BYU football wants the right swagger in 2024
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- BYU junior defensive lineman Tyler Batty celebrates recovering a fumble during the game against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2023.
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- BYU junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff celebrates scoring a touchdown during the Big 12 game against Oklahoma State at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023.
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- BYU head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates a big play during the game against Notre Dame at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022.
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- BYU sophomore wide receiver Chase Roberts celebrates after making a touchdown catch during the game against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2023.
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- BYU senior wide receiver Darius Lassiter celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the Big 12 game against Cincinnati at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- BYU freshman running back LJ Martin (27) celebrates a good play with senior offensive lineman Paul Maile during the scrimmage at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023.
Courtesy BYU Photo
BYU junior defensive lineman Tyler Batty celebrates recovering a fumble during the game against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2023.
Swagger.
It’s a word that describes a college football team that goes into every play, every series and every game confident that it is going to get the job done.
That attitude can be contagious, with players feeding off of each other even to the point where it can affect different units.
So what is the key for a team like BYU to develop that mentality?
“I think a lot of it comes down to team chemistry,” Cougar senior defensive end Tyler Batty said after practice on Monday. “On the defensive side of the ball, I think we are developing that unit chemistry. I think it’s something that it isn’t completely developed yet, but it’s something you can’t force. It comes from a lot of preparation. It comes from a lot of hard work. It comes from a lot of trust from the guys on defense, trusting each other to do their to do their job.”
Courtesy BYU Photo
BYU junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff celebrates scoring a touchdown during the Big 12 game against Oklahoma State at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023.
BYU junior wide receiver Kody Epps looked at the offensive point of view and said he feels like they are getting to the point where they have the right swagger.
To him, it is a function of the players and coaches understanding who they are and what they are working for.
“I think our swagger comes from being our best selves, which is being who our parents want us to be, what we want our brand to be known as,” Epps said. “We want to be known as kids that come out here and give it our all, have humility, believe in Christ, play football and have fun with a smile. I think that is our swagger. That’s our identity. It’s definitely developing because we’ve got a bunch of stuff that we’re trying to get to gel together.”
He said that while he focuses on his specific part on every play, he feels like the cohesion is coming together for the entire offense.
“From my perspective, we’re balling,” Epps said. “Everybody’s ready to play. Everybody’s giving full effort.”
Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates a big play during the game against Notre Dame at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022.
With the Cougars wrapping up their fall camp work and shifting toward game preparation this week, this is the time that things need to be coming together.
“I would say the team — and the defense specifically — has made some good progress,” Batty said. “I think we still have some progress to go to make, but I feel good about where the defense is. I feel good about where I’m at. I’m really stoked to get back to playing football.”
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said he feels like his program made some good strides in camp toward having the number of athletes ready to be on the field that the Cougars will need during the coming months.
“”We talk about the 11 starters or your best 11,” Sitake said. “What you really need is your best 22, or 23 with the nickel packages. We didn’t have enough depth last year. When the injury bug hits, you need your No. 3s to step in and not have a big drop off from No. 1 to No. 3. I think we are closer now than we have ever been. I like our depth, but we have to get out there and see how they perform when the lights are on. That’s going to be exciting in Game 1.”
As always, the BYU players and coaches are ready to line up and face an opponent instead of just battling each other.
Courtesy BYU Photo
BYU sophomore wide receiver Chase Roberts celebrates after making a touchdown catch during the game against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2023.
But Epps said he always tries to make sure he appreciates what he has, even during the grind of fall camp.
“It’s been so fun,” Epps said. “I’ve just been so grateful and so blessed to be able to come out here each and every day and give my all, to be around the guys that I’m around and to be with the coaches that I’m around. I just want to give them my all each and every single day. That’s all I can ask for, just to be able to practice out here. Each and every time I get an opportunity to block, to make a play, to cheer on my teammates, I’m so grateful to be able to do that.”
BYU senior wide receiver Darius Lassiter celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the Big 12 game against Cincinnati at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 30, 2023.
BYU freshman running back LJ Martin (27) celebrates a good play with senior offensive lineman Paul Maile during the scrimmage at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023.
