Week two begins in full pads

PROVO, Utah – BYU football began its second week of fall camp with its first practice in full pads on Monday afternoon.

With the pads on, coaches are able to get a closer look at the physical play up front in the run game. 

The Cougars are expecting to have a deep backfield in 2019, bolstered by a pair of graduate transfers and strong core of returning talent. 

Lopini Katoa, the leading rusher in 2018 returns and is looking to be the workhorse after emerging last season. In addition to Katoa, Tyler Allgeier and Sione Finau are both back after getting a few snaps last season while Morgan Pyper also returns after a year with the scout team. 

Having already graduated from four-year universities with plenty of game experience, Ty'Son Williams, from South Carolina, and Emmanuel Esukpa, from Rice, add immediate depth to the position. Both are working to push for starting reps. 

Alec Wyble-Meza, a junior college transfer joined the program as well as freshman newcomers Jackson McChesney and Masen Wake. 

The following quotes are from Monday's post-practice media availability. 

Head coach Kalani Sitake
It was a long practice and a long day. There were some good things and there were some things we need to work on. I don’t think it should be good practices every day. I think that we’ll have to have some struggles here and there and then that means that we’re going to make some progress. We threw some things at the guys and made things really difficult, whether that’s installed or the way that we’re framing our practices I think it’s supposed to get the most out of our guys. I’m not sure it’s supposed to look pretty right now but hopefully it’ll look really nice by the time we get to game time.

On how the graduate transfer running backs are acclimating
Really good. I think when they take the field it’s a different level of professionalism. I think a lot of it has to do with because it’s their last year. This is a last go for them. When they’re in here they’re practicing, they’re not screwing around. I think it’s been a really good mindset to have for our running back group. They’ve all worked a lot harder and it’s starting to show right now.”

On how this year’s fall camp compares to past years
I think it’s probably a little bit different because the guys are already really comfortable. I mentioned on day one you can tell that the PRPs, the player-run practices, were a huge benefit for us, with the timing and just the way our guys are able to run their routes on offense, and defensively know their assignments. The peer-to-peer learning has been a huge benefit for us. I think when we get to Wednesday, that’ll be the seven practices and I’ll be able to give you more info by then.

I think it’s going really well. I hate to compare year to year because I think every year is a different deal. We’re doing things different this year that we’ve never done before, and I think we’re going to be doing things next year that’ll be different than what we’ve been doing now.

I think you’ve got to have some things that carry over, but I think for the most part it’s the insanity issue, you can’t just do things the same over and over again and expect it to be better or different results. So for us we have to tweak things. This year’s a little bit different because we have a quarterback that’s coming off an injury and we have a guy backing him up that is competing for a spot and more playing time. So that’s different than what we had last year with Tanner and Zach pretty much battling it out.

BYU running back Ty'Son Williams
On the difference between this offense and South Carolina
Similar things. I think the difference is just learning the names of the plays, just learning the different names and getting adjusted to that. But, that's why we're out here, that's why we have PRPs during the summer, so it's been okay.

On Kalani Sitake, Jeff Grimes and why he came to BYU
For Coach Kalani, I just liked how he was as a head coach. He was just kind of laid back and then was kind of honest with you. Coach Kalani also cares about his players. And then Coach Grimes is the same way. He cares about his guys. I mean, he's been in the business for a long time, so he kind of knew what exactly he wanted to do. I trusted him with that.

On how he would describe himself as a running back
Just kind of versatile, do it all. I don't want to have to like be taken off the field for anything. I just kind of want to be able to do it all. All in one.

On confidence in the running back depth
Very confident. Very confident. That's always a great thing when you have depth at the running back position just because, I mean, it's a physical position, so the more numbers you have the better.

On being a leader
I think for me it was just kind of like just important to some of the young guys, just helping them out because I know how it was for me, you know, when I was a freshman. You're kind of just all over the place, don't really know what's going on. So, I'm just trying my best to help them and just allow the game to slow down for them.

BYU running back Emmanuel Esukpa
What is it about Coach Kalani and Coach Grimes that made you want to come to BYU?
Their will to win. You know, their laid-back characteristics and how they kind of just give us a sense of freedom but also a sense of you’ve got to put your head down and work. I just like their mix of both things and just their laid-back attitude with everything.

On the depth at the running back position and the competition at that position
Oh yeah, we’ve got talented guys all across the board that can do everything so it’s just fun you know coming out here and competing. If someone goes out there and makes a play, then in your mind you go okay I’m going to go out there and make a play, and then the guy behind you is like okay I’m going to one-up him so it’s just really fun to have a room like that.”

On what the schedule does for him as a player
It gets me excited. I want to hop in a time machine right now and go play them right now, but we’ve got a lot of work to do in between and we’ve got a lot of getting better to do so we just take it day by day and go out there and try to win.

On what it’s like running behind this offensive line
It’s great. They move guys, they move the defensive line wherever they want to, they’re really strong, you’ve got guys on watch lists everywhere, and there’s depth too. It’s a really deep position so it’s an honor to run behind them as well.