BYU has broken camp.
But before we turn our collective attention to the season opener, let’s take stock of some of the fastest risers of training camp.
This year’s fall camp was unique for the Cougars. Plenty of the veterans sat out large portions of the practices to prevent injury. It meant younger players were given a longer look by the coaching staff. Many of those underclassmen won’t play this year, but it gave the program strong data points on who can be relied on in the Big 12 era.
Here are five underclassmen whose stock rose in training camp.
Ethan Slade
(Jaren Wilkey | BYU Athletics) Ethan Slade prepares for his third fall camp at BYU.
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt freshman
Analysis: This was a developmental project for safeties coach Ed Lamb. Slade came into the program as a walk-on in the 2020 class and never really had a clear path to play.
There were some flashes that maybe Slade could elevate beyond just a typical walk-on in last year’s camp. He had a pair of interceptions in a scrimmage. But for the most part, he has stayed under-the-radar in the safeties room as a deep backup.
This camp, though, everything fell Slade’s way. Micah Harper, the converted corner, hasn’t been fully healthy this fall, which allowed Slade to take a bulk of the reps. And with those reps, the freshman showed he was further ahead at the safety spot than most of the younger scholarship guys in the room. He does have three years in the program and understands the defense.
Slade — at 6-foot, 190 pounds — fits the traditional mold for what Lamb likes back there. For reference, starting safety Malik Moore is 6-foot-1, 195 pounds.
“He has had a really nice camp,” Lamb said. “I would say he has been the surprise of camp.”
Could Slade play in 2022? Maybe, but probably not a lot. In 2023, though, he could compete.
Moore will move on from BYU after this year, opening up a spot. Slade would be in the mix with guys like Carter Krupp and Talan Alfrey. Harper will still be in the mix, too. But so far, Slade has made as good of an impression as any to raise his stock.
Jacob Conover
(Jaren Wilkey|Courtesy of BYU Athletics) Freshman Jacob Conover looks to make a pass during a recent spring football practice, March 8. Conover is amongst those fighting for the starting quarterback position.
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt freshman
Analysis: Let’s face it, Conover needed this camp. It was his last audition in front of the coaching staff to show he can be the quarterback of the future for this program. If not, BYU might have looked to the transfer portal to find Jaren Hall’s successor.
But Conover finally made the leap. He went from being a quarterback with a lot of arm-talent to a guy that can command the offense.
In the live reps in this camp, Conover looked more under control with the first and second team. Even last spring that wasn’t happening.
“Jacob has really stood out and it is fun to play with him,” wide receiver Chase Roberts said. “Guys look at him differently now with the swag that he has. And it comes from making plays and he has made plays this fall.”
This doesn’t mean that Conover is a lock to be the next quarterback after Hall. BYU will always mine the portal, as it tried to do with USC transfer Jaxson Dart this winter. At least now, though, Conover is clearly ahead of third-string quarterback Cade Fennegan.
And if you think that is not an accomplishment, just remember this: BYU brought in Fennegan as a freshman transfer from Boise State to compete with Conover. This coaching staff wasn’t sold on him. For now, he is in a better spot.
Ethan Erickson
(Jaren Wilkey | BYU Athletics) Tight end Ethan Erickson makes a catch in fall camp.
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Analysis: Here is another guy who benefited greatly from veterans in his position room. Both Isaac Rex and Dallin Holker played sparingly in camp due to injury prevention. It left Erickson with ample time to get on the field.
The returns were good. Erickson is a pass catching threat and an improved blocker at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds. This spring, Erickson had his fair share of growing pains. Everything looked a bit more polished this go round.
“He is going to be a really good player someday,” offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said. “Maybe this year. He has a lot of ability and is really showing up.”
Erickson is certainly a guy that could see action this year. If Rex or Holker get hurt, Erickson will pop in. Or, at the very least, if BYU needs to rest either of those players, Erickson will play.
BYU already burned the redshirt on him last year, so there is no need to try to parse out four games for him to preserve a year of eligibility.
If he doesn’t play this year, look for Erickson to be a clear starter at tight end come 2023.
Miles Davis
BYU RB Miles Davis catches a pass during BYU's 2022 fall camp (Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU)
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt freshman
Analysis: People have been banging the drum for Davis to play for some time. Problem was, who’s spot was he taking? So, 2023 looked like the best timeline for him to play — once Chris Brooks and Lopini Katoa cleared out.
But maybe that was too conservative. Davis has made the most out of the reps he has gotten and pushed the coaching staff to give him a serious look to be Brooks’ backup in camp.
“Miles Davis is a guy, just in general, it has been the same thing every day,” assistant coach Fesi Sitake said. “Including today, every rep has been so good for him. He made a couple runs today where he was just hitting the hole with confidence. He is just someone that continues to emerge as more reps come his way.”
Is it still a long shot for Davis to beat out Katoa? Probably.
At the very least, Davis helped put himself on the radar to be one of BYU’s premier backs in 2023. If he can get more game experience this year, the one knock on his resume, there would be no reason why he couldn’t compete to be the starter next year.
Josh Larsen
(Jaren Wilkey | BYU Athletics) Josh Larsen takes reps at fall camp.
Position: Defensive line
Class: Redshirt freshman
Analysis: There are plenty of young guys who could be highlighted on the defensive line. Fisher Jackson is one of them. John Nelson is another. But Larsen has quietly put together a nice camp.
He played in three games in 2021, his redshirt year. Now he is coming back and can contribute.
There are a lot of older guys on the defensive line, including Caden Haws. But the position group clears out at the end of this year and there is no reason to think Larsen won’t fill those shoes.
