BYU’s first depth chart of the season has been released, and it might leave more questions than answers about what the team will look like against Southern Illinois.
In total, there were 20 “ORs” listed on the two-deep. Essentially, there are eight positions where BYU is still uncertain — or at least unwilling to say — who the starter is. That includes quarterback, where BYU lists either Jake Retlzaff or Gerry Bohanon as the leader going into Week One.
Still, there are some bits of information about the upcoming season and the direction of the program. Here are five takeaways from 2024′s opening depth chart.
Chase Roberts fighting to start and the wide receiver depth question
Chase Roberts has been a staple of BYU’s offense for the last two years — and arguably BYU’s most proven playmaker coming into 2024.
But coming out of a fall camp, the redshirt junior is still fighting for his job with highly touted receiver JoJo Phillips. BYU listed its top receiver position as “Roberts or Phillips.”
And truthfully this should say more about Phillips’ offseason than a decline in Roberts’ ability. Since last year, Phillips has put on around 15 pounds of muscle. During his true freshman season, Phillips played around 190 pounds. Now he is closer to 205 or 207, he told The Salt Lake Tribune. He also understands the playbook and gets in and out of routes faster.
Phillips’ top-end talent and ceiling might be the highest out of any BYU receiver. He is 6-foot-5 and dabbled in basketball in high school. He played at Sierra Canyon, where Bronny James went to school, and was recruited by LSU, Oregon, Michigan State and others.
Roberts will still play a lot. But the talent gap between Roberts and the second-string is closing. This is more evidence of that.
BYU is listing eight receivers that could play. Cody Hagen and Tei Nacua are also younger guys who made the cut. This isn’t the Fesi Sitake room of old where he is going to play a few guys and call it a day. It feels like the rotation can be expanded this year.
Roberts, even if he’s fighting for snaps, agrees.
“I think that it shows we have a really deep receiving corps and anyone on the field can make plays,” he said. “I look at it as an amazing thing and I wish it kept going [with more players listed on the depth chart]. It could keep going. It could be more ‘ORs’ on the depth chart this season. Just an opportunity to keep battling.”
Starting the youth movement at linebacker
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young cornerback Marcus McKenzie (32) with linebacker Harrison Taggart (11), celebrates after picking up a Southern Utah Thunderbirds fumble, in football a between the Southern Utah Thunderbirds and the Brigham Young Cougars, at Lavell Edwards Stadium, on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.
A large part of this fall camp has been centered on the young core of BYU’s future. On defense, coordinator Jay Hill has given plenty of reps to guys who will be his playmakers on winning defenses down the line (players like Tommy Prassas, Faletau Satuala, Tre Alexander and Ephraim Asiata).
But for most of August, those guys still felt further away from contributing right now. It felt like Hill was building for 2025 or 2026.
But there is one position where Hill is starting the youth movement earlier than previously thought: linebacker.
Part of it is necessity. BYU is losing senior Ben Bywater to a shoulder injury. But Hill clearly thinks some of his younger guys are ready to go now.
Hill is starting Isaiah Glasker, a sophomore, and Harrison Taggart, another sophomore. The oldest starting linebacker is Jack Kelly, who is a redshirt junior with two years of eligibility remaining. It means this core group can grow together. Glasker and Taggart can potentially start alongside each other for three years.
Hill decided to leave some of the older players in the room — like transfer Choe Bryant-Strother and Sione Moa — with a backup role. Maybe part of that 2026 defense is starting now.
A surprise at safety
Tanner Wall was a receiver at BYU up until last season. Now, the man who walked on in Provo is going to be the starting safety.
Wall surprised many by beating out Prassas for the free safety spot. Wall played 205 snaps a year ago in an emergency role (when nearly everyone was injured).
Other notable takeaways from that room: Former starter Crew Wakley is listed as the fourth-string strong safety behind Micah Harper, Talan Alfrey and Raider Damuni. Hill is listing eight safeties. Harper will move to nickel when needed.
Miles Davis left out again?
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars running back Miles Davis (19) as BYU hosts East Carolina, NCAA football in Provo on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.
Davis entered the transfer portal last spring and then returned to BYU. The Cougars said he’d play a bigger role this year.
But it looks like he is again being left out of the top running back discussion. LJ Martin and Hinckley Ropati are clearly the top two running backs. After that, Davis is fighting freshman Pokaiaua Haunga for the third string.
Asiata makes the cut
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Uncle Muka Atiga throws his arms up in joking despair at having to cheer for BYU as his nephew Ephraim Asiata gets ready to sign his letter of commitment to play football for the Cougars on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. The 3-star linebacker, one of Utah’s top prospects, made his choice, causing many of the Utah supporters in his family to joke about having to cheer for the rivalry team.
Ephraim Asiata made the depth chart in his first season in college. Rush ends coach Kelly Poppinga acknowledged that Asiata is still not ready to play at his weight. But the talent was enough to get him on as the third string behind Logan Lutui and Isaiah Bagnah.
Asiata has the ability to be a cornerstone playmaker for Hill in the future. He can rush the passer and play in space. Poppinga compared him to Fred Warner. Now, he has a chance to contribute a bit in Year One.