In the present age of BYU football, the only continuous component is the program’s unpredictable nature.
Now, I enjoy unpredictability just as much as the next guy–you can often find me grabbing the mystery flavored Dum Dums, and Creed Bratton’s onslaught of random one-liners compel me to belly laughs–but for a football program in desperate need of some good news, uncertainty could be a bad omen for a rebuilding team.
BYU’s offseason quarterback competition has been well-documented; last season’s understudy, Jake Retzlaff, and transfer portal veteran Gerry Bohanon, have emerged as the favorites, however Utah State transfer McCae Hillstead has been making noise from the depth chart. A team’s starting quarterback is regarded as the group leader and the voice that inspires the troops. Ensuring that the starting quarterback is the correct individual for the job is critical.
I’m not here to say who should start–I haven’t been to practices or training camps, though I’d love to (hint, hint)–but looking at each player’s body of work should reveal which players are better prepared to lead the charge and which are still developing.
Our good colleagues at EA Sports weighed in on who they thought should start. Here’s the depth chart at quarterback from the new College Football 25 game:
1. Gerry Bohanon
80 Overall
The former Baylor and USF starter will transfer to BYU for his last season of collegiate eligibility. He had an up-and-down career, starting in Waco before slipping down the depth chart and being moved to South Florida. He appears to have impressed coaches during workouts, and his experience has earned him a spot on EA’s starting lineup by a large margin.
2. Jake Retzlaff
75 Overall
Retzlaff stepped in for the struggling and bruised Kedon Slovis midway through the 2023 season. The JuCo transfer struggled to find consistency, but he did well against top opposition such as Oklahoma and Oklahoma State–with the exception of a few significant mistakes. Last season, BYU’s offensive faltered, thus Jake’s performance will need to improve.
3. Treyson Bourguet
75 Overall
Bourguet, a relatively obscure but potential talent, transferred to Provo from Western Michigan University. His position on the squad is still unclear, but he should be a valuable addition to the Cougars’ depth.
Of course, BYU’s own player assessments will take no account of a video game’s assessment of their team. Though Bohanon appears to have an advantage in terms of talent level, assuming that his EA Sports rating will influence what happens during the coaches’ meetings is wrong. Retzlaff may be the right player for this squad, and a surprise potential may unexpectedly climb through the depth chart.
Don’t despise the player; rather, hate the game.
