Opening statement
“We are excited to be here in Frisco, Texas for Big 12 Media Days. It is an honor for us to be here and for me to represent BYU as the head coach. First of all, I just wanted to express our appreciation to the leadership of the Big 12, Commissioner Yormark and all of his staff. Thank you for making this an amazing day for our coaches and our players. I also want to express my appreciation to all the partners and schools that are involved in the Big 12 Conference, especially the head coaches. It’s amazing when you look at the talent in our teams and programs, but I appreciate the head coaches for their kindness and friendship to me. I look forward to competing with them on the field. I also want to express our appreciation to our fans, BYU faculty and specifically our student body and alumni. I also want to recognize our president C. Shane Reese and Vice President Keith Vorkink. I also want to personally recognize our athletic director Brian Santiago. Brian is in a new role as athletic director. I’ve been around him for 10 years and have seen his leadership and commitment. He was Tom Holmoe’s right-hand man and I’m excited to follow his leadership and work with him, not only in our football program, but in the athletic department and university. I also want to let our players know how much we appreciate them. We have five young men that are out here representing our team, but I could have chosen from about 30 leaders who would do an incredible job speaking here for our program and media days.”
On the team’s identity
“Our identity is still a work in progress. You have to have a foundation that is set on principles and a mission that you want your program to follow through. We have all of those in place, but there is room for flexibility for our team to find their own identity and that is usually done through leaders and the team itself. As we go throughout the year, we will begin to establish our identity, not only on the field, but off the field.”
On how the team has responded to the quarterback situation
“There’s competition in every position. I think the one that gets the most attention is quarterback, but in our program, everyone has to be competitive and fight for their spot. You have to balance that with loving, mentoring and taking care of each other. For me, I allow the guys to compete. Fortunately for me, I have a coaching staff that has stayed intact, so we have knowledge of the guys that have been here. We also have incoming talent that would be special for us. Let’s settle it on the field and let them compete. I just play the best guys, that’s how it works.”
On coaching at a university with an honor code
“Our university is sponsored and affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is a level of expectations and a standard that is asked of our students and student-athletes. Every school has their standards, we have ours, too. We have an academic standard as well. If people don’t fit the academic criteria, then they don’t get into the school. These are the things that we have to be committed to and we expect our students to live according to what they signed up for.”
On his anticipations for Retzlaff at quarterback
“First of all, we love Jake Retzlaff and appreciate all that he has done for our program. I think it would be inappropriate for me to make a statement in his situation first. That’s his right and is a private matter that he can speak for himself on. I’m going to give him the opportunity to do that.”
On what makes this team stand out
“We’ll find out. My job as a head coach is to make sure that we are playing our best. Last year we didn’t do that consistently enough for me. I have a lot of things to work on. I’m going into my 10th year as a head coach, so I’d like to say that I’m older and hopefully wiser. If we are going to make any improvements, that starts with me first and then the players can get better themselves. I’m going to focus on things that I can do, which is controlling the team and giving them an opportunity and program to thrive in, whether they are an incoming player or somebody that is developed in our program throughout the years.”
On how BYU’s recruiting has adapted
“The key has been the invite to the Big 12 Conference. The leadership Tom Holmoe had as athletic director was amazing. He is retired now, but his leadership was amazing. He worked with Brian Santiago and his staff and got the program ready to enter a power conference like the Big 12. The Big 12 has helped things change. Not just for resources, but it settled a lot of arguments for people not to come to BYU. Now entering our third year, we have some good momentum. All that happened because of what Tom Holmoe did for us in his two decades as AD.”
On the quarterback situation
"I think the appropriate thing for me to say is that I love Jake, and I appreciate everything that he’s done for our program. It’s a private matter, so I will leave it to him to make the first statement on his situation. But, I am really excited about the entire team, the depth that we have and the competition that it provides. The QB room gets a lot of attention, especially at BYU. Last year we even had a competition. This year, it’ll be the same thing. It’ll be the guy that deserves it and earns it. We will have someone there by the time we get to the first game."
