Why BYU football will only carry 3 quarterbacks on roster this spring

PROVO — Jake Retzlaff met with the BYU quarterback group after the first day of spring practices Thursday afternoon, which normally seems like it would require a small council room.

Instead, it was just Retzlaff, the redshirt-senior starter of last year's 11-2 campaign that culminated with a No. 13 national ranking, with former Skyridge High star and Utah State transfer McCae Hillstead and Western Michigan transfer Treyson Bourguet.

Due to the likely impending settlement of House v. NCAA that will open the door for revenue sharing by universities with college athletes, the Cougars roster — like most in the country — is about to be trimmed down to 105 players.

That means significant cuts are coming to the team, including the quarterback room, which Retzlaff described as incredibly tight-knit.

"Just because there are three of us, it's already the closest room that I've been a part of," said Retzlaff, who threw for 2,947 yards and 20 touchdowns with 12 interceptions en route to an 11-2 season. "I love both of those guys to death; they're awesome."

From last year's group of signal callers, former Baylor transfer Gerry Bohanon graduated to pursue a pro career; Noah Lugo transferred to UTSA, closer to home for the Haslet, Texas, native; and former Corner Canyon star Cole Hagen left the team but remained in school at BYU to earn his degree.

Those cuts are among the hundreds being made across college football, including dozens in the Cougars' own locker room, as programs try to get down to the looming player deadline by the first game of the season.

Head coach Kalani Sitake quipped that BYU wasn't "anywhere close" to the 105-player limit. But they don't have to be there until the season opener Aug. 30 against Portland State.

"For us, it's just being honest with everyone we have at all positions," said Sitake, whose initial spring roster lists 113 players. "There are guys who definitely belong here, but the roster limit is not something that we came up with.

"Our job was to get our team to be 123 strong and deep, and we got there. Now we have to cut from it; but that's the rule, and we'll follow suit. It's not going to be an exact science, but we'll do our best to get the right guys on the field."

Former Bountiful High quarterback Emerson Geilman will join the program in the fall, after the 6-foot-4, 201-pound Region 5 MVP who led the Redhawks to their first state title since 2003 graduates and enrolls at BYU.

Until then, Sitake and offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick have a decision to make. Retzlaff is the unquestioned starter, but his primary backup has still yet to be determined.

Will it be the 5-foot-10 Hillstead, who led Skyridge High to a state title before completing 59% of his passes for 1,062 yards and 11 touchdowns with eight interceptions in eight games at Utah State in 2023?

Or maybe Bourguet, the Tucson, Arizona, native who threw for 1,314 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games at Western Michigan in 2022-23?

"One of my favorite parts of spring ball is going to be watching those two battle it out," Retzlaff said. "They're two really good football players, two really smart guys, and both process it a little differently.

"Those guys are awesome. I can't say enough about those guys."

As for the quarterback meeting room with a few more empty chairs, Retzlaff added that a few of them may have been filled — in spirit, that is — on Thursday's practice field.

"McCae got moved to No. 3," he said of one of several jersey swaps, "and he pulled a ball today in practice that had us calling him 'McCae Bohanon.'

"We miss Gerry, and I'm definitely going to give him a call about it. But we love this room."

New faces

Seven four-year transfers have enrolled at BYU and were on hand on the first day of spring practice:

• Tausili Akana, DE, Laie, Hawaii (Texas)
• Carsen Ryan, TE, Orem, Utah (Utah)
• Keanu Tanuvasa, DT, Mission Viejo, Calif. (Utah)
• Kyle Sfarcioc, OL, Peoria, Ariz. (Southern Utah)
• Andrew Gentry, OL, Littleton, Colo. (Michigan)
• Garrison Grimes, LS, American Fork, Utah (Baylor)
• Anisi Purcell, DT, West Bountiful, Utah (Southern Utah)

Here's a look at the 26 true freshmen that also joined the team, including several from missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

• Lamason Waller III, WR, Hesperia, Calif. (Oak Hills HS)
• Cannon Devries, CB, North Ogden, Utah (Weber HS)
• Carson Su'esu'e, LB, Oakley, Calif. (Granger HS, Utah)
• Pierson Watson, LB, Flagstaff, Ariz. (Coconino HS)
• Cale Breslin, RB, Las Vegas, Nev. (Faith Lutheran HS)
• Joseph Douglas, S, Stansbury Park, Utah (Tooele HS)
• Liutai Kinikini, S, Salt Lake City (West HS)
• Logan Payne, RB, Pleasant View, Utah (Weber HS)
• Crew Clark, S, Sugar City, Idaho (Sugar-Salem HS)
• Luke Hanchett, TE, Eagle, Idaho (Rocky Mountain HS)
• Tyler Payne, LB, Pleasant View, Utah (Weber HS)
• Ty Smith, LS, Gilbert, Ariz. (Highland HS)
• Berkley Alfrey, LB, Auburn, Wash. (Auburn Mountainview HS)
• Boyd Sorensen, DE, Sugar City, Idaho (Sugar-Salem HS)
• Vincent Tautua, DE, Ewa Beach, Hawai'i (Saint Louis HS)
• Porter Small, DE, Springville, Utah (Springville HS)
• Alexander Brigham, OL, San Tan Valley, Ariz. (Benjamin Franklin HS)
• Andrew Williams, OT, Kirksville, Mo. (Kirksville HS)
• Jeff Lewis, OL, Orem, Utah (Orem HS)
• Ethan Thomason, OT, Fort Collins, Colo. (Richmond Hills HS)
• Kila Keone, WR, Honolulu, Hawaii (Moanalua HS)
• Cole Clement, TE, Springville, Utah (Springville HS)
• Tucker Kelleher, TE, Alpharetta, Ga. (Alpharetta HS)
• Hunter Clegg, DE, American Fork, Utah (American Fork HS)
• Cooper Ross, DE, Mesa, Ariz. (Heritage Academy)
• Saimone Davis, DE, Euless, Texas (Colleyville HS)

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