Two players who redshirted in 2017 poised to breakout for BYU in 2018

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BYU WR Tariq Buchanan (Photo: Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo).


Two weeks into the BYU Cougars spring football practice and there are two unknown names repeatedly appearing in practice reports: Tariq Buchanan and Zack Katoa. Both were members of the scout team in 2017 as they redshirted, but appear to be ready for breakout seasons this fall.

Don't take my word for it, though.

Just to refresh your memory, Jensen was a linebacker for the Cougars from 2003 to 2006 and finished his career with nearly 300 tackles (294), 28 tackles for loss, and six interceptions. He knows what to look for on the field.

Buchanan is a wide receiver from Texas who signed with BYU in 2017. On the first day of Spring practice, he caught a touchdown from Kody Wilstead. Buchanan also caught this nice long ball from Stacy Conner.

A good sign that Buchanan is primed for playing time is that he has been making key grabs from nearly every quarterback. Besides Conner and Wilstead, he has been linked to Zach Wilson and Beau Hoge. Perhaps the biggest play Buchanan has made was a 45-yard touchdown catch from Hoge at the end of the first scrimmage last week.

The same day as the scrimmage, Mitch Harper listed Buchanan as one of his Day 6 Standouts.

The coaching changes on offense probably play into Buchanan's favor for getting on the field this year. Established guys like Aleva Hifo, Micah Simon, and Talon Shumway would have already been locked in as the top three receivers coming into 2018 under the previous coaching staff. As detailed on this site last week, all players on offense have been given a clean slate. That should give Buchanan just as much of a chance to be part of the rotation as anybody else.

Katoa graduated from American Fork High School, just a few miles from BYU, in 2015 and immediately left on a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Loyalty to BYU head coach Kalani Sitake brought Katoa to Provo. Before his mission, Kaota signed with Oregon State where Sitake was the defensive coordinator. Katoa was first-team All-State his senior year.

BYU is loaded with running backs who shined at different times last season. Squally Canada, Ula Tolutau, KJ Hall, Austin Kafentzis, and even Riley Burt had moments when they carried the offense and showed they are capable of being FBS running backs. However, Katoa appears to have something they don't.

The starting defense witnessed it all last season, and urged the coaches then to take Katoa off the scout team and play him. Sitake recounted that story yesterday.



Katoa was one of Mitch Harper's Day 4 Standouts.

That clean slate should help Katoa as well. In his case, perhaps more than Buchanan. BYU's new running back coach AJ Steward is a true outsider. He literally has no previous ties to BYU, so even Utah high school pedigree doesn't move the needle one way or another with him. What he sees in practice will outweigh everything.

Every year, there are new players who emerge and play a big role on the team. If the first two weeks of Spring practice are any indication, then Buchanan and Katoa can be expected to be two such players this fall.

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

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