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Provo • If Nebraska coaches get their hands on the film of BYU's scaled-down spring scrimmage from Friday night, they aren't going to learn much about the Cougars' offense. That's partly because it was primarily directed by a quarterback, Christian Stewart, who has exhausted his eligibility.
The running backs who accounted for 20 of the 21 carries — senior Nate Carter (5) and juniors A.J. Moore (10) and Cody Bond (5) — aren't likely to see any action in the Sept. 5 opener in Lincoln, either. Inside receiver Trey Dye had the only other carry, not counting scrambles by Stewart and walk-on QB Hunter Moore.
Those expected to be BYU's primary ball-carriers in 2015 — seniors Jamaal Williams and Adam Hine and junior Algernon Brown — were held out of the 42-play scrimmage for different reasons.
Williams is still recovering from a major knee injury suffered in the ninth game of the season, while Hine is also skipping spring ball for medical reasons. Brown is healthy, but was held out so he stays that way.
Williams and Hine are considered speed backs, while the emerging big back expected to eventually fill the shoes of the graduating Paul Lasike is sophomore Toloa'i Ho Ching, a converted linebacker from Alta High.
What can Brown do for you?
Fill both roles, said running backs coach Mark Atuaia on Monday as the Cougars entered their final week of spring practices.
"Algie is one of those guys that can be trusted in both positions," Atuaia said. "He's earned that. He has played both and we are going to continue to help him master both of those positions. I think for him to progress he is going to have to do that, and for our team to be successful he is going to have to do that. We are putting a lot of that on his shoulders, and I am hopeful that he will do well and do right by us for the fall."
The status of Williams, who rushed 109 times for 518 yards in seven games before injuring his right knee, is not as clear.
"I am not a betting man, so I am not going to say anything yet," Atuaia said when asked if Williams will be 100 percent this fall. "But I am hopeful that he will be ready. What he is coming back from is a very huge and devastating injury, and so, again, I am cautiously optimistic about his progression."
Could Williams be asked to redshirt?
"We will cross that bridge when we get there," said Atuaia, who has a law degree. "Hypotheticals are for law school and I am done with that already."
Coach Bronco Mendenhall has raved about Brown's abilities this spring, and said Ho Ching has been a quick study and Hine will be ready to roll in the fall as change-up running back and a kick returner.
"When you add Adam and Jamaal back to that [running backs] group, yeah, I really like it," Mendenhall said.
The Cougars signed two running backs in February, but Washington State transfer Squally Canada must sit out this year due to NCAA transfer rules and prep star Charles West is having legal issues in Texas. Mendenhall said he doesn't know yet if West will ever join BYU's program.
"And it wouldn't probably even be appropriate to guess when," Mendenhall said. "When the process is over and when all the details are out, and whenever the proceedings are finished, I think I will address it then. Until then, I am like the rest of us. We will wait and see."
Twitter: @drewjay —
Cougars' carriers
BYU's primary running backs in 2015:
Player Yr Ht/Wt
Jamaal Williams Sr. 6-1/206
Algernon Brown Jr. 6-1/229
Adam Hine Sr. 6-1/208
Nate Carter Sr. 5-9/185
Toloa'i Ho Ching So. 6-1/242
A.J. Moore Jr. 5-9/195
Cody Bond Jr. 5-7/175