On what characteristics the starting quarterback should have
"All they have to do is their unique part, which is to be their best. With our offensive system, we have continuity in our staff. They all have to throw the ball, especially at BYU they need to sling it. Luckily they can all throw the ball. We’ll see how they can manage the offense and help us gain points. We don’t want them to risk everything, but I am not minding the risk taking. We will accommodate them with our offensive scheme."
On veterans on the offensive staff
"I really love our team. I think there are a lot of possibilities there. My job is to get us to play at our best, and to do it 12 times so we can earn more. I don’t know if I did a great enough job at that last year. I felt like we were able to get some wins last year, but I don’t know if we played our best and we still have a long way to go. I plan on using fall camp to get us there."
On competition to sustain a double-digit win season
"I really believe that. Our offseason conditioning program is really tough. In order to survive that, you have to live a disciplined life. You have to be all about your nutrition and sleep, and things like that which could be a competitive advantage. You aren’t just competing against yourself, but others in the conference and in the country. Now is the time. You only have so much time in your college career to make it work. Fortunately for them, we get to pay them now. It’s a great time to be a student-athlete, especially being a college football player. We’re going to take advantage of all of the wonderful variables that go into playing the game, and make sure that we can try to be the best we can."
On the program’s progression in the Big 12
"I’ve been here for 10 years now. I played for a legend LaVell Edwards. I got to work for and coach with Kyle Whittingham for 10 years. We are all BYU guys. People like Sark and Andy Reid out there. There are a lot of resources. They are doing it the right way. I only know one way and that is to follow those guys that have done it the right way. For us, it’s creating an opportunity to get after it. Making it fun is the goal. I don’t know what is going to happen this year, but I am looking forward to all the different nuances like revenue sharing, NIL, the transfer portal. All of it is good stuff."
On defensive returning players
"The main thing is that we are able to keep the staff intact. To have Jay Hill return and all the defensive staff is key. Without those resources, I don’t think we would’ve been able to get that done. If you are looking for consistency, that is where you start. When I first got the job 10 years ago, Tom Holmoe asked me how we can be best ready to get into a power conference. And I said, let’s just load up the schedule. And that’s what we did, and I think it got us ready. All we had to do is just be humble about it and not worry about records, but the long run. Fortunately, we are able to be in the Big 12 going on our third year now. There are a lot of really cool things happening. The momentum was caused a long time ago by Tom Holmoe and the administration. I was encouraged because that is right up my alley."
On similarities between BYU and Utah
"I think you can go back to LaVell Edwards. When LaVell Edwards was coaching, everybody was talking about the offensive side of BYU. No one mentioned the defense. But if you go back and look at the great teams that were the key in all of it. Kyle Whittingham played for LaVell also as a middle linebacker. So, when you see how Kyle understands the game, the offense gets all the attention but the defense needs to be stable. It establishes the toughness on the team. It works hand in hand. It’s been working for so many others that it would be foolish for me not to do the same."
On the schedule
"It is what it is. East Carolina is a tough place to play. Last time we played them we were independent and lost. For me as a head coach, there is some payback we have to get to. I want our guys to embrace it. They have a bye-week before that game, and it is something that could help us get into conference play. Nothing is easy. College football is hard everywhere, and I love being part of it. The only way to get ready for it is to be physical and be ready to roll. This is a physical conference and I love being in it."
On being named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team
“It’s great. I think it helps with the draft process as well—just get your name out there. Ultimately, it’s media, social media, just opinions, and you need to go perform in the fall. That’s what I’m all about—helping the team win games.”
On his decision to return to BYU
“A lot of prayer went into it, and ultimately I felt this was the best decision for me. I’ve been able to do a podcast, run camps, be around the youth of the Church… it’s been pretty miraculous.”
On the quarterback situation
“I’m just confident in our team…there’s not just one person that’s going to win us games. We’ve been getting the reps in, and whoever wins that battle—I’m excited to see who it is.”
On BYU’s mentality this season
“We’re not a big ‘chip on our shoulder’ type team. We’re more ‘do what we do.’ We want to beat teams by three, four touchdowns every game. That’s the mentality.”
