PROVO, Utah – With the weather warm and the sun shining, BYU football enjoyed much of its third day of practice outside on the practice fields before finishing inside the Indoor Practice Facility.
BYU returns several players on both sides of the ball for the 2022 season, including leading tackler, linebacker, Ben Bywater and key wideout Gunner Romney.
Bywater, the 6-foot-3, 230-pounder from Salt Lake City, led BYU with 102 tackles last season, ranking third among freshman FBS linebackers. This spring he has switched his jersey number for the 2022 season from 33 to 2.
Romney, a top talent in a skilled receivers corps, returns for his senior season in 2022 after totaling 594 receiving yards and three touchdowns while averaging 17.5 yards per receptions last year. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder from Chandler, Arizona, boasts 1,900 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in his career.
Both Romney and Bywater have been participating in spring football and spoke to members of the media following Thursday's practice, the last session for week one of spring. See some of their comments below along with those of offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick.
Offensive Coordinator Aaron Roderick | watch interview
On first week of spring ball
“We have a good team. We like spring ball, we get to play a lot of different lineups, try a lot of different things. It’s doesn’t always look good, but the raw material we are working with is as good as it’s ever been since I’ve been here.”
"There’s a lot of things going on, you’ve got to evolve your scheme a little bit every year. You’ve got to develop your players, some days you look good, some days you don’t but it’s all part of the process.”
On quarterback depth
“Conover’s gotten the most reps with the second team and some with the first, but it’s a good battle over there. There’s ability and potential there that one of the guys will emerge as a clear-cut No. 2. But we’re not in a rush and we’re going to give them all reps.”
On impressive showings in spring thus far
“I’ve been super impressed with Houston Heimuli and Chris Brooks. The professionalism those guys show, they’ve been here less than two months and they know our offense as well as guys who’ve been here for a year or two. They came here for a reason and they want to accomplish something.”
“Our offensive line, those guys are good. Coach Funk has a good problem on his hands to decide how he’s going to sort that out.”
On fullbacks Houston Heimuli and Mason Wake
“We can play with both those guys on the field, it’s not just one or the other. Wake is more than a fullback, we learned that last year. Heimuli is a fullback, true old school. He can block and catch passes.”
On Cody Epps and Chase Roberts
“Cody Epps reminded us the first day of practice why we recruited him. He’s a good football player, a really productive guy, he finds a way to show up every day.”
“Chase has a really bright future. He had mission body and mission legs last year and now he looks like a totally different guy after a year in the weight room. He’s coming along, he’s in a good place.”
On Cade Fennegan
"He’s a very good athlete. He’s got quick feet, he can run and he’s got a quick release.”
Wide Receiver Gunner Romney | watch interview
On decision to return to BYU
"Yeah, there's tons of factors going into it. You have to consider everything because it's not a little decision, this is a decision that could affect the rest of your life. I decided to come back because another year of school, to get my degree, another year of development can help me with my future playing football, so I just think it was the best decision around.
On not having brother Baylor Romney on the team
"On the field it is weird, but especially in the locker room just not having him there because we were locker buddies for the last couple of years. So having him move on to bigger and better things in life is good, but it is definitely interesting. It's definitely a change."
On the depth of the receiver room
"Our receiver room is stacked, especially some of the younger guys stepping up in camp. You get to see some guys who have been injured over the last couple years who are finally healthy and everybody's performing right now. I think we have a really solid group. I don't think there's a dude in the receiver room that hasn't impressed me so far. I think there's just so many dudes that have stepped up and made plays."
On Cody Epps health and progression
"He's a dude that stepped on campus who was a big-time recruit but he's just been plagued with injuries. He's finally healthy and he looks smooth, that's the one word to describe him. He's super polished route runner, even though he hasn't had much experience at the collegiate level, but he's a guy that can step in and make plays just because of that route running ability."
On helping Cody Epps through his recovery
Cody and I are pretty close. He's my locker buddy right now, so we've been talking a lot. He's just been super eager to get on the field and to prove what he can do. That's what we've been talking about is that you need to be confident in yourself so when you actually get back healthy, you can step in and prove it."
On Keanu Hill
"I think he's become a lot more polished in his route running, in his knowledge of defenses and so I think he's going to be a huge factor this year as well."
Linebacker Ben Bywater | watch interview
On his second year
“Having one year under my belt is only going to propel me forward. I am working hard and doing everything the coaches are asking and looking forward to this next season.”
On weight gain
“Everyone’s competing in the weight room. Whether you are out running or in the weight room, everyone is working on getting stronger and putting on the weight. I am 235 right now. I put on around seven to eight pounds for the offseason, and I am planning to play around 235 in August.”
On transfers
“If guys want to transfer, we are going to welcome them and they will be a part of this family, but I know we can win with the guys we have in our locker room right now. Whatever comes our way we are going to make it happen and roll with it.”