The shape of BYU’s wide receiver room is starting to come into focus after three weeks of fall camp, and the top of the pecking order looks clearer than it did when camp opened.
The biggest development has been the separation at the top. In two media-window observations, the receivers working almost entirely with the first-team offense were Kyler Kasper, Jojo Phillips, Legend Glasker, and Reggie Frischknecht. That matches what Frischknecht said after Friday’s practice, when he was asked where he stood on the depth chart.
"Right now we've got Jojo [Phillips] and Kyler [Kasper] and Legend [Glasker], and then I think I'm right there in the mix. If I continue to do what I can and work hard every day, I think I can get up there with a good rotation."
That group has been getting the bulk of the meaningful reps, while Tiger Bachmeier has mostly worked with the second team. Bachmeier got a snap or two with the first unit on Friday, but the first-team work has largely been reserved for the four receivers above. Tei Nacua and Terrance Saryon have been limited to second-team snaps in the media windows that were observed.
If that holds, Bachmeier would sit as the fifth receiver, with Nacua and Saryon behind him.
The numbers suggest BYU may not need a deep rotation at the position anyway. With Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga both expected to be on the field together at times, the Cougars could be operating with only two wideouts on the field on a number of snaps. In that setup, a four-man rotation could cover most of the work.
What stands out about the group is size. Kasper is 6'6, Phillips is 6'5, and Frischknecht is 6'4, giving BYU one of the bigger receiver rooms around.
The challenge for that trio is straightforward: use the size and win contested balls. Last season, outside of Chase Roberts, BYU didn’t have a receiver who could consistently make those kinds of catches.
Glasker offers something different. At 6'1, the true freshman wins with speed and sharp route running, and he has shown an ability to track the ball in the air and adjust for difficult catches. He is also expected to handle jet sweeps and work against man coverage, and based on what has been seen in camp, he looks ready for that role.
The production history is still thin. Those four receivers have combined for just 32 catches for 461 yards in their college careers, and if Jojo Phillips is removed from the equation, the other three have only 7 catches for 84 receiving yards combined.
So the next step is obvious: carry the camp momentum into games. BYU will get an important early test in week two against Arizona.
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Hamberlins breakout also leaves BYU with a fresh lineup question as the homestand rolls on against Minnesota. She had spent her preparation on the back line, but her decisive impact in an attacking role gives the Cougars another option to weigh, especially after a performance that showed how quickly one unexpected move can change the feel of a match. [Read more 🡒]