took the right angles....Matt Ah You was slower than molasses and Terrance Hooks didn't return til the end and even then still wasn't even close back to full speed.

Not to mention Kellen Fowler might've been the worst starting safety we've had at BYU that I can remember...and we're talking about a kid that was actually worse than the Spencer Whites of the world. I mean...that's just brutally bad. A guy that in his last game against AZ was still making major errors that you expect from a True Freshman,,,not a 5th Year Senior.

[Senioritis]

Everything I hear about Luke Matthews makes my nipples hard. He's probably the totally unproven guy I'm most excited about.

I think Utah's offense will rely heavily on Matt Asiata late in low scoring games, and I expect a lot of low scoring games. I don't think he's a breakout player, because he's well known, but I think he'll be relied on to chew up a lot of clock.

On defense, it's the corners. The Ute defense looks pretty freaking good everywhere else. But the entire defensive scheme is based on corners that can cover. It will be a large step down from Smith and McCain, but the most important guy on defense, in my humble opinion, will be whoever starts at corner opposite Stanford.