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The BYU offensive line prepares to run a play during the non-conference game against Wyoming in Laramie on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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BYU senior wide receiver Kody Epps (0) carries the ball up the field while Cougar offensive lineman Connor Pay looks to block during the game against Southern Illinois at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024.

Marci Harris, Special to the Herald

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BYU senior center Connor Pay learned a new lesson over the past month-and-a-half — but frankly it was one he didn’t want to have to be taught.

“Six straight weeks of not being able to play but doing everything to get your body ready to play, it gets monotonous,” Pay said Wednesday after practice. “It’s like, what am I doing this for? I can’t even do the thing I’m doing it for. But it feels good. I’m pumped to be back.”

BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick confirmed that the plan is for Pay to be back on the field when the Cougars host Kansas at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday night (8:15 p.m. MT, ESPN).

Pay didn’t hesitate when asked what he was looking forward to most.

“Just being out there with my brothers,” Pay said. “I’m on the right path to playing on Saturday, and I’m excited about that. If I get the chance to be out there and play with them, just being out there with your teammates that you’ve bled with is a special thing. I’ve missed it.

“I’ve never been hurt before. I’ve never missed any games and so it was a new experience for me and it was a tough one. I’m chomping at the bit to go play again.”

He admitted that he had been so eager that he tried to see if he could find a way to get on the field for BYU’s big rivalry game at Utah last week, even to the point of asking the team doctors about whether they would make that possible (they said no).

“I thought it was going to be easier than it was,” Pay said. “You get in that environment and you just want to play so bad, especially the University of Utah. A lot of those guys are my friends and so I want to play against them.”

He said he trusted his teammates and was confident they’d get the job done, but added that there were plenty of things to work on after the 22-21 victory over the Utes.

“That’s a good defensive front,” Pay said. “They’re the No. 1 scoring defense in the Big 12, for a reason. That’s a good defense, and they’ve gotten good dudes up front. I thought (BYU’s offensive line) played well, well enough to win, but there were just too many self-inflicted wounds. That game was a lot closer than it needed to be. That’s what we’ve been out at practice doing this week, trying to fix some of those issues.”

The Cougars will have to make those changes without senior Brayden Keim, who got injured late in the game at Utah. Roderick said they are looking at Keim returning for the postseason, but that senior Isaiah Jatta will take over that spot this week.

“Jatta will start,” Roderick said. “He came in last week and played well. On the speed option we ran on the last drive, he had a tough block and he made it. He did a good job.”

Pay also said Jatta deserved the accolades for being prepared for that situation when he was called on.

“I’m super proud of Jatta for having to go in on the biggest drive of our season so far, in the most hostile environment we’ve been in against a really good defensive end, and he held his own,” Pay said.

One of the most impressive aspects of the BYU offense in 2024 has been its ability to overcome injuries.

With starters like Pay, Keim, sophomore Sonny Makasini and junior Austin Leausa all getting hurt at times, others have had to step up into different roles. And there hasn’t been much drop off at all.

“I’m super proud of that,” Pay said. “It’s a testament to how seriously they took the offseason. One of the areas we felt like we could really improve as a unit is how well we prepare for the season in the offseason. It was a big focus.”

He also said Cougar offensive line coach TJ Woods deserves credit for keep the unit on track.

“His coaching is identical across the board, regardless of who you are,” Pay said. “Obviously there’s things tailored to individuals but the core of the coaching, the techniques, the schemes, all that stuff, is very consistent.

“That makes it easy to plug-and-play because everyone knows exactly what’s expected of them. I’m really, really proud of the guys for taking that coaching all offseason long, and going out and executing. As much as you can prepare, it’s different when you actually have to go out there in a game like that.”