On his favorite part of returning for one final season
“Being with the brothers again. There’s nothing like walking out into the stadium with all the fans—it’s just an emotional moment for me and having more of those is going to be special.”
On the missing ingredient last year moving into this year
“I think doubling down on our culture and what we’ve been doing in the off season. I think that the love that we have for each other, that camaraderie, comes into play when it’s crunch time at the end of the game. We were able to pull through a lot last year.”
On the Alamo Bowl performance and its impact on the upcoming season
“There is a little motivation to do that, not just skim past these games, but to show people we’re the real deal. They don’t know but they’re about to find out.”
On the team and the next man up mentality
“We’re a next man up mentality and that’s what we’ve had at all times. We know it’s not just a single guy that's going to help us win games, it’s a team thing and we saw that in the Alamo bowl. I got hurt on the first drive and that goes to show me my team’s great. I don’t need me. I can contribute and be a leader and help our team win, but it’s never about one person. It’s about our team.”
On quarterbacks
"We’ve been getting a lot of reps with each of them. All of them are throwing really good balls right now. They are looking solid, and starting to take control of the team. Being a leader is a big thing when it comes to the quarterback position. So, I think that the guy that is going to be the starter is the one that knows the offense the best, and will be able to lead the team to victory."
On leadership
"You have to know the situation and what’s needed on the team. And right now for the offense it is for me to speak up more, so that guys are in the right positions. We need the whole team to make sure everyone’s on board. To step up and to get everyone’s confidence so that we go down and score and win a lot of games."
On offensive line
"I think there are a lot of guys that could step up. Kyle is awesome. Gentry can be a great asset. Bruce has been awesome at center, and is the glue. He was able to learn from Connor. We don’t know everything for sure yet, but I think Bruce will be a big player."
On what his next steps need to be
"I want to keep doing what I am doing. To win a lot of games is what is best for your draft stock. That’s what I’ve been doing this offseason, is working on those things that scouts have told me I could be better at."
On training camp
"I think fall camp is very important, and that is the time to get cleaned up. That is the time to perform and make plays and get confident in yourself. I am excited to get the pads back on, and for guys to step up and make plays."
On the receiving room
"We are confident right now and the room is deep, and we are excited to learn from each other. There is no safe spot either. There are guys that are great players. We got to work during fall camp, and show them that we are the energy of the offense. We’ve got depth."
On the NIL landscape
"It’s something that you’ve got to worry about. But at BYU we are different. We’ve been preached to be, “humble and hungry.” We know that we have to make plays in order to make money. That’s what we are focused on, and then the money will come."
On Coach Kalani
"The biggest thing is his push to a player-led program. My first couple of years, I don’t think it was like that. He’s been preaching it. People have been bagging on his philosophy, but he doesn’t care. He is still preaching love and learn, humble and hungry and is preaching the Gospel in our meetings. He is consistent with that. It has finally hit the players that this is BYU Football and our brand. We need to keep each other accountable, and I think his consistency has led to that."
On where the team needs to go
“We need to double down on our team culture. This off season has been perfect for us, we really doubled down on culture and came together as brothers. When you can trust the guy next to you on the field it helps so much in those crunch time games where I think we could have pulled out a couple more wins last year.”
On what went into the decision to return to BYU this year
“A lot of prayer…a lot of prayer and weighing the pros and cons. I feel like being in Provo and being with this network and playing another year of football with the team we have this year really came down to a no brainer. I really am excited for this season to be back with LJ (Martin) and some of my teammates I’ve become so close with as well as upping my draft stock to play at the next level.”
On the quarterback situation
“We are really confident in each of them and we’ve had a lot of reps with them this off season so we are expecting the next man up. We have a great team, we are confident that any of the quarterbacks that step in that they are going to take leadership as they have been and take control of the team and go win some games.”
