It’s almost time.

The endless summer of wide-ranging speculation and prognostications can be put in its proper place in just a few short days.

As college football teams across the country gather to initiate their final preparations for the upcoming season, the focus goes toward honing every skill and mastering every concept.

Fall camp isn’t for basic physical development, nor is it when a squad should be focused on understanding strategy. If a team is using the next month for those things, it can virtually guarantee that the season itself is going to be a struggle.

No, camp is when good programs push themselves to be great by improving in every area to become an efficient, effective fighting unit.

It happens at each level, from individuals to position groups to phases of the game (offense, defense, special teams) to the team as a whole.

Each player and coach must be part of the universal effort but even more responsibility rests on the shoulders of the leaders. They can’t let up in pursuit of the big goals.

That’s the position these final BYU players and coaches find themselves in as the Countdown reaches its conclusion.

The big question for the next athlete is whether 2022 will be the year he goes from being really good to being truly elite.

No. 2: Jaren Hall, junior quarterback

While Hall’s numbers in 2021 weren’t going to put him in the BYU quarterback record books, they showed a solid level of performance throughout the year: 10 games, 189-of-296 passing for 2,583 yards, 20 TDs, 5 interceptions, 62 rushes, 307 yards, 3 TDs.

Most importantly, he had an 8-2 record, which is pretty good for a first-year starter.

Now he heads into 2022 with a host of weapons, an experienced line and extensive knowledge of what the Cougar offense can do.

The reality is, however, that he has to step up and take advantage of the circumstances for BYU to truly be the team it is capable of being.

If he does (and stays healthy), don’t be surprised if the former Maple Mountain star gets plenty of recognition and is off to the NFL next year.

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