2023 BYU Football Fall Camp Wraps Up

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, defensive coordinator Jay Hill and offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick met with members of the media on Tuesday as the Cougars plan to finish fall camp and start game prep for Sam Houston and the season opener on Sept. 2. 

View the 2023 BYU Football Fall Camp Photo Gallery. 

Read select comments from Coach Sitake, Hill and Roderick below. 

BYU Head Coach Kalani Sitake
On Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Coordinators
“I am really comfortable with those guys leading the defense and the offense, and with Kelly Poppinga leading our special teams. I think the team is in a good spot right now and we will take advantage of the practices we have left to get ready for that first game. I have been really happy with what I have seen from our coordinators in all three phases.”

“I have coaches that want to just get work done, which is always a positive for me. They are very like-minded, so a lot of times the concerns or questions I have are already corrected before I can even mention it.”

On his focus during this camp
“Having all these coordinators I am super comfortable with has freed up more time for me to focus on the players individually. Any time I want to evaluate a position group, I can spend a little more time doing that than in years past because I am not as worried about schemes or play calls.”

On going into the Big 12 Conference
“I appreciate the job that I have, and I love BYU football. The energy every year when the season starts gets better and better, and this year is no different. Going into the new conference brings even more excitement, and I anticipate seeing our guys play at their highest level. This year, it’s not so much about the opponents, it’s about preparing our guys to perform at their best for 12 games.”

On health status of the team after fall camp
“Micah Harper was the only season-ending injury we had during fall camp. We are still evaluating some of our other guys who got banged up during camp, but it will come down to who is ready to go for that first game.”

On how all the new players have assimilated
“These guys love each other, there is no way to fake it. You can tell there is something genuine with this team. It’s a huge compliment to the guys that are already here, welcoming all the newcomers from other schools or missions. I give a lot of credit to the coaches for making sure we brought the right people into our program. It’s not just about the talent we see on the field, but finding guys who fit our culture and our team has been really important to us. We feel really good about the group that is here, and they have done an amazing job both on and off the field. There is a brotherhood and love in that locker room that is really special.”

On what needs to happen before game one
“We will just keep working. If we continue with the trajectory we are on, we will be ready by the time we get to game one on September 2. I am concerned about everything as a coach because I want to be over prepared going into this season, and luckily the other coaches and players all feel the same way.”

On this team being equipped for adversity
“I think the approach to this year is to talk about adversity right away because it is going to happen. There will be adversity for these guys in their personal lives, academics and on the field. I think planning for the worst is not a bad thing because we are a people of preparation. We will talk about how to navigate success, but also how to navigate obstacles. We have been talking about it with our players all camp, and I think the battles between offense and defense shows they are taking what we have said to heart.”

Associate Head Coach/Defensive coordinator Jay Hill 
On what the defense accomplished in fall camp
“I thought we took a big step forward from spring ball in familiarizing ourselves with the scheme and figuring out what we need to accomplish with the plays we’re running. The coaches are a lot more comfortable with who the players are and what they’re about. The depth chart is shaping up. I wouldn’t say it’s ever set in stone. You might get into the first game and a guy who was going to get 10 reps is playing great, so he ends up getting 40 or 50 reps, then ends up being a full-time starter. The depth chart is always a work in progress but it’s much more solidified than it was at the start of camp. I know we’re trending in the right direction with expectation, running to the football and tenacity. We’ve also become a much better tackling team through camp.” 

On what needs to improve in preparation for game one
“There’s still a tendency for players to feel like they have to do more than their job. You see guys freelancing a little bit, trying to make a play or do something they don’t necessarily need to do at that time. When we’re giving up plays it’s because of that. We need to continue to clean up. Pad level is always something you’re focusing on to try and get better. That was a big emphasis yesterday in practice. I believe playing hard is a learned behavior, it’s not something you’re born with. That’s something we’re continuing to get better at. We’re headed in a positive direction there but not where we need to be yet.” 

On Weber State transfer cornerbacks Eddie Heckard and Kamden Garrett
“Eddie’s been outstanding. He brings a toughness and tenacity. It only took our players one or two practices to realize why I brought him from Weber State and why I wanted him with me. He does things the right way. He’s an intimidating force on the field with how physically and disciplined he plays. I’ll mention [cornerback] Kamden Garrett too. Those guys have brought a presence. They know my expectations and have helped me relay to the other players exactly what we want to accomplish. They’re both playing at a very high level right now.  

On how he plans to manage in-game substitutions
“Each position group is different. The defensive line will rotate a little bit more than the other position groups just to keep those guys fresh and make sure we have pass rushers in the game when we get to 3rd down. The linebackers will rotate a little bit less than the defensive line. The secondary won’t rotate much at all. There are substitutions that will occur at each position group here and there because you want to develop players too. We have some good young players coming up through the program who deserve to play but they also need to earn their stripes. You will see substitutions, but I don’t think it will be to the extent that you’ve seen here in the past. I think you’re going to see great special teams from us because a lot of those guys who were getting the 3s and 4s reps on defense in the past will be all throughout our special teams. That’s going to really aid in those groups being better. The best guys will be on the field the most.”  

On players who stood out to him during fall camp
“[Cornerback] Jakob Robinson has played at a high level. I like the development of some of our corners who might not play as much. They’ve shown that the future at that position is very bright. Coach [Jernaro] Gilford has done a great job with those guys. Ben Bywater, Max Tooley and AJ Vongphachanh played exactly the way fans had expected them too. I expect them to play well throughout the year. There are five or six guys behind them battling for playing time and those guys are going to be really good players too. Isaiah Glasker stands out. Ace Kaufusi played well, so did Siale Esera and Harrison Taggart. [Defensive tackle] Atunaisa Mahe has had his best camp since he’s been here. He’s playing at a very high level. Tyler Batty had a great practice in the scrimmage. He’s doing a lot of great things that the fans would expect. Talan Alfrey has stood out in the past couple of days as being a reliable guy at safety.” 

On the cornerbacks
“Eddie Heckard, Kamden Garrett and Jakob Robinson are all playing at a high level, but Mory Bamba is right there with them. Marcus McKenzie is going to be a phenomenal player, maybe as good as anyone who’s ever played the position here. I know that speaks volumes, but I think he’s going to be an outstanding player, we just need to keep him healthy. Caleb Christensen has played well at the backup nickel spot too. The bottom line is that there are a bunch of guys in that group so if somebody went down, I don’t have any problems with putting those guys in. We just need to get them reps. That position group has the potential to be a great group in the future.”