PROVO, Utah – For the first time in fall camp the BYU football team put on full pads for their fifth day of practice.
“We learned that the team is anxious to run into each other,” head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “That takes away a little bit from the execution but it adds energy, it’s nice to put the pads on and let them go.”
During the team series at the end of practice the defense got the best of quarterback Jake Heaps. After completing a pass to tight end Devin Mahina for 9 yards, Heaps threw a long pass that was intercepted near the sideline by safety Daniel Sorensen.
Quarterback Riley Nelson had a productive day leading the second team, finishing a touchdown drive 3-of-3 passing for 39 yards. Nelson connected with tight end Richard Wilson for a 14-yard score.
The team also did some blue zone work, starting at the opponent’s 20-yard line. After running back Bryan Kariya broke through the defense for an 18-yard run, linebacker Uona Kaveinga broke up a pass in the end zone on a third-down attempt from Heaps.
Getting some work in as well, quarterback James Lark found running back David Foote for a 13-yard score during blue zone drills. Foote had a productive day, rushing three times for 15 yards along with the 13-yard touchdown reception.
Tomorrow will be the first day of open practice. The public can watch two practices, the first at 10:15 a.m. and later at 4:50 p.m. at the SAB outdoor practice field.