On the depth in the BIG 12
“It’s huge. That's why the Big 12 is so fun. You never know who is going to be that team that goes and dominates and takes the world by storm. We’re excited for every game and we’re going to go in respecting everyone that we play. We’re just excited to go compete and show everyone again that we’re one of the powerhouses of the Big 12”
On playing with Chase Roberts
“It’s pretty awesome to have other playmakers on the field. I always go back to that Arkansas game. I was in the back blocking and I saw Kedon throw the ball to Chase and he goes up and catches it with one hand, pretty much sealing the game for us. Being able to see him do plays like that is really cool.”
On being coached by Harvey Unga
“He’s a humble guy. Growing up, I didn’t really follow BYU football, but being around him and getting to know the big role he played has been awesome. Having him as a coach and knowing that I have somebody who has done this has been great to look for guidance and advice. It means a lot.”
On if he expects to have a larger offensive role this season
“It's supposed to be a similar workload as last year, maybe a little more. They just want me to take another step forward like I did last and just keep on improving, if I do that I’ll be right where I want to be.”
On his experience in spring ball facing new players on the defensive side
“I’ve only seen Keanu in spring ball, but those guys have been working. You can just tell they’ve been putting in the work out there (we’ve been) feeling their presence. Also, our O-line has been doing a really good job and you can see where we’ve improved because last year when we were down there Keanu was getting to us a couple times, but now we’re getting to him a couple times, so it's really back and forth and I’m really proud of our o-line and I feel we have a good group this year.”
On being coached by Kalani Sitake
“I just like how he’s always himself. He’s the same guy I got recruited by, so I really appreciate him for that. He’s an honest guy, a humble guy, someone I can look up to and trust.”
On the game he’s looking forward to most this season
“The first one, just take it game by game. Last year I got injured so it really just opened my eyes to being more grateful to play every game because you never know when it will be your last. Some things happen to people and it's just unfortunate, so I learned just to take it one game at a time and feel grateful for that.”
Thinking back about success from last year
“I’m proud of how we fought in every game. We always went and gave it our all and did to the best of our ability, so that’s what I’m most proud of.”
Improving his game from last season
“I would say speed. That’s something I really emphasized this offseason and along with everything else I feel I need to get better in all aspects of my game, but speed was the big one.”
Coach Sitake’s message message to adapting to QB situation
“The standard is still the same and as long as that standard is there we’re going to be alright.”
Playing for Jay Hill
“He is someone that can relate to everybody so everyone can trust him. If you have someone who can relate to some guys and not others, you are going to have a split team. He can relate to everybody and builds that trust in him. He watches film like no other. He knows everything that we are going to play inside and out. He will be calling their plays from the box. He puts us in the best situations to help us make the plays.”
Things to improve on for the 2025 season
“Getting stronger and faster. I need to be more physical in the run game against the offensive line, striking them and getting them off of me. Hopefully I can get more sacks this year so continuing to work on pass rushing. Work on new moves and refine the ones that I have.”
Working hand in hand with the Defensive Line
“It plays a huge factor. Probably more than most people think. Having Keanu (Tanuvasa), Justin (Kirkland) and JT, all those guys in front of me is going to be huge for us this year. If they are going to double team them then it will allow the linebackers to be free to make plays. They are good enough if you don’t double team them then they will be the ones making plays. It’s going to be huge factor for us and going to make the whole defense better having them.”
On the importance of being a leader for the defense
“It’s really important we have leaders on that front seven, because it makes my job a little bit easier.”
On having new teammates from Utah
“It’s a little weird. I grew up a Utah fan, but as soon as I committed to BYU, I got rid of all my red. I don’t have hate for Utah, it’s just mutual between both sides. I’m grateful that Keanu and Carsen Ryan came over.”
On the BYU-Utah rivalry
“You have to be there to see it yourself. You get the Auburn-Alabama’s, but the BYU-Utah football game is an atmosphere. Nobody really talks about it until we are on the field. With Utah, it is clashing the whole time. It’s an exciting environment.”
On the physicality of the defense
“It’s the coaching. My coach, Justin Ena, is a hard-nose dude. He played at Utah and he coaches us everyday to be on top of everything. Then you got Jay Hill, who came from Utah as well, and they teach toughness. That’s where we get it from.”
