Friday Mailbag: Marques Johnson, Freshman Stats, and Big XII/Playoff Rumors

Welcome to the Friday Mailbag where once a week I answer your questions and respond to your comments about Brigham Young Cougars football. As a quick reminder, there are three ways to submit a question:

1. Email: bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
2. Twitter: @BlueCougarFball and use #BCFmailbag
3. Leave a comment at the end of a BLUE COUGAR FOOTBALL article.

On to the mailbag.

Re: Which member of the 2012 recruiting class will contribute the most this fall.

Marques Johnson. No contest. The defensive line lost 4 out of 6 on its 2 deep. The other contenders at the position are either undersized and/or will be fresh off of missions.

Ian Dulan never played at more than 260 lbs and he only started half the time his Jr. year. Russell Tialavea weighed in at 266 before leaving his mission and I doubt he’s gained much weight in Chili. Bronson Kaufusi missed most of his SR year (high school) to injury, is fresh off his mission, and was listed at 220 before leaving. Jordan Richardson returns, but he was a 3rd string DE last year.

Personally, I think that Marques will either start or see significant playing time right off the bat.

I agree about [Jamaal] Williams. He is only 16 and BYU already has 3 ball carriers (Quezada, Alisa, Pritchard) firmly entrenched ahead of him.

Collie could very well see playing time, but he will probably have to first beat out Dallin Cutler or Rhen Brown just to get the back up spot.

Also, the slot position is only used sometimes, and with the emergence of a fullback who can run with and catch the ball as well as block, the slot isn't likely to see any increase in usage. 

Summary: Marques Johnson is essentially a lock for to make the 2 deep and I think is a likely starter.

Collie could be the biggest offensive contributor, but his contributions will be minor compared to what the JC DT will provide for the Cougars.

There will be opportunities along the defensive line. However, Bronco Mendenhall made it clear that the initial plan was to redshirt Johnson and have him play for two years in 2013 and 2014. This would be done in anticipation of even greater losses along the defensive line after 2012. Once BYU signed high school prospect Theodore King, Mendenhall moved off of the hard and fast stance to redshirt Johnson in 2012.

I think one of the two will play this year and the other will redshirt. It will boil down to how Mendenhall perceives the best way to manage the situation. Johnson has the JC experience. King has zero college experience, but he has more eligibility. It just might be better for King to get some playing time this year and get a feel for the game at the college level when BYU won’t depend on him as heavily. BYU would be set up in 2013 to get three good years out of King and two good years out of Johnson, when defensive linemen are really needed. This would require King showing up in the fall and proving he is ready to compete on this level.

Both Ian Dulan and Russell Tialavea should be ready come September. Dulan redshirted last year and Tialavea returned home in December. Both will have had plenty of time to knock off the mission rust. They are both seniors and Mendenhall will give them the first opportunity to prove they are still capable of being on the two deep. While BYU lost 4 of 6 from the two deep, the return of Dulan and Tialavea make the net loss just two out of six.

You may end up being right, but I don’t see it as clear cut as you do.

*****

I liked the list of players who were freshman/newcomer of the year. Do you have their stats from those seasons?

Here you go.

Paul Linford (1972)
69 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss

Ronney Jenkins (1996)
128 rushes, 733 yards, 11 TD
14 receptions, 189 yards, 3 TD
15 kickoff returns, 419 yards
157 touches, 1341 yards, 14 TD

Jaron Dabney (1997)
19 rushes, 117 yards, 1 TD
3 receptions, 19 yards
27 punt returns, 272 yards, 1 TD
26 kickoff returns, 638 yards
75 touches, 1046 yards, 2 TD

Luke Staley (1999)
92 rushes, 432 yards, 10 TD
26 receptions, 339 yards, 3 TD
118 touches, 771 yards, 13 TD

Austin Collie (2004)
6 rushes, 19 yards
53 receptions, 771 yards, 8 TD
3 kickoff returns, 59 yards
62 touches, 849 yards, 8 TD

Harvey Unga (2007)
244 rushes, 1227 yards, 13 TD
44 receptions, 655 yards, 4 TD
288 touches, 1882 yards, 17 TD

Ross Apo (2011)
34 receptions, 453 yards, 9 TD

*****

I know it has been overkill, but I am interested in your view of the new Big 12 and college football playoff rumors.

Overkill is an understatement to describe the BYU to the Big XII rumors. I still don’t think there is enough expediency for it to happen, so we will all be waiting awhile to know what, if anything, happens.

Tied to the expedience of the situation, I think, are the rumors of a change to the BCS and talk about a playoff. I think BYU wants to see how all that works out and what it means for BYU as an independent before making any binding, long-term commitments. How long the Big XII is willing to wait is another factor.

It is still a big wait and see game for both issues.

The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com

Comments

  1. You bring up a good point about the redshirting possibility. I think 2013 is going to be the leanest year experience wise on the D line. That is one of the reasons that I think Johnson would play this year.

    If Johnson were to redshirt this year, there would only be one D lineman from the 2 deep returning next year.

    Also, in 2014 Tuiloma and Rowley will have returned from their missions, so the need for experienced linemen will be less than in 2013.

    You are right, Johnson is not a lock for 2012, but I still think he will play. We will have to see what the returned missionaries bring to the table in spring and fall. I don't think that this is a decision that can be made before the end of fall camp.

    ReplyDelete

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