BYU Football Media Day Recap

Another BYU Football Media Day is in the books as we get closer (71 days, to be exact) to the season opener versus Arizona.

Here are some of the highlights from the day’s interviews.

Ula Tolutau and Joe Tukuafu are currently not on the roster

BYU released a depth chart, and a couple players were notably absent. Running back Ula Tolutau and TE Joe Tukuafu were two expected contributors not listed on the roster. Kalani Sitake declined to delve into their situations, but Offensive Coordinator Jeff Grimes stated that he’s “hopeful that they’ll be back in the fall.” Tolutau was also listed in the media guide under “letterman lost.”

Tolutau, who rushed for 303 yards and two touchdowns last season before his suspension, was expected to be a major factor at running back.

Here is the full depth chart that was released to the media:

Lavell Edwards Stadium will be equipped with WiFi

Athletic Director Tom Holmoe announced that Lavell Edwards Stadium will be equipped with NFL-caliber wifi coverage starting this upcoming football season. A new gameday app will also be released, which will include stat updates and the ability to listen to the BYU radio call.

A potential Notre Dame meeting in the future?

After playing in South Bend in 2012 and 2013, many BYU fans have been wondering if/when Notre Dame will be returning the final game of the 3-game series in Provo. AD Tom Holmoe sounded confident that the game would be played, going as far to say that “it will be better than a paycheck”, meaning that he is confident that the game will be played and Notre Dame won’t buy it out.

Cougar fans obviously would love to see Notre Dame play in Provo, but a neutral site game in Las Vegas at the new Raiders stadium could be a possibility as well.

Quarterback Update

Coaches didn’t go out and name a favorite in the starting QB race, but QB coach Aaron Roderick shed some light on the timeline of when he hopes to have a starting QB in place. Roderick says that he thinks that they can “whittle it down to two fairly quickly” and that coaches “have a plan in place to know who our starting QB is 2 weeks into Fall camp.”

Odds and Ends

• Tom Holmoe believes Independence is the staus quo for BYU until the media contracts are up in 2023-2024.

• Tight end Moroni Laulu-Pututau said he is 100% and has been fully cleared to participate in fall camp after suffering a Lisfranc injury days prior to the 2017 opener and missing the entire season.

• According to Ed Lamb, LB Jeremiah Ieremia is no longer on the roster.
• Mo Langi has lost 80 pounds, but he’s still massive.

• Tanner Mangum has lost 22 pounds, while true freshman Zach Wilson has put on 15.

• Dylan Collie will wear number 3 this season, in honor of his father and former BYU player, Scott Collie.

• Punter and 2018 signee Dan Jones is flying into Provo today from his home country of Australia.