At least in the case of BYU tight end Roger Saleapaga, who broke new ground and perhaps even raised the bar when asked of his connection with Cougar quarterback Bear Bachmeier.

“It’s like corn on the cob and butter,” Saleapaga offered when surrounded by media following Tuesday’s practice session. “I feel like we go really good with each other.”

And it’s not just what Saleapaga is feeling either.

Since arriving from Oregon just prior to BYU’s most recent spring practice session, the former 4-star Orem product has risen to become a steady and active presence on Bachmeier’s passing tree. Whether lining up in-line or split-out, the 6-foot-4, 235 pound tight end has caught a lot of passes during team reps during practice sessions, earning him praise from both coaches and players through the process.

But perhaps the biggest praise yet was revealed earlier this week when Saleapaga was named a team captain — a rare designation for any player who has yet to take a live-game snap for the Cougar football team.

“It means a lot, and it’s kind of crazy coming in, you know, (being) the new guy,” Saleapaga said. ” … It’s another responsibility I have to hold. I’m honored.”

Saleapaga was also named as a co-starter along with USC transfer Walker Lyons at the tight end position, which came as a surprise to no one who has observed BYU’s open practice sessions and listened to Cougar offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick’s comments since spring.

“They’re both good leaders, (and) good players,” Roderick reaffirmed regarding his two starting tight ends on Tuesday. “I’ve said it since spring ball (that) the day they showed up, they were two of our best players right away, and they’ve proven it day after day in practice. You’ll see a lot of those guys in games this year.”

So fans can expect a lot of double-tight formations as a result of Saleapaga and Lyons firmly establishing themselves as two of the better top 11 players Roderick can field on any given play and in any situation. Together the duo can provide some extra blocking upfront while proving capable as receiving options in providing perhaps an elevated degree of versatility for the BYU offense this coming season.

As for the offense as a whole, it will of course by led by quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who now enters the season having had a complete offseason to prepare. It works in stark contrast to last season when the Stanford transfer came out as perhaps a surprise winner in a three-way quarterback competition versus two other veteran players  — both of whom had more than a year operating and developing in Roderick’s system.

“I think there was a a little sense of anxiousness or or just some anxiety last year,” Bachmeier said when reflecting back to his first start last season. “I’m still a little nervous, obviously, and that’s part of the game. But I think (I’m) just way more comfortable and way more confident and yeah, (I’m) just excited.”

So how will Bachmeier, and indeed the entire BYU offense, look this season armed with more experience across the offensive backfield and offensive front while fitting in a largely brand new group of receivers and tight ends?

“I think just the operation before the snap,” Bachmeier responded. “Obviously the play’s really important, but I think I think the details before the play and making sure everybody’s lined up — making sure the operation is clean. I think (I’ve) made a big jump there and (I’m) just comfortable within that operation, and within that process.”

“He has a lot of confidence in what we’re doing,” Roderick added. “He knows the offense much better now than he did at this time a year ago, and he’s played a bunch of games. So first game jitters for a true freshman quarterback is going to be a thing, you know? And this year, I think he’s played enough ball now and knows what he’s getting himself into.”

So marrying Bachmeier’s standout play last season with a lot more know-how this season, along with some very intriguing parts at tight end and receiver to pare with an experienced offensive line and a running back like LJ Martin can warrant a lot of positivity.

“I think we’re in a good place,” Roderick concluded. ” … Whenever you have a returning quarterback, that really helps, but we have a lot of veteran players who have played in this offense, and played in this league … I go back to how much you’re allowed to do in the summer now. I mean, these plays we’re going to run in this game, we’ve been running them all summer. And the plays that you see us run in probably the first six games are plays we’ve run all summer. So hopefully that shows.”