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BYU senior wide receiver Darius Lassiter makes a one-handed catch during the Big 12 game against Texas Tech at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU wide receiver Darius Lassiter gets upended during the Big 12 game against TCU at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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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.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU senior wide receiver Darius Lassiter avoids a tackle during the game against Southern Utah at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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For the third straight day, the BYU football team practiced outdoors in the summer heat and it plans to continue on Saturday.

There is a good reason to do so, since games in September and October can be scorchers.

“We’ve got to get used to playing in the heat,” Cougar defensive coordinator Jay Hill said after practice on Friday. “The first couple of games were hot, even here in Utah. We play at SMU in Week 2 and at Baylor in Week 5. We’ve got to be ready and I think the only way to get used to the heat is to play in the heat. You can’t be soft and take it easy, but you’ve got to be smart — and I think we are.”

So how does a player like BYU senior wide receiver Darius Lassiter face the rigors of such a schedule?

By focusing on how glad he is to be doing it.

“The best part is just having opportunity to come out here to get better each and every day,” Lassiter said. “I pride myself on being somebody that wants to come out here and learn. I’m one of the old guys in the room, but I feel like if you have the chance to come out and practice there is something to learn each day. My thought process is to get better than I was yesterday. If I made five touchdown catches yesterday, I want six the next day. My mindset is kind of a killer mindset.”

Lassiter became a Cougar after he transferred from Eastern Michigan in 2023, then went out and had a solid season (29 receptions, 365 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games). His performance earned him Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors as well.

But now he’s had a year of experience in Provo and said that makes a difference.

“I feel like my role is going to expand, with my knowledge of the playbook and grasp of things now,” Lassiter said. “It’s kind of hard to learn an offense like this is just such a short time but last year I managed to do it. I feel like now that I’m more seasoned now and in the playbook, I can help all of the other guys as well.”

But he wouldn’t say that elevates his expectations for himself, simply because he always has high expectations for himself.

“I feel like I’ve kind of always been the same way since I got here,” Lassiter said. “I always expected myself to be someone that just always is going to make the play. I want to be somebody that that can be the leading receiver on the team.”

He appreciates, however, that a wide receiver group that includes junior Kody Epps, junior Chase Roberts, junior Keelan Marion and sophomore Parker Kingston among others has a lot of players who feel capable of a big season.

“I feel like we have many guys in the room to do that,” Lassiter said. “We have a really deep group that is very experienced and anybody can go play. I feel like it’s not just me. Everybody else feels they can go out there and be the No. 1 guy for the offense.”

Having a number of proven veterans as well as some promising young guys makes it enjoyable for Cougar wide receivers coach Fesi Sitake to go to work.

“I always love all my guys as a coach, but there’ve been times where I’m really searching for that playmaker,” Sitake said. “To be able to have a big handful of them, and then try and work through the nuances of evaluating them and who’s going to be best for certain schemes or game plans or certain positions, that’s fun. It’s early but there is no shortage of guys who I trust and who I think can make plays in this conference. “It’s going to be exciting to see them all compete and see how it all unfolds.”

BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick agrees that the receiver room is filled with talent but said it — and the rest of the offense — needs to get the job done on the field.

“I think it’s a good group,” Roderick said. “I think we have a good group of offensive players. I think we have depth at every position. But it’s time for us to go do it in a game.”

For that to happen, Lassiter said the key is getting all the little pieces in place to build confidence and momentum.

“There is a lot more that goes into a complex offense like this than most people see,” the senior said. “On offense, 11 guys have got to be in sync. But once we get everybody in sync, I feel like the sky’s the limit for this offense.

“Our goal is to be the best offense in the Big 12 and I feel like we have the pieces to achieve that this year. I feel like once the chemistry starts building up with everybody, there’s not too much people can do to stop us.”

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