Day one of fall camp is in the books. If you scroll through the twittersphere, there’s no denying what BYU football fans are most interested in. We know that Jaren Hall is QB1. We know Puka Nacua and Gunner Romney are the stars at the receiving position. People want to know about BYU running backs and the defensive line. Who is RB1, who is going to “step up” on the defensive line, and what newcomers will make an impact?
Who on earth is going to carry the football for BYU in 2022? If you believe the initial depth chart released by BYU, the answer is Christopher Brooks the Cal transfer, and the steady stalwart Lopini Katoa. It often seems as though many running backs COULD get carries. So many guys have potential, so many guys are turning heads, and yes so many guys are indeed “flying around”. So will BYU have a running back by committee approach in 2022?
Nah. And here’s why.
There were two BYU running backs that took meaningful carries in 2021. During 2020, more of the same with only two guys getting significant carries. Within the 2022 season, barring injury, Chris Brooks and Lopini Katoa will take 90% of the handoffs. Look for Masen Wake and Houston Heimuli to be heavily involved, (give me ALL the Masen Wake hurdles) just not necessarily heavy on the carries.
If there is a name to watch however, it is Miles Davis. Listed at number 4 on the depth chart, Davis was all the rage in fall camp 2021. Injuries derailed his 2021 campaign, but the former WR has turned heads previously. Even though he is further down the depth chart, I’d say he’s the dark horse to emerge should injuries (God forbid) take place.
The other primary area of concern for BYU fans is the defensive line. We all know what’s been going on with BYU’s defensive scheme the last few years. You’ve seen it, I’ve seen it, surely the opposing teams have seen it. Rush 3, drop 8. Rinse. Repeat. It’s boring, and at times frustrating, but ultimately has been effective. In 2021 the leading sackers in college football were Will Anderson from Alabama (17.5), Andre Carter II from Army (15.5) and Aidan Hutchinson from Michigan (14). The leading sack man for BYU last season was Tyler Batty with 3.5. Sad noises.
Sacks are momentum changing, and they’re sexy. Sacks are the slam dunk of football. And BYU’s defensive scheme does not lend itself to high numbers of sacks. BYU will not have many more sacks this season than last. BYU had twenty seven sacks in 2020, and twenty in 2021. My prediction for sacks in 2022? Twenty five. The scheme will look relatively similar, and the statistics will too. Look for Tyler Batty to lead the team in sacks again, but Fisher Jackson and John Nelson will tally a couple of sacks each.
Fall camp will surely bring some news of depth chart shakeups, attrition, and guys “really getting after it”. BYU running backs and defensive line will show that half these predictions will be right, and half will surely be wrong. It would be amazing to see Brooks break out in filling in for Allgeier. It would be even more delightful to see a sack heavy season, but I wouldn’t bet on it. That’s an honor code violation.
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