BYU’s future is on display in fall camp and the Cougars think they’ve ‘hit a home run’

Provo • The night before most fall camp practices, BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and his staff will send out a script of plays they want to work on the next day.

It helps make things more efficient and jogs everyone’s memory before practice begins.

But Cody Hagen, BYU’s four-star freshman receiver, treats the script more like the leaked answer key to an upcoming test. Once he knows which part of the playbook they are tackling, he goes to his brother, quarterback Cole Hagen, and starts mapping things out. He wants to know exactly where he should line up and visualize what it’s going to look like.

“We’ll go through it and he’ll help me with all the plays I don’t know. We’re living together too. We’ll just rep ’em out,” the receiver said, snapping his fingers to mimic how many times, and how quickly, the two are rehearsing the receiver’s duties.

Every detail matters for the heralded recruit trying to get on the field in his first year. Hagen was one of the gems of the 2022 signing class. BYU pried him away from Stanford and Utah — where his father played — and was happy to add the former Gatorade player of the year as a cornerstone piece.

The question is: How does BYU want to start their foundational player’s career? Most return missionaries redshirt. That allows them to get back in shape and learn the college game.

But then again, Hagen has shown a knack for making plays that could make him useful in year one. In camp last week, he and fellow freshman Tei Nacua had back-to-back chunk plays that moved the sticks.

BYU doesn’t necessarily need Hagen this year. It has plenty of veteran receivers. Yet, it might be good to get a future key piece some reps. Maybe play him in four games, maintain the redshirt, and get the best of both worlds. That’s what receivers coach Fesi Sitake was thinking.

“Most of the young guys [like Hagen] understand the message that we have some good quality depth [with veterans],” Sitake said. “It doesn’t mean that there is redshirting. They understand that dynamic now where you can play four games [and still keep your redshirt]. You can play any four games. And that is probably more toward the end of the year where they know the playbook. Maybe there are some injuries that happen. It is good enough so they don’t put themselves in redshirt mode and say [I’m not playing this year]. The challenge for them is always staying ready.”

Sitake admitted there’s a large knowledge gap between the young players and the veterans. But he saw the flashes of playmaking ability in the first two weeks of camp.

Hagen said he doesn’t have a preference for redshirting. But if he can get on the field, he wants to. He is still getting back in shape. He returned from his mission on May 1 and was in Provo working out the next day. He lifted nearly every day on his mission for the final three months.

His understanding of the playbook is still coming along, too. Until then, it will be more late nights with his brother.

“I’d say 75 percent [of the offense] I feel pretty good about, 80 percent,” he said. “... But I’m feeling like I’ll be good to go [by the season’s start].”

A vision for 2026

Speaking of young players trying to break into the rotation, defensive coordinator Jay Hill made a definitive statement about the future of the defense.

“We are only a short while into that freshmen class, but I think we hit a home run with all of those guys,” he said.

On defense, in particular, this camp has felt just as centered on Hill building up his young core as it’s been about filling out the 2024 two-deep.

Hill put his first stamp on the recruiting cycle this winter. He hauled in multiple top-10 players in the state, beefed up the defensive line and added some rangy corners. It is what he wants this defense to look like down the road. And now he is testing them early.

Will they all play this year? Probably not. But the initial returns have looked strong. You can start to see who the main playmakers of BYU’s future defenses will be under Hill.

Ephraim Asiata, a linebacker out of Herriman, has played well. Tommy Prassas might actually start at safety. Tre Alexander is long at corner and can close ground in a hurry.

Faletau Satuala, the No. 3 player in the state, is competing in the safety group. Kini Fonohema is also having a strong camp.

“That freshman class is going to be special,” Hill said. “I can’t wait. We are going to have to fight like crazy to keep them all here. Because there is some good talent in that group.”

It won’t be this year. But you could see a BYU team in 2026 where all five of those guys are the main weapons.

Corner problem

For all the talk of the future, there is a more pressing concern on defense. Who is going to be the second corner to pair with Jakob Robinson?

“We need to continue to add some depth there,” Hill said. “We need two more guys to really step up and prove they can play in the Big 12. I think we are heading in the right direction with that, but we are not there yet.”

Robinson was one of BYU’s better defensive players last year. But BYU lost Kamden Garrett, who usually played the second corner spot.

Hill has another Weber State transfer, Marque Collins, as an option. He could also go with Mory Bamba, Evan Johnson or Tre Alexander. None of those three has logged many snaps at BYU.

“We need some guys who haven’t really played much for us to come along quick,” Hill said. “They don’t have to be All-Big 12 guys for us the first game. But they need to continue through camp to get better and through the first couple games to continue to make progress.”

Editor’s note • This story is available to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting local journalism.