BYU Football: Observations from the First Padded Spring Practice
PROVO, Utah – BYU football held its spring practice indoors for the first time since the camp began due to potential rain in the forecast. This was the first session with pads on.
Here are some notable observations from Monday’s practice.
McCae Hillstead Shows Progress
The backup quarterback position has been a focal point of spring practice, with two main candidates: McCae Hillstead, a transfer from Utah State, and Treyson Bourguet, a transfer from Western Michigan.
Hillstead appeared to be the more impressive option during Monday’s media viewing. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound QB, now wearing No. 3 (previously No. 15), made a great pass on the run to Koa Eldredge along the sideline. Hillstead also threw a strong ball downfield to Marquis Taliulu, a former Cal transfer, but redshirt sophomore cornerback Marcus McKenzie broke it up.
Later in team drills, Hillstead connected with Taliulu for a first-down pass. He did have one questionable throw, a pass intended for freshman LaMason Waller that was nearly intercepted by Siale Esera. Overall, it was a solid performance for Hillstead.
Treyson Bourguet’s Performance
Along with Hillstead, Treyson Bourguet is vying for the backup quarterback spot. Bourguet had a solid completion to Weston Covey for a significant gain, but he also missed a pass to the flat that sailed out of bounds, showing some inconsistency.
Jake Retzlaff’s Decision-Making
Senior quarterback Jake Retzlaff made good decisions during the practice, showcasing his growth heading into his first full offseason as BYU’s starter. He remained patient in the pocket and connected with tight end Carsen Ryan for a positive gain. Retzlaff also showed his arm strength with a deep throw to Jojo Phillips, though Phillips couldn’t secure the catch. However, Phillips made a diving catch earlier in practice on a pass from Retzlaff near the first-down marker, despite tight coverage from cornerback Mory Bamba.
Freshman Running Back Logan Payne
Logan Payne, a former Weber High standout, is competing for a running back role after returning from a mission in Colombia for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Payne, the son of former BYU star Matt Payne, wore his father’s No. 38 during the practice.
Payne, who rushed for over 1,300 yards in his senior year at Weber, displayed impressive speed during the session. He had one run where he gained seven or eight yards after bouncing off several defenders, coming close to the first down.
Although BYU’s running back depth is strong with players like LJ Martin, Sione Moa, Enoch Nawahine, Pokai Haunga, and Jovesa Damuni, Payne demonstrated both speed and physicality in his limited touches.
Trenches Insights
The battle in the trenches featured some strong performances on Monday. BYU’s first-team offensive line included Bruce Mitchell at center, Isaiah Jatta at left tackle, and Austin Leausa at right tackle, with Southern Utah transfer Kyle Sfarcioc and Sonny Makasini at the guard positions.
On the defensive line, the starting defensive ends were Logan Lutui and Orion Maile-Kaufusi, while Keanu Tanuvasa and John Taumoepeau played on the interior. Maile-Kaufusi, a former Oregon State signee, transferred to BYU after serving a mission and redshirted last year after playing in four games.
