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Provo • Midway through his freshman season, BYU's Riley Burt took a handoff from Tanner Mangum and ripped off a 41-yard run against Cincinnati. The display of power, quickness and speed in 2015 made it appear that the Cougars had found their next great ball carrier, and an adequate replacement in case Jamaal Williams didn't make it back for his final year of eligibility.

Well, Williams made it back, but Burt didn't. He redshirted in 2016 and watched from the sidelines as Williams broke BYU's career rushing record and other backs such as Squally Canada and KJ Hall emerged.

"It was my decision, and the coaches' decision, to have me redshirt," Burt said after Wednesday's spring practice. "We talked about it and thought it would be best for me, and it ended up being a good thing. I've gotten stronger and faster, and grown as a person as well."

Recruited as a defensive back out of Box Elder High, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Burt was moved to running back in fall camp in 2015. He finished with 14 carries for 86 yards and also returned some kickoffs.

He participated with BYU's indoor track team this past winter, improving his speed.

"I felt like I had a pretty good year my freshman year, but I wanted to get faster, trim a little weight," he said. "I loved helping the team out any way I could, and am hoping to have an even better year this year."

Another running back, Trey Dye, also redshirted in 2016 and is getting a lot of reps in spring camp, along with Canada, Hall and Ula Tolutau, the former East High star.

Big turnout for clinic

Nearly 300 high school football coaches from nine states attended a coaches' clinic Wednesday and watched practice before hearing from BYU head coach Kalani Sitake and some of his staff members.

It was one of the biggest turnouts yet in an annual tradition started by former coach Bronco Mendenhall, and the players enjoyed seeing some familiar faces, Burt said, acknowledging the presence of some of his former coaches from Box Elder.

Assistant head coach Ed Lamb said the prep coaches brought some energy to practice.

"I think it makes a big difference in the initial mindset of practice and guys come out with a little more juice in the stretch, and a little more juice in first part of practice," Lamb said. "They kind of extrapolate that into the season, toward games. But really after about three or four plays, and three or four hits, it is really about the two opponents on the field, and the one-on-one battles going on out there."

Spring scrimmage is Saturday

Lamb said the Cougars "would like to stay out of an injury situation while still emphasizing the contact part of the game" in Saturday's spring scrimmage, which begins at 1 p.m. at LaVell Edwards Stadium and is open to the public with no charge. Gates open at noon.

"We haven't played live tackle football throughout the spring," Lamb said. "We don't anticipate doing that except for the spring game. So we want to see good, clean, live tackle football and get out of there without injury."

drew@sltrib.com Twitter: @drewjay —

BYU spring practice update

• The Cougars practiced in the Indoor Practice Facility on Wednesday morning in front of 300 or so high school coaches on campus for a coaching clinic with the BYU staff

• BYU's Pro Day is on Friday at the IPF. It is closed to the public.

• The annual spring scrimmage is Saturday at 1 p.m. at LaVell Edwards Stadium, and open to the public. Gates open at noon.