On the hunger for this season
“It is just going to drive us even more this year. We feel like we should have won those last two games but I feel like our team is going to be that much better because we want it.”
On the defense through spring ball
“The unity stands out. We’re really close and that is what really made us the type of team we are now. For me, I could talk to and hangout with anybody on my team, and that is the same with, say, Jack.”
On transferring from the University of Utah to BYU
“That thought process was a late spark. It was something that I was thinking about throughout the season, but I put on the backburner because I wanted to give my teammates my all at the time. It was a decision made more unwillingly because it was God's plan for me to come to BYU rather than my own. When I did enter the transfer portal BYU stood out as a great contender who's been receiving success and is a great program with a great culture that develops their guys to become the best version of themselves. That culture stems down from the top from kalani so being a part of that was something I wanted.”
On playing for Jay Hill and the defense
“I love the way that they utilize their understanding of the game. I think they are very intellectual play callers, especially coach (Jay) Hill. Being able to play under Sione Po’uha is amazing, he was a phenomenal defensive tackle in the league and he might be an even better teacher. This has allowed me to become a more intelligent, more resilient, and more technical player. I am stoked to play under coach Hill, he's a great play caller and a great man.
On who he models his game after
“I think it’s critical to take from people who have done it before, players like Aaron Donald although he was a little bit smaller than I am in college. I really like to model the style of Ndamukong Suh, the way that he played with his size, and how explosive he was. Tom Brady described him as one of the most explosive lineman he had ever seen.”
On playing against BYU last season
“You hear about athletes playing in the zone. That was one of the first times that I entered that high performance level because there was nothing else that was going on that mattered than the game. My mind was full of passion and grit. It was a calming feeling to be able to go on the field and do my thing and lead the defense. Being a part of that defense was extremely honorable and a blessing. Being able to perform at that level came from the rivalry's strength and energy and I was able to channel it to the right format to perform that way.”
On his personal goals for this season
“I want to be more of a disruptive player and more of a playmaker. I think something I’ve done really well is disrupt offenses but I'd like to finish more plays in the sense of forcing fumbles and tackles for loss and sacks, especially in the pass rush game. I think I can do a really good job in the run game but I’ve been working on being more of an explosive athlete. Those are my goals for this year.”
On progress in the offseason
"I really do feel prepared. It’s not really about the skill aspect, it’s about taking the leadership spot. We had a lot of leaders leave, so taking that spot was the main thing for me to focus on. Tyler Batty set the standard for me. He gave me a hard time, but in a good way. He’s always been a great leader to me, and I wish him the best in the NFL."
On maintaining health and advancing to the NFL level
"I need to get a little bit faster and stronger. These guys in the NFL are training all the time. I was late to the linebacker spot. I am taking all the help I can get when it comes to training. Meeting with Kyle Van Now and Fred Warner can really help me."
On if his performance last year surprised himself
"I feel like I really knew what I could do from the beginning. The injuries did take a toll on me. But, Jay Hill has put me in the right position to where I can make plays. Our frontline was tearing it up too. I can’t take all the credit. Those guys were the reason I was making plays too."
On last season’s ending
"We felt like we should’ve been in the playoffs. We came short, but the Alamo Bowl was a great bowl. It’s a great experience that we even got to play there, and I am grateful for the experience we had. Coming into this season, it makes the boys hungry. We want that Big 12 Championship and hopefully a National Championship."
On the defense’s development and Jay Hill
"Every year we get closer as a team. The bonding aspect has grown. We are always going out as a team, eating and spending time with each other. When I first got to BYU I felt like it wasn’t necessarily like that. But now Jay Hill and Kalani have emphasized family and unity, I feel like our team is super close. I am excited to see what we can do. We are all hungry and want that Big 12 Championship."
On BYU’s defense heading into 2025
“We’ve got the guys and the coaching staff to go win games. Hopefully we’ll be the best defense in the Big 12—that’s our goal every year. Just lots of turnovers and touchdowns.”
On Jay Hill as a coach
“You can just tell that he really cares. He’s almost like a guardian to me. We do bonding activities, go out and eat as a team—he emphasizes community. That brings us together.”