Provo • Kalani Sitake didn’t parse words when he layed out his plan for the third week of fall camp. This had to be the week for coaches to make final decisions on the two-deep depth chart and travel roster.
With just over 14 days before the season-opener, the program needed clarity to get ready for South Florida.
“In order to get the best look from the other side on our scout team we need to get the depth chart knocked down,” Sitake said.
As the week closes out, though, there are still two major unresolved questions on the roster. Linebacker Chaz Ah You and defensive back Caleb Christensen remain off the roster. Ah You has been around the team but has not played. Christensen hasn’t been seen at fall camp yet.
Will either be available for the first week of the season?
Safeties coach Ed Lamb indicated that Christensen could join the team soon, but did not give a timeline.
“He is fine and he will be with the team,” Lamb said when asked if Christensen will be in fall camp at some point.
Christensen played in six games last year and 12 in 2020. His main role was as a kick returner, returning 16 kicks for an average of over 20 yards a return.
As for Ah You, there has been no update on whether the linebacker will play in this camp. Sitake indicated Ah You was dealing with an injury at the start of camp.
“[Ah You] is not ready to go,” Sitake said two weeks ago. “We are not going to force it.”
It has been speculated that Ah You could redshirt this season, and come back for another year in 2023. His position on this team is not clear, as BYU said he can float from linebacker to safety. But BYU’s depth chart at both of those positions is starting to solidify without him.
At linebacker, BYU currently has an overload of older players like Payton Wilgar and Keenan Pili. Also, Ben Bywater will likely take up plenty of snaps there along with Pepe Tanuvasa. At safety, it is more of the same. Lamb said that Malik Moore and Ammon Hannemann will be the mainstays.
So it could make sense for Ah You to sit out this season and come back to a more empty linebacker and safeties room.
He played in seven games last year and had 39 tackles. Ah You’s best season was in 2019, when he played in 10 games and recorded 24 solo tackles with an interception.
Another big roster question was resolved this week as Hobbs Nyberg, BYU’s punt returner, rejoined the team after missing the first two weeks of camp.
