In preparation for Big 12 media days, BYU’s football department revealed a new roster on Wednesday.
Originally, three scholarship players were deleted from the online roster: Ty Burke, Bentley Redden, and Peter Falaniko. Quarterback Cade Fennegan, who was supposed to have left football to join the faculty, was still featured on the web roster as of early Wednesday morning. However, Fennegan was absent on the Big 12 Media Days roster, indicating that the reports regarding his coaching transition are accurate.
Fennegan’s transition from quarterback to coach was first reported by ESPN 960’s Ben Criddle.
Cade Fennegan spent three years with the BYU football program, from 2021 to 2023. Fennegan spent the majority of his tenure at BYU as the third-string quarterback.
In general, attrition among quarterbacks is not surprising. BYU had ten quarterbacks on its roster during spring practice. Cade Fennegan, Ryder Burton, and Nick Billoups have either transferred out of the program or left football. BYU required some attrition to make the numbers work.
With fewer quarterbacks in the room, younger quarterbacks such as McCae Hillstead, Treyson Bourguet, and Noah Lugo will have greater opportunities to play. Going into 2024, the number of quarterbacks has never been an issue, but rather their quality. Who will get the job? Will the eventual starter be good enough to return BYU to a bowl game?
The quarterback hierarchy will be the top storyline of Fall